Orville C. Wills
Orville C. Wills, proprietor of the Palace Hotel, at Bentonville, was born March 8, 1863, on Eagle Creek, in Brown County, Ohio. He is a son of Richard and Nancy (Edwards) Wills. Thomas Edwards, grandfather of our subject, came from Scotland to Virginia, where he married Sarah Jacobs in 1786. He soon afterwards removed to Ohio. He purchased a thousand acres of land where Aberdeen now stands. His second son, James, grandfather of our subject, was born in January, 1800. In 1806, he removed with his parents to Byrd Township, on Eagle Creek, and settled on the farm now known as the William Edwards farm. In August, 1821. he married Nancy Jacobs, and they reared a family of thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity and married. James Edwards was a Justice of the Peace for a number of years. His wife died February 26, 1848, and in the Spring of 1850. he sold his farm and removed to Russellville, where he engaged in tanning for fifteen years. On December 1, 1859. he was married to Rachel Linton. Nancy A., a daughter by the first marriage, was born January 1, 1837. and married Richard Wills. She died March 26, 1898.
Our subject received but a limited education in the Public schools. He chose the occupation of blacksmith and served for three years in the S. P. Tucker shops at Manchester, at the expiration of which time he engaged in the same business for himself.
On January 15, 1885. he was married to Florence Myrtle Roush, daughter of Michael Roush, of this county. They have two children, Flossie, aged nine years, and Dean. Mr. and Mrs. Wills are members of the Union Church at Bentonville. Mr. Wills moved to Bentonville in 1896 and opened a livery and feed stable in addition to his blacksmith shop, and in 1898 opened the Palace Hotel.
By industry and strict attention to business, he has built up quite a large hotel and livery business at Bentonville. He is a very excellent citizen and a good business man, enterprising, and an important factor in the community.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900