By: Timothy H. Smith, Historian & Director of Education, Gettysburg History
Descended from the early Scots-Irish settlers of south-central Pennsylvania, David Wills was born in Menallen Township, Adams County, on February 3, 1831. He was the only son of James J. and Ruth Wilson Wills. James, a prosperous farmer and active in local politics, was elected county commissioner in 1853.
When David was just four years old, his mother died, and he and his sister were raised by their widowed father. At age 12, the family moved to Gettysburg, where Wills attended public school and later graduated from Gettysburg College in 1851. He studied law under Thaddeus Stevens in Lancaster and was admitted to the Adams County Bar in December 1853.
In 1854, Wills opened a law office in Gettysburg and was appointed to the newly created position of Superintendent of Public Schools in Adams County. Two years later, he married Jennie M. Smyser, and the couple had one son and four daughters. In 1859, he purchased the large three-story brick home on the southeast corner of York Street and the town square—a building that would later become one of Gettysburg’s most famous landmarks.
Role in the Creation of the National Cemetery
An enthusiastic supporter of Andrew Curtin in his successful 1860 campaign for governor, Wills maintained a close friendship with Curtin throughout the Civil War. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Curtin visited the town and was deeply moved by the tremendous loss of life. Soon after, he appointed Wills as the state’s agent in a project that would lead to the creation of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
When it became clear that President Abraham Lincoln was considering attending the cemetery dedication, Wills wrote to him, offering accommodations at his home. In a tactful note, he informed the president that Edward Everett would be the principal orator, and that Lincoln, “as Chief Executive of the Nation, [would] formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks.”
On the evening of November 18, 1863, Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg and stayed at the Wills House. The next day, he delivered the Gettysburg Address—one of the greatest speeches in American history. Wills was seated among the dignitaries on the platform that day.
A Life of Public Service
For the remainder of his life, Wills was one of Gettysburg’s most respected citizens. He served for years on the town council, including a term as president, and was elected burgess in 1878. In 1874, Governor Hartranft appointed him President Judge of Adams County; though later defeated for the position, he continued to be addressed as “Judge Wills” in many circles.
Wills was active in local business ventures, including railroad development, and served as a director of the Gettysburg National Bank for 20 years, at one time holding the position of president. A devoted member of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, he served as an elder for over two decades and as Sunday School superintendent for 15 years.
David Wills died in October 1894 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Though he was deeply involved in many aspects of Gettysburg’s civic life, he is best remembered for his role in creating the National Cemetery—and for penning the now-famous phrase describing Lincoln’s address as “a few appropriate remarks.”
To learn more about David Wills and other Gettysburg figures who shaped history, visit the award-winning new Beyond the Battle Museum.
