Florence Willard was an exceptional horsewoman and farmer in Towanda. Her father died in 1875, and after his death, Florence and her mother ran the farm. Florence came to my attention in an article about the ladies equestrianship contests in the McLean County Fair of 1873. In this contest the women rode their horses in all paces, walking, trotting, cantering and galloping. Florence was very much the crowd favorite for her impromptu display of bareback riding. when the judges overlooked her performance, the crowd immediately began a collection of prize money for Florence Willard and presented her with $55 on the spot. The first place winner was given a gold watch, which had been valued at $50.
In 1874 Florence rode in the fair again on a spirited black gelding. This was a very fast horse, and the reporter observed that Florence was the most reckless of the riders, frequently risking a broken neck in making fast turns on the track. She wore a black riding suit and was a "dashing country lass" of under 17 years of age. The first place winner was a married lady, Mrs. Amanda Conroy, who wore a black velvet habit trimmed in silver and topped off with a black velvet hat and white feather. In this Mrs. Conroy rode her horse saddled and bareback! Florence, it was said, had won many medals for horseback riding around Illinois at her young age, and at this fair she took the second place award.
Florence may have lived all her life in Towanda. She is buried there, but unfortunately her death date is not recorded on her stone. She may have married a man named John E Johnson, whose name appears on the family stone beneath hers, but I could find no record of such a marriage. The only news of Florence in the newspapers were of her riding in the county and state fairs and various lawsuits that she and her mother brought in McLean County. In one suit Florence sued their farm hand, Herman Ball for striking her. It was reported that Florence had gone into the field to give him specific instructions about his work, and he lost his temper and struck her with a club and used abusive language. He later sued Mrs. Willard for his wages which he claimed were due. In these reports Florence was described as the "masculine lady farmer." Whether this was because Florence had large shoulders or some other physical characteristic that marked her out as "masculine" or because she wore men's clothing is not known. Perhaps Mr. Ball lost his temper because he was unable to take instruction from a mere female.
Florence appears to have been an only child, so her family would have ended with her death.