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m. 1849 - Charles H Willis1859 - 1951
Facts and Events
Extract from Willis Music Company history
On April 1, 1899, Charles H. Willis, a twenty-seven year veteran of the sheet music industry, founded a small business at 41 East 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati. In May 1901, Mr. Willis purchased miscellaneous sheet music and music books from the John Church Company and moved his business to a larger location at 4th and Elm.
Willis Music grew steadily during the ten years spent in that location. Mr. Willis and his son, William H., began publishing methods, collections, and sheet music specifically designed for the needs of the teaching community, striving to provide the community with complete, dependable, and accurate service..
In 1910, Willis Music absorbed the business of George B. Jennings & Company. The newly incorporated firm was re-named W.H. Willis & Company. William Willis, son of the founder of the business, died shortly before the company was incorporated.
Continuing to expand, W.H. Willis & Company bought the Cable Piano Company’s Cincinnati branch in 1912. As both companies had been located in the same building at 4th and Elm, W.H. Willis & Company then occupied the entire seven story building. In 1919, Gustave Schirmer bought W. H. Willis and Company, making it a branch of G. Schirmer of Boston, Massachusetts.
References
- ↑ The Final Curtain (obituary notices), in Billboard. (New York, NY: Prometheus Global Media)
Vol. 57, No. 11, Page 33, 17 Mar 1945.
Willis - Mrs. Emma Wendt, 88, wife of Charles H Willis, founder of the Willis Music Company, Cincinnati, at her home in that city March 9. In addition to her husband, survived by a daughter, Mrs. Rupert Langdale. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate, Ky.
- ↑ Charles Willis household, in Campbell, Kentucky, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
12 Jun 1900.
Both Charles and his son, William were enumerated as music dealers.
Name: Charles Willis
Age: 40
Birth Date: Nov 1859
Birthplace: Ohio
Home in 1900: Newport Ward 1, Campbell, Kentucky
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Emma L Willis
Marriage Year: 1879
Years Married: 21
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Willis 40
Emma L Willis 43
William H Willis 20
Mammie Willis 16
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Evergreen Cemetery Alphabetical Listings.
Page containing Willis
Willis, Charles H d-1-27-1951; br-1-30-1951; age-11-3-1859; Sec-23, lot-86; parents-Henry and Caroline Willis; born-Cinti; widowed; place of death-Christ Hosp; LO-self; NR-Mrs Rupert H Langdale, 3421 Middleton Ave, Cinti
- ↑ Charles H Willis household, in Campbell, Kentucky, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule
18 Apr 1910.
Charles was enumerated as a music dealer.
Name: Charles Willis
Age: 40
Birth Date: Nov 1859
Birthplace: Ohio
Home in 1900: Newport Ward 1, Campbell, Kentucky
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Emma L Willis
Marriage Year: 1879
Years Married: 21
Father's Birthplace: England
Mother's Birthplace: England
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Willis 40
Emma L Willis 43
William H Willis 20
Mammie Willis 16
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