Short URL for this page:
bit.ly/Cullum2226


[image ALT: Much of my site will be useless to you if you've got the images turned off!]
mail:
Bill Thayer

[image ALT: Cliccare qui per una pagina di aiuto in Italiano.]
Italiano

[Link to a series of help pages]
Help
[Link to the next level up]
Up
[Link to my homepage]
Home
This site is not affiliated with the US Military Academy.
[decorative delimiter]
USMA
Home

 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1868

Vol. III
p109
2226

(Born Ill.)

Joseph Henryº Willard

(Ap'd Ill.)

8

Born Chicago, IL.​a1

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1864, to June 15, 1868, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, June 15, 1868.

Served: at the Military Academy as Assistant Instructor of Artillery Tactics, July 7 to Aug. 31, 1868; with Engineer Company at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Dec. 1, 1868, to Apr. 1, 1871, and with Engineer Battalion

(Second Lieut., Corps of Engineers, Apr. 23, 1869)

at Willet's Point, N. Y., Apr. 3, 1871, to Apr. 1, 1872; at the

(First Lieut., Corps of Engineers, July 11, 1871)

Military Academy as Assistant Professor of French, Apr. 1 to July 15, 1872; as Assistant Engineer on the Improvement of Hudson River, July 18, 1872, to Aug. 20, 1877 (temporarily on duty in Boston Harbor, Mas., Dec. 17, 1873, to Jan. 7, 1874); as Recorder of Board of Engineers on the Bulkhead Lines upon Hudson River, from Troy to Hudson, June, 1878, to Dec. 31, 1880; on duty with Engineer Battalion at Willet's Point, N. Y., commanding Company and in various Staff positions, Jan. 3, 1881, to Mar. 23, 1884; as Secretary and Assistant to the Construction

(Captain, Corps of Engineers, June 15, 1882)

Committee of the Mississippi River Commission, Apr. 12, 1884, to June 21, 1886; and in charge of various River and Harbor Improvements, Surveys, Bridge Constructions, etc., in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, since June 30, 1886.

Vol. IV
p178
[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Military History. — Served: With station at Vicksburg, Mis., in charge of improvement of certain rivers and waterways in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Indian Territory, Mississippi, and Tennessee, tributary to Mississippi River; water gauges on Mississippi River and principal tributaries; gauging the waters of Lower Mississippi River and its principal tributaries, and supervision of construction of bridges across rivers of district. — Surveys and examinations of various rivers, lakes, and bayous in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi.

(Major, Corps of Engineers, Aug. 13, 1895)

— In addition to duties of Vicksburg, Mis., district, served in temporary charge (June 3-Nov. 28, 1898) of 4th District of the Mississippi River, from Warrenton, Mis., to Head of the Passes, La., for purpose of river improvement and construction and repair of levees; improvement of harbor at New Orleans, Mississippi River, at Natchez, Mis., and Vidalia, La., mouth of Red River, La., and rectification of Red and Atchafalaya rivers at mouth of Red River; supervision of construction of bridge across Mississippi River above New Orleans, La. — Member of Board of Engineer Officers on building and repair of levees on Mississippi River. — July 13-Nov. 12, 1898, member of Board of Officers for the examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers for promotion. — Vicksburg, Mis., 1886 to ––––

Vol. V
p150
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — Served at Vicksburg, Miss., 1886 to Dec. 30, 1899; Chicago, Ill., Dec. 31, 1899 to July 31, 1903. — In charge of the improvement of the harbors at Chicago and Calumet and of Chicago and Calumet Rivers, Dec. 31, 1899 to Oct. 31, 1901. — In charge of the improvement of the outlet of Wolf Lake, Ind., and of the Illinois River, construction of the Illinois and Mississippi Canal, and care and operation of locks at La Grange and Kampsville, Ill., Dec. 31, 1899 to July 31, 1903. — Los Angeles, Cal., June 17, 1903 to Nov. 30, 1903. — In charge of defensive works at San Diego, improvement of the harbors at Wilmington, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo, and construction of breakwater at San Pedro, Cal., June 17, 1903 to Nov. 30, 1903. — Newport, R. I., Dec. 10, 1903 to Feb. 28, 1908.

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Corps of Engineers, April 23, 1904)

— In charge of works for the defense of the southeast coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and of the improvement of rivers and harbors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Dec. 10, 1903, to Feb. 28, 1908.

(Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Nov. 15, 1907)

— Member of various boards on fortification and river and harbor works.

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired Feb. 28, 1908, by operation of law.

Vol. VI
p132
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Born Feb. 28, 1844.)

Military History. —

Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Nov. 15, 1907.

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, Feb. 28, 1908,
By Operation of Law.

Civil History. — After retirement, resided at Newport, R. I.; and was interested in civil activities; Director of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum; Chairman Newport Park Commission; Chairman Board of Recreation; member of various committees.

Military History. — Recalled to active service April 21, 1917; in command of Newport Engineering District and of works for the defense of  p133 the southeast coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and of Rivers and Harbors from Nantucket to Block Island; supervising inspection of plants and of war material for depots of supplies and for over-seas.

Vol. VII
p90
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Nov. 15, 1907.

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, Feb. 28, 1908,
By Operation of Law.

Recalled to active service Apr. 21, 1917; in charge of Newport Engineering District and of works for the defense of the southeast coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and of Rivers and Harbors from Nantucket to Block Island; supervising inspection of plants and of war material for depots of supplies and for over-seas.

Civil History. — After retirement, resided at Newport, R. I.; and was interested in civil activities; Director of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum; Chairman Newport Park Commission; Chairman Board of Recreation; member of various committees.

Vol. VIII
p42
[Supplement, Vol. VIII: 1930‑1940]

Military History: —

Col., Ret., Feb. 28, 1908.

Died Apr. 18, 1933, at Newport, R. I.: Aged 89.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1934.º

Buried, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.​a2


Thayer's Note:

a1 a2 Col. Willard's birthplace and burial place are from his AOG obituary.


[image ALT: Valid HTML 4.01.]

Page updated: 22 Mar 14