Willard Call
- Had two wives: Adelaide and Leah. Married Adelaide on April 1, 1886
- Born on a big farm. Twentieth in Anson Call’s family.
- Six years old: milked cows and chopped wood
- Fourteen, drove hundred head of hogs into wheat fields.
- Became a member of the second primary association organized in the church
- Was a deacon, teacher, priest, elder, seventy, a high priest, and a bishop’s counselor in the East Bountiful Ward.
- Attended the university, taught school.
- “Partial to a book or the charm of a pretty girl” (Adelaide). Also liked horseback riding.
- Met Adelaide when he taught school—she was a student.
- Merchant for a living. Also was a city councilman in Bountiful, justice of the peace, and deputy sheriff in Davis County.
- Councilor in bishopric, ward clerk, ward teacher
- Claimed to be the first person to preach the gospel in the Philippines when he served in the military there during the Spanish-American War
- 1893 went on a mission to England and traveled in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge. Visited Scotland, and Ireland. Last seven months of mission president over Norwich conference and returned home July 26, 1895.
- Assisted in organizing a company of Infantry in the National Guard. Made a Sergeant.
- Said to his children about church: “Avoid the rear seats. You can sleep better on the front seats, there will be less to disturb you.”
- Spring of 1898 volunteered to join Spanish-American war. Went to the first presidency for approval of joining war. President Woodruff gave him a blessing and said that Willard would be preserved in war. He had broken ribs as a child that never properly healed, but since the blessing from President Woodruff, they never bothered him again.
- Arrived home from the war January 18, 1899, having been away for nine months, traveled 18,000 miles, and fought in six battles.
- Moved down to Mexico. There, he met and married Leah.
- Lived twelve happy years in Dublan, Mexico.
- Was ward teacher, presidency of young men’s mutual, superintendent of Sunday school, member of stake board of the Sunday school, and stake high council
- Worked at Union Mercantile Co. and then went into business for himself. Walked out on everything when they went back to United States.
- Had to leave Mexico due to strife.
- Willard developed cancer on his face.
- Ordinance worker in Salt Lake Temple.
- Had a policy of keeping out of debt
- Went blind in his old age due to cateracts.
- Always liked to wear a clean, starched white shirt so he was ready when someone would come.