[2] In June 1861, during the American Civil War, Willard enlisted in the 35th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a private in Company C. He was wounded in August 1862, during the Second Battle of Bull Run.
[3] In August 1864, he re-enlisted in the 186th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and was mustered in as a private in Company D in September.
[2] In 1891, Willard was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing the Jefferson County 2nd District.
[5] He passed a civil service examination in December 1892, and in January 1893 he was appointed a clerk in the office of the Adjutant General of New York Josiah Porter.
Willard was a freemason, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Labor, and the Masonic Veterans' Association of Brooklyn.