1867- ~1930

Collections

Biographical Information

Arthur J. (John) Wills (ca. 1867-1930 or later), was an English born architect active in the United States and Canada. Wills seems to have had a penchant for travel, his life story records numerous moves between and within England American, and Canada as both a bachelor and when he later started a family. Wills most likely came to the new world with his father in 1883 while accompanying him on a trip to over see a church's construction in Newfoundland. Wills moved more permanently to the United States in 1887, he may have settled directly in Asheville thought the details of this are unclear. His career in his new home included business partnerships with his father and brother. Their firm is mentioned and advertised in

The Asheville City Directory and Business Reflex in 1890. An economic downturn in the early 1890's forced the Wills brothers to relocate to find employment. Arthur Wills is reported as being in Newfoundland in 1892 and overseeing the construction of a Masonic temple there. He found his way back to Asheville in around 1896 and is recorded in the city directory as being a partner in the Wagner & Wills firm. This was in hopes that the two partners complimentary skills would boost their firms performance in difficult economic times. Wills got married in 1896 and his first son was born in 1897. For unspecified reason s he moved back to England in 1901. He worked as a clerk in a building firm at this time. He then moved with his family to the Bronx in 1910, then to Winnipeg in 1916, to Minneapolis in 1920, and finally to the Chicago suburb of Riverside in 1925. His two adult sons are listed in the 1930 census as living with him and working as an architect and electrical engineer. Wills date of death is not known but is thought to be in the 1930's.

http://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000456

 

Related Oral Interviews

The Buildings

Alphonso H. Cobb House (Ca. 1890)

Asheville City Hall (1892)

Asheville Free Kindergarten No. 2 (1892)

Bethel M.E. Church (Ca. 1891)

Elliott Hazzard House (1887-1889)

First Baptist Church (1890-1892)

John Nichols House (Ca. 1891)

Montford Avenue School (1892)

Inventory of Architecture

Selected Correspondence

Typological Motifs in Willis' Work

Bibliography

American Institute of Architects Archives, Washington, D. C
"Arthur J. Wills," Dictionary of Architects in Canada, http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/391.
Censuses of England, 1871, 1901, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com.
Harry W. Fulenweider, Asheville City Directory and Business Reflex (1890).
United States Census, 1880-1930.
United States Passport Applications, 1925, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com.

 

About this site