"The Haviland families were brought up in the Friends Church for generations. Quaker discipline did not and does not permit the marriage of ‘COUSINS’, members of the ‘Friends Church’ who marry cousins become disowned for said marriage, their names and records are stricken from the records of the Friends Church and considered offenders of the law of the Church. My father, Willis Hoag Haviland, and my mother, Hannah Wing Haviland, were cousins, they were dismissed from and refused marriage under the laws of the Friends Church, both quit the Church and were married by a Justice of the Peace or magistrate at Glens Falls, NY. (My father on quitting the Friends Church, gave the Church $500.00 and said goodbye and good-night.)

"The Haviland Genealogy can be found at the Public Library, New York City, NY. There is given my history with ancestry complete. In part, gives, Willis Henry Haviland, physician, born at Haviland Hollow, 12 miles from Pawling, Dutchess County, New York. September 10th, 1864, son and only child of Willis Hoag Haviland and Hannah Wing Haviland, who were married at Glens Falls, NY. Sept. 5th, 1860. Father was born at Haviland Hollow, 12 miles from Pawling, Dutchess County, NY November 1st, 1805, and died in December 1883. Buried in the Haviland lot with his first wife (my mother being his second wife) at Glens Falls, NY. Father was 78 years old at the time of his death. He left a widow, Mrs. Hannah Wing Haviland, my half-sister by his first marriage, Mrs. Fannie Kirby, Burlington, N.J. who died a few years ago.

"Mother was born at Glens Falls, NY, December 29th, 1836 and died November 25th, 1922, making her 86 years old at the time of her death and was buried in my lot at Butte, Montana. Solomon Haviland, Glens Falls, NY (father of Hannah Wing Haviland - my mother) and Willis Hoag Haviland, Pawling, Dutchess County, NY (my father) were first cousins. Solomon Haviland had the large farm just below ‘our’ home on Main Street, East. He fell off a load of hay as he was standing up directing the team through a gate from the field. The load struck the side of gate and he was thrown off the load. When he fell his neck was broken at the age of 54 years. He had two children, Roger Haviland, the father of your late husband, Foster Haviland, and Hannah Wing Haviland, my mother. Roger Haviland died the result of falling off the roof while pushing off the snow. At the time I was living in Minneapolis, Foster’s mother telegraphed me, I left on the first train and arrived at Glens Falls in time for the funeral. After spending a few days, I left for home." (2)

"Willis Henry Haviland received his early education at the Glens Falls Academy at Glens Falls, NY when 16 years old and had two years at boarding school, Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, Fort Edward, NY. Then one year at boarding school at Cornwall Heights School, Cornwell-on-Hudson, NY. Then went to live in the family for one year of Dr. Stephen Birdsell, Bedford and Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY where he started the study of medicine.

"Entered the New York Hom’ Medical College and Hospital, 3rd Ave. and 23rd Street, NY City, in the fall of 1885, graduated April 16th, 1888. The summer of 1886 he spent attending the clinics at Paris and London, returning to enter College in the fall, the summer of 1887, he spent five months on the staff by passing an examination, at Harlem Reception Hosptial, NY City, returning to the College in the fall and graduating the following spring.

"Dr. Willis H. Haviland went to Minneapolis, Minnesota in June of 1888, passed the State Medical Board of Minnesota in Oct. 1888. Became connected with St. Barnabas Hospital Clinic, Minneapolis City Hospital. Lectured on mental and nervous diseases, medical department of the University of Minnesota, 1888-1889. Came to Butte, Montana, Sept. 1st, 1890, passed the State Medical Board of Montana in Oct. 1890. Became actively engaged in general practice, took his private patients (as necessary) to St. James Hospital, later had the advantage of two post-graduate courses and since 1900 he has devoted himself strictly to office work as a ‘Specialist for Nerve, Skin and Venereal Diseases.’

"In the fall of 1906 was elected State Senator at Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana, and served the following four years. Only living children are a son--Willis Bradley Haviland, and a daughter--Katherine Irvine Haviland, both are married and settled. He married his present wife, Mrs. Frances Elbert Harris, February 24th, 1908, at Butte, Montana. Have a fine home of ten rooms, three lots, large trees, garden and two garages on the place, and everything and more that should go with the same, including a big eight Cadillac Town Sedan Automobile, two fine Airedale Dogs, birds, flowers, etc. etc." (3)