Billingsley, Elijah

BILLINGSLEY, STRONG, GREGG, LITTON, MILLS, TURNER

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 11/18/2002 at 15:48:17

From the FAIRFIELD LEDGER, Jan. 1, 1895, Page 3, col. 7.

AN OLD CITIZEN GONE.
Elijah Billingsley, second son of Wm. R. and Sarah B. Billingsley, was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Jan. 32, 1818. In the sixth year of his age his parents moved to Harrison County (Ohio) and settled on government land, where Elijah attended school and helped in opening up the wilderness. His parents were Quakers and he had a birthright in the Society which was continued until 1839, when he joined the M.E. Church. He was married to Prudence Strong Dec. 29th 1841, and in the following May removed to Iowa territory, settling at his late residence in Round Prairie township in the spring of 1843. He died Dec. 22d, 1894 at 4:30 a.m., aged 76 years, 11 months and 1 day. His wife died January 12th, 1872. By her he had eight children. W.R., the eldest, grew to manhood on the farm; he enlisted in Company G, Thirtieth Iowa, in August 1862, and died at Helena, Ark., in January following. Sara J., a successful teacher, died at her home Oct. 12th 1871; Mary C., died in early childhood; Mrs. Lizzie Gregg, Samuel, and Florence B. Litton live in this vicinity; James S., Belleville, Kansas, and Mrs. M.B. Mills, Ottumwa, Iowa, are practicing physicians.
His second wife was Penina Turner, and their marriage occurred January 29th 1874. Of this union two children were born, the eldest dying in infancy; Mattie resides on the farm. His second wife survives him. He and his first wife were active members of the church and aided in organizing the first class and building the first M.E. church in Glasgow as well as the present one. He has filled various offices in church, township and county with satisfaction to all. His religious training, in connection with his habits of industry and economy, made him a friend to his fellow men. He helped the needy and relieved the distressed.