Résumé

Bookkeeper, Boston, MA, c. 1865.

Carpenter, Boston, MA, c. 1876.

Architect, Colorado Springs, CO, 1880.

Architectural Draftsman, J.C. Pelton, Architect, Riverside, CA, c. 1888.

Principal, A.C. Williard, Architect, Riverside, CA, 09/1888- . Willard was one of two architects, along with David A. Gunning, listed in the Los Angeles City Directory and Gazetteer of Southern California for 1892, (Los Angeles: George W. Maxwell, 1892), p. 770.

Relocation

Adam Clark Willard was likely born in Gardiner, ME in 1843. Various dates have been put forward for this birth, but it is likely that he was born in 1843. (See Willard Genealogy, Joseph Willard, Charles Wilkes Walker and Charles Henry Pope, eds., [Boston, MA: Willard Family Association, 1915], p. 376.) He probably resided with his family in ME until sometime between 1847 and 1850, when they relocated to Westborough, MA.

In 1850, he lived in Westborough, MA, with his parents, four siblings, a woman, perhaps a household employee, Rose McCann (born c. 1820 in Ireland), and lodgers Charles Seavy (born c. 1846 in ME, a carpenter) and a man named Cloyes (born c. 1846 in MA, also a carpenter). His father James W. Willard, Sr., worked as a building contractor, and had two lodgers who likely worked for him. (A next-door neighbor at the time was also a brick mason, who also had been born in ME.) As his house was filled with men involved in the building trades, it isn't hard to see where Adam got the idea of becoming an architect. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts; Roll: 344; Page: 378a, accessed 03/11/2026.)

Ten years later in 1860, Clark resided with his parents, his elder sister and younger brothers in Davenport, IA. His father continued to work as a carpenter, while "Clark" Willard had a position as a clerk. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Davenport, Scott, Iowa; Roll: M653_340; Page: 300; Family History Library Film: 803340, accessed 03/11/2026.)

The State of MA Census of 1865 recorded that Willard's family resided in Boston, MA, where his father worked as a carpenter. The household consisted of Adam's parents, sister and brother, as well as a physician, Sophia C. Jones (born c. 1825), possibly a lodger, and a household servant, Mary Coy, (born c. 1840). (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., State Census, 1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 03/12/2026)

By 1870, Adam no longer lived with his parents, who lived in the Hyde Park suburb in south Boston. The 1870 US Census indicated that James W. Willard owned $20,000 worth of real estate and had a personal estate worth $1,000. This personal estate amount was not notable, but the amount owned in real estate was for the time and place. He likely prospered as a carpenter and builder in IA or MA (or both). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Hyde Park, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_635; Page: 510A, accessed 03/11/2026.)

Clark worked as a carpenter in 1876 and made his home on Green Street near Elm in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. His father, who continued to work as a carpenter, lived on Linden Street in the Allston neighborhood. His younger brother James, a bookkeeper, lived on Brookside Avenue. about two blocks to the east from Adam. (See The Boston Directory Embracing the City Record, A General Directory of the Citizens and Business Directory, vol. LXXII, 1876, {Boston: Sampson, Davenport and Company, 1876], p. 944.)

Sometime between 1876 and 1880, Willard and his wife Nellie moved to Colorado Springs, CO, where the 1880 US Census reported that he now worked as an architect. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado; Roll: 90; Page: 401c; Enumeration District: 042, accessed 03/12/2026.)

He resided in Riverside, CA, when he registered to vote there on 05/08/1888. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 38; FHL Roll Number: 977092, accessed 03/05/2026.)

In 1900, Willard roomed at the Hollywood Hotel in Riverside. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Riverside Precinct 4, Riverside, California; Roll: 96; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0207, accessed 03/05/2026.)

Willard died in Los Angeles County, CA, and was buried in Angelus Rosedale Cemetery.

Parents

His father was James W. Willard, Sr., (born 08/07/1818 in Strong, ME-d. 07/18/1896 in Hyde Park, MA) worked as a "housewright" as per the 1850 US Census. He wed Hulda Noble (born 04/11/1811 in Gardiner, ME-d. 02/27/1891 in Providence, RI) on 10/10/1840 in Gardiner, ME. (See Willard Genealogy, Joseph Willard, Charles Wilkes Walker and Charles Henry Pope, eds., [Boston, MA: Willard Family Association, 1915], p. 376.)

His siblings included Luzerne Wilson Willard Simons (born 09/28/1841 in ME-d. 1931 in RI) James Winslow Willard, Jr., (born 03/11/1845 in Gardiner, ME-d. 06/04/1915 in Brooklyn, NY), Frances Willard (born 04/26/1850 in Westborough, MA-d 09/30/1850 in Westborough, MA), Marie Willard (born 03/10/1953 in Westborough, MA-d. 08/03/1853 in Westborough, MA) and Annie Willard (dates unknown).

Spouse

Adam married Nellie Bishoprick of Brooklyn, NY. (See Willard Genealogy, Joseph Willard, Charles Wilkes Walker and Charles Henry Pope, eds., [Boston, MA: Willard Family Association, 1915], p. 376.)