The first public record I can find of Daniel is his enlistment into Civil War service. The Official Record: "Entered service December 12, 1863. Enlisted into Company "E" twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry from Platteville, Wisconsin. Transferred to Company "K", 12th Wisconsin Infantry, June 2, 1865. From Company E, twentry-fifth Wisconsin Infantry; Mustered out of service July 16, 1865."

On 12 NOV 1882 Daniel married Elizabeth Schaap, sister of Johanna Schaap, the wife of Levi Newton Bushnell and the youngest daughter of Jan Schaap and Hermina Bloemers. They had no children at the time of their move to Dakota Territory and as far as I know they remained childless.

In 1883 Daniel Willis and his wife, Lizzie, moved to Sully County, Dakota Territory. They were members, with Levi and Johanna, at the Blunt, Hughes, DT Methodist Church in the 1888 members register.

There were three land Patents issued to Daniel:

1. A Sale - Cash Entry, termed a "Pre-Eemption" - for the North East Quarter of Section 5, Township 114 North of Range 75 West of the 5th PM in Sully County, DT was made Patent on 30 DEC 1887.

In his "Proving-Up" testimony Daniel said he first settled on his claim 11 OCT 1883 and made it his residence 19 OCT 1883. His testimony and his "Non-Mineral Affidavit" were returned to the land Office because the affidavit was not signed and the testimony was not properly attested to (not notarized).

Daniel said his first act as a settler was building a house, 12' x 18', and a barn, 12' x 21'. He built a cellar and broke five acres but didn't put in a crop because it was too late in the year.

On 15 APR 1884 Daniel paid the receiver $1.25 per acre or $197.94 for 158.35 acres.

2. A homestead Entry was issued 10 JUN 1898 for the North East Quarter of Section 9 in Township 114 North of Range 75 West of of 5th PM in Sully County, DT.

3. Daniel was issued a Patent for a Timber Culture on 05 AUG 1898 for the South West Quarter of Township 114 North of Range 75 West of the 5th PM in Sully County, DT.

In the 1890 Veteran's Census Daniel is living in Lawerence County, SD (In the Black Hills). It's my understanding he moved to the west coast and died there.