Willard Broad Fessenden was born in Barre, Massachusetts, on July 10, 1834. He was the second of five children born to Peter & Delilah (Chickering), and grew up in a farming village. When the Civil War broke out, Willard’s youngest brother, James Otis, joined the 21st Massachusetts Infantry, where he saw many battles before being killed at the Battle of New Berne in March of 1862. Later that year, Willard and his brother William both joined the 53rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. They were sent to Louisiana, where they were engaged in battle during the siege of Port Hudson. It was during the siege, on June 14th, 1863, that Willard was shot through his shoulder by a Confederate musket ball. While recovering from his wound, he also contracted malaria, before being discharged along with his company in October of that same year. Upon returning to Barre, he resumed his farming along with his new wife, and raised five children. Willard passed away in 1916