Billick, William W.

BILLICK, KIBBIE, GOODRICH, WALLS, EICHHORN

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/30/2012 at 07:11:51

William W. Billick is an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Poweshiek county and the success which crowns his efforts is the legitimate reward of industry and well directed effort.
He was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, July 26, 1870, a son of William and Eliza (Kibbie) Billick, the former a native of New York state and of German descent, and the latter also of the Empire state but of Irish parentage. In early life the father sought the opportunities of the west, first locating in Winnebago county, Illinois. He later located in Poweshiek county, Iowa, and in the early '401s, when Iowa was still a territorial district, was a scout, hunter and trapper. He followed the life of a woodman until he reached middle life when, in 1872, he located on a farm north of Brooklyn. In 1876 he removed to Carroll county, Iowa, and there followed farming throughout his remaining years, passing away there on the 14th of March, 1907. His widow is still living at the age of sixty-nine years and makes her home in Manning, Carroll county.
William W. Billick was a little lad of three years of age when the family removed from Illinois to Poweshiek county, and was but six years of age when they made a permanent location in Carroll county. He attended the district schools of the latter locality and remained with his parents until he had attained his majority. He then worked at farm labor by the month for three years, at the end of which time he rented land in Carroll county, operating the same for four years. He then returned to Poweshiek county and lived for three years on rented land one mile west of Malcom, in Malcom township. In March, 1901, he purchased eighty acres on section 19, Bear Creek township. In addition to operating his own land, each year he rents from two to five hundred acres, so that he is farming on quite an extensive scale. He raises quantities of grain and hay, which he feeds to his stock, devoting much time to the latter business. He raises mostly cattle and hogs and ships to the Chicago market. His own land is well improved, his fields being rich and arable and his buildings are ample for the shelter of grain and stock. He has a good orchard, covering a half acre, which bears its fruit in season. He is progressive in all his work and what he undertakes is sure to bring him success.
Mr. Billick was united in marriage to Miss Addie Goodrich, a daughter of O. D. and Jane (Walls) Goodrich, well known and highly respected farming people of Poweshiek county. The father was born in Wisconsin and was one of the pioneer settlers of Iowa, first locating in Scott county and being engaged in freighting from Davenport to Des Moines prior to the advent of the railroads in this section. He is still living and now makes him home with a daughter, Mrs. John Eichhorn, whose home is located south of Malcom and whose husband is mentioned on another page of this work. The mother departed this life some fourteen years ago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Billick have been born two children: Xavie, who is ten years of age, and Clio, five years old.
Mr. Billick votes for the man whom he deems best qualified to fill public office, irrespective of party affiliation. For the past nineteen years he has been identified with the Knights of Pythias at Malcom, while his wife is a member of the Pythian Sisters of that place. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual, and this truth is abundantly verified in the life of Mr. Billick. Steadily pursuing his way, undeterred by the obstacles and difficulties in his path, he is achieving a prosperity of which he has every reason to be proud.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 423-424