Registry at the cemetery lists him as Henry David Willison, but his head stone is David L. Willison.

Memorial and Biography record of National and State Prominent citizens of the State of South Dakota. published in 1898 South Dakota and a Veteran of the Civil War of 1865. "From Compendium of Biography by the State of South Dakota" as follows:
David Willison was an energetic & progressive Agriculturist who resided on Sec. 17, Lake Hendrick Township, Brooking County. Mr. Willison was born in Flint Ridge, Muskingum County, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1847 and is the son of Abel and Melinda (Casteel) Willison, both natives of West Virginia. The Willison's were of German descent and the Casteel's Scotch.
David spent his early days in Muskingum, & Licking Counties, Ohio. On February. 29, 1864 he enlisted in Co. D, First Ohio Cavalry, a part of Wilder's brigade. He joined Sherman's army at Nashville and took part in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca and the entire Atlantic campaign. His regiment was a part of Wilson's cavalry and made a forced march to Nashville, to intercept General Hood. After the defeat of the latter by General Thomas, David's regiment followed Hood until his men were dispersed. They then went with Sherman to Macon, where they learned that an armistice had been declared. David was afterward detailed on detached service in South Carolina, remaining there until he was mustered out September 27, 1865. He went to new York by steamer and on the voyage a terrible storm was encountered, which however, did no great damage. He received his honorable discharge at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. He went back to Indianapolis & worked for a year in a hub & spoke factory. In 1869 he went to Decatur, Michigan, & secured employment in a sawmill. The first season he cut eight hundred thousand feet of logs, & for the next 3 years operated a mill near Lawrence, Michigan. In the spring of 1877, David went to Taopi, Mower CO., Minn., driving a team all the way from Van Buren, Mich., 565 miles. He rented a government claim & went to farming, but only for one year, then he journeyed to Faribault County, in Mich. He remained there until 1882, and then settled in Brookings County, SD, home steading a claim on Sec 30, Township 111, range 47. After living on this claim for 6 years he sold out & purchased sec 17 of the same township. He had a good farm and buildings and a very profitable & productive piece of land. David had early troubles, like the rest and was compelled among other things, to live in a sod house for some time during the pioneer days. When he arrived in Brookings county his worldly wealth consisted of an ox-team, four cows and ten dollars. He had just come overland form Faribault with his family, all traveling in a covered Prairie Schooner.
David was a republican and took part in many local political celebrations, conventions, party councils, etc. He was also greatly interested in educational matters and was a member of the township school boards of Lake Hendricks and Richland townships for several years. He is a member of the Robert E. Cook post No 41, Grand army of the Republic, of White, South Dakota.
On the 17th of July, 1871 David married Delilah Scott.
Mr. and Mrs Willison are parents of ten children. Winifred is now the wife of David Bradley, of Sherman Township, Brookings County. Pearl is now Mrs. W.A. Mitchell of Wessington, SD; Nellie, a school teacher of Brookings County; Bessie married Edward McKee and lives in Lincoln County, Minnesota. The others are: David Walter, Carl, Alice, David K., Blanche and Delilah......... end of biography

David had a keen mind and a memory.

(bio added by aritha buss)