I am writing to gain more information on Ira and Diane Billings, who lived in the town of Lucas in Lucas Co. in the mid 1800s/early 1900s. Here is the little information I have, which I gained from the obituary of their son, Henry A. Billings:

I. Ira Billings m. Diane _____________

In the Iowa Cemetery Records Database, there are the following entries that seem to match the Ira and Diane Billings I have been looking for:

Buried at Bethel Chapel, Liberty, Clarke Co, IA:

I.D. Billings
d. 19 Jul 1921
66y, 9mo, 27d
"hus of Diannah J."

Diannah J. Billings
d. 27 Feb 1909
59y, 5mo, 16d
"wif of I.D."

F.M. Billings
d. 29 Sep 1900
27y, 3m
"son of I.D.; son of D.J."

The fact that these Billings have the correct initials and are buried just across the county border from Lucas leads me to believe that this is the correct family. Can anyone confirm this????

Their Children:
1. Rosa E. Billings m. Thomas C. Southward, 22 Sept. 1895, lived in Milo, IA
2. Blanche Billings m. Mr. Short, lived in Boone, IA
3. James (Jim) Billings m. ? Lived in Van Meter, IA
4. Henry Albert Billings (b. 19 Jan 1878 in Lucas, d. 16 Apr 1957in Red Oak, bd. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA) m. Bessie Wilson (b. 20 Aug 1886, New Virginia, Warren Co.), lived in Creston and Red Oak, IA


4. Children of Henry and Bessie Billings:
a) Jerald Billings
b. 1906
d. 1940
b. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA

b) Glen Dale Billings (m. Nancy Jane Wilhelm Petershon)
b. 28 Jan 1908
d. 4 Oct 1965
b. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA

c) Ralph Billings
b. 28 May 1910
d. 25 May 1994
b. Omaha, NE

d) Velda I. Billings
b. 1912
d. 1913
b. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA

Glen Billings was my grandfather, Henry my Great Grandfather, and Ira, my Great Great Grandfather. I really don't have much information beyond Henry...I only know that Ira and Diane Billings were his parents, and I only learned that information and the names of his siblings this morning, as I have only just obtained a copy of Henry's obituary.

If you have any further information on this line of Billings from Lucas, I would be most appreciative! Thanks!

Sincerely,
Melissa Billings

In the reprint of “Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record” by Lewis Publishing I found the biography of Andrew Welch, father of Diana Welch Billings. I just posted it on this Message Board at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=admin.message&r=rw...

Diana and Ira Billings were married in Clarke County on 11 Aug 1872 (1st marriage book, #297). There are other Welch marriages listed.

“Clarke County, Iowa Birth Records 1880-1897” shows one birth for them. An unnamed female, the mother’s fifth child, born 13 Feb 1882. Ira was age 35 at the time and Diana age 32. Both were born in Iowa. Diana’s parents are buried beside her in Bethel Chapel cemetery and her brothers are buried nearby.

I've just seen an abstract from the county's first book of wills for Ira D. Billings. It is dated 21 Mar 1869 and mentions his father, wife and children. Witnessed by J.P. Miller and Jacob Proudfoot

Hi Celia,
Was wondering if Ira's father, mentioned in the will, happened to be Jeremiah?
Dee

Do you have a copy of the abstract of the will? I would be very interesting in seeing it. Thank you.

E-mail: chicks@advancenet.net

My family line comes through David, a brother of Elijah Billings, Ira D.'s grandfather. I have more information on the Billings family. Will share with you.

E-mail: chicks@advancenet.net