Willis
The town of Willis is located in Augusta Township, Washtenaw County. It did not exist before 1880, when the Grand Trunk Railroad (now Wabash) went through the area. The Railroad demanded that the area residents pay for a railroad station if they wanted a train stop there. Willis L. Potter was kind enough to donate land for the railroad station. This changed the area from open farmland to a town. He named the station and post office "Newcomb" after his wife's maiden name.
The name "Newcomb" had to be abandoned immediately, because another town in Michigan had the same name. So the station was named "Willis." Nearby Paint Creek and Eaton Mills were not located along the railroad so they disappeared.
A creamery was established on the north side of Willis Road between Bunton Road and the railroad. A pickle manufacturing place was established there, then a grocery store; it is still standing, used as a restaurant. The railroad station remained there until the mid 1960s when it was torn down.
Photo 2824 from the Milan Area Historical Society collection shows Willis around 1880.
Thanks to Warren Hale "Way Back When" March 21, 1984, and thanks to Ron Morey for information about the post office.
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