He is known for his time as an unelected delegate to the United States Congress for Jefferson Territory and as the person who introduced James Reavis to the fraudulent Peralta land grant.
[1] The young medical practitioner got into trouble by performing abortions, and to escape potential legal problems moved to California in the early 1850s.
Described by the Rocky Mountain News as a "good geologist and a most polished gentleman", Willing became a candidate for delegate for Jefferson Territory in October 1859.
He was at the time low on funds and offered to sell a half interest in the grant to livery stable owner James D. Monihon in exchange for US$250 and the amount of the bill he owed.
Willing responded by quickly settling his affairs and joining a governmental survey party leaving town the next morning for Santa Fe.
[7] To assist in development of his land grant, in 1871 Willing sought the aid of James Reavis, a St. Louis real estate agent with forgery skills.