- D. H. BILLINGS, a prominent contractor and builder of Janesville,
Wis., was born in
- Montgomery County, N.Y., on the 11th day of January, 1840,
and is a son of Hiram and Elizabeth (BROWN) BILLINGS. His father
was born on the same farm where the birth of our subject occurred,
and throughout his life he followed agricultural pursuits. After
his marriage with Miss BROWN they continued to reside in New
York until 1879, when they removed to Rockford, Ill, where they
are still living. They are the parents of two children - D. H.,
of this sketch, and a daughter, who is now the widow of Stephen
SNELL.
- Our subject passed his early life in his native county, and
in 1856, when sixteen years of age, first
- came to Janesville with his father. The first house which
he assisted in building in Rock County was erected during that
season on Turtle Creek, and is still standing, in 1889. Mr. BILLINGS'
stay in Rock County at that time was but temporary, as in March,
1857, he returned to the State of New York. He served an apprenticeship
to the carpenter trade at Amsterdam, near Albany, and there continued
to work for eight years, when he went to Michigan, where he passed
the next six years of his life. He then removed to Rockford,
Ill., where he continued for the same period of time, and at
length returned to Janesville, where he made a permanent location.
- In 1862 Mr. BILLINGS was united in marriage with Miss Frances
FULMER, a daughter of Rev.
- Isaac FULMER, a Methodist clergyman, of Amsterdam. Two children
graced their union - Frank, who is a machinist by trade and now
resides in Rockford, Ill., and Edna, a student of the high school
of Janesville. In 1879, on the 9th of June, death robbed Mr.
BILLINGS of his helpmate. In 1881 he married Miss Nettie ALLEN,
a daughter of Alonzo and granddaughter of Alexander ALLEN.
- On the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion Mr. BILLINGS
contemplated entering the service,
- and assisted in raising the first company which enlisted
from Amsterdam, but on account of physical disability his services
as a soldier were not accepted. He is at present one of the prominent
contractors and builders of Janesville, making a specially of
church and store buildings, and the skillful and efficient manner
in which his work is performed has gained him an enviable reputation.
- Mr. BILLINGS is descended from several families of note among
the early settlers of New York.
- His paternal grandfather, Caleb BILLINGS, was one of the
early settlers of Montgomery County, and wedded a Miss MALLORY,
who belonged to an early Vermont family. The great-grandfather
of our subject married a Miss VAN RENSSELAER who belonged to
an old Holland family whose members were pioneer settlers of
the Mohawk Valley. The mother of Mr. BILLINGS was the daughter
of David BROWN, who was also numbered among the early settlers
of Montgomery County, N.Y.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 526.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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