Willard Cutting Flagg (16 September 1829 – 30 March 1878) was an American politician. Flagg, the only son of Gershom and Jane (Paddock) Flagg, was born in Moro,

Madison County, Illinois Madison County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a part of the Metro East in southern Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 264,776, making it the eighth-most populous county in Illinois and the most popu ...

, September 16, 1829. He graduated from

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

in 1854. After leaving college he returned home, and owing to the failing health of his father took charge of his extensive farm. He was married, February 13, 1856, to Sarah of

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, Mo., daughter of James and Betsey (Brown) Smith Proctorsville, Vt., and continued to reside on his farm near Moro until his death. He took an active part in local politics in the campaigns of 1856 and 1860, and in 1862 was appointed collector of internal revenue for the 12th district of Illinois, retaining the office until elected to the

Illinois State Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the I ...

, a position which he held for four years from 1869. He was greatly interested in the promotion of scientific agriculture and horticulture, and held a leading position in connection with many organizations for this object. He was also a frequent and successful writer on political and agricultural topics. He was one of the originators of the farmers' movement in the West, and was elected in 1873 the first president of the Illinois State Farmers' Association. He was one of the earliest promoters and trustees of the Illinois Industrial University. He died in Moro, March 30, 1878, of

influenza Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptoms ...

, having been in feeble health through the previous winter. His wife with three of their six children survived him. His son Norman G. Flagg also served in the

Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...

.'Illinois Blue Book 1945-1946,' Biographical Sketch of Norman G. Flagg, pg. 276-277

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Flagg, Willard Cutting 1829 births 1878 deaths Yale College alumni People from Madison County, Illinois Farmers from Illinois Illinois local politicians Illinois state senators 19th-century American legislators Leaders of the University of Illinois 19th-century Illinois politicians