Have a bio or obituary of your ancestor? If you send it to me at dnichols16@cox.net I'll post it here.
Photo shows Willis and 2nd wife Emma Adams and two children
by first wife Mary Arminda Teasley.
Willis Jefferson Eavenson was born in Elbert County, Georgia on April 5th, 1842. In the year 1860, Willis was single, living at home with his parents George W. and Sarah Thornton Eavenson, along with eight siblings. His father was a moderately wealthy farmer, owning $4000 in real estate and $7000 in personal property, which mainly consisted of the value of seven slaves. Willis enlisted as a private in Company F, 38th Regiment of Georgia Volunteer Infantry on October 17th, 1861.
Two of Willis's brothers also served in Company F, Pvt. Thomas M. Eavenson and 2nd Sergeant John William Eavenson. Thomas was mortally wounded in the battle of 2nd Manassas, but survived just over one year before dying of his wounds. He is buried in the Confederate Section of Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia. John was severly wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on December 13, 1862. He was struck by a rifle ball in the back his left shoulder, the ball passing through his body and exiting the front. John was so severly wounded he was discharged, but later enlisted again during 1863 in Co. G, 25th Ga. Battn.
Records show Willis was wounded in 1864, though the place and circumstances are not recorded. He was at home on a furlough due to illness, on Nov 6th, 1864. This is the last muster roll that has survived for Company F and there is no later record of Willis's service. Willis and his brother Sergeant John Eavenson survived the war and returned to Elbert County, Georgia.
Willis married Mary Arminda Teasley (1848-1889), daughter of Thomas Jefferson Teasley, on October 17th, 1865, in Hart Co., Georgia. Willis and Mary had eight children, there were named George Harper, William Allen, Eula Beatrice, Bessie, Fannie, Cora, Carrie and Thomas Eavenson. When Mary died in 1889, Willis married Emma Adams on 22 Nov 1893 Madison Co., Georgia. Willis died on April 17th, 1919 and is buried at Concord Methodist Church, Elbert County, Georgia. Willis's brother, Sergeant John William Eavenson, lived to be 95 yeas old and died in 1935.
Photo and family information courtesy of Mr. Chandler Eavenson, descendant of Willis J. Eavenson.