I am writing to gain more information on Ira and Diane Billings, and Henry Billings, who lived in the town of Lucas in Lucas Co. in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Here is the little information I have:

I. Ira Billings m. Diane _____________


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 m. Bessie Wilson, lived in Creston and Red Oak, IA
b. 19 Jan 1878
d. 16 Apr 1957
b. Evergreen Cemetery, 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

Since I posted my first message, further research has answered part of my question. 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 leads me to believe that this is the correct family. Can anyone confirm this????

Also, my ggrandfather, Henry Billings, another son of Ira and Diane, married a woman from New Virginia, IA (Bessie Wilson), which is just about halfway between Liberty and Lucas.

Even with this new knowledge, if anyone has any further information on this line of Billings, I'd much appreciate hearing from you! :)

Melissa Billings

Greetings Melissa,
I have BILLINGS' in Lucas Co, as well. My gr-gr-grandmother was Cynthia BILLINGS. She married William ROBERTS -- they had 13 kids and lived almost their whole lives in Ottercreek Twp, Lucas Co, near the Clarke Co. line. Would love to share info and see if our BILLINGS' are the same guys.
Dee

Hi Dee...

It's only taken a year to reply to this message! LOL! And I believe I just emailed you yesterday, as well. Actually, at the time you posted this, I had no information on a Cynthia Billings in my line, but now I do. I just received a copy of the birth and death records from the Billings family bible earlier this summer, and there is a Cynthia listed. However, it's difficult to read/understand, as the name is written both as Cynthia or Cyntha on the birth page (b. 19 Feb 1866) and as Syntha on the death page. Another curious thing is that it says the date of death is 13 Nov 1878, but then someone has written in "Age 75" next to this. Obviously there is some mistake here.

At any rate, here is the whole detailed record of what I have so far, just to see if we can narrow it down to where our families might meet:

I. Jeremiah Billings [b. 7 May 1833, Vermillion Co., IN; d. 1 Feb 1903, Riverton, IA; m. 1853 in IL to Sarah Crittenden (b. 8 March 1834, near Franklin, IN; d. 1 Feb 1912, Riverton, IA)]

Their Children:

A. Ira D. Billings [b. 22 Sept. 1854, Vermillion Co., IN; d. 19 Jul 1921, Clarke Co., IA; m. 11 Aug 1872 to Diannah J. Welch (b. 11 Sept. 1848, West Virginia; d. 27 Feb. 1909, Clarke Co., IA)]

B. Mary Jane Billings [b. 20 Jul 1856, near Franklin, IN; d. 12 May 1859, Clarke Co., IA]

C. John W. Billings [b. 6 Apr 1858, Location?; d. 20 June 1859, Clarke Co., IA]

D. George Washington Billings [b. 29 Nov. 1860; d. 26 Nov 1927, Topeka, KS]

E. James L. Billings [b. 12 Nov. 1862; d. ?]

F. Harvey L. Billings [b. 19 Sept. 1864; d. 17 Jan 1913, Clarke Co., IA]

G. Cynthia Z. Billings [b. 19 Feb 1866; d. ?]

H. Ulysses E. Billings [b. 9 Sept. 1868; d. 28 July 1869]

I. Louis or Lewis A. Billings [b. 22 Jun 1870; d. 1 Feb 1895]

J. Edward Billings [b. 22 Feb 1873; d. ?]

K. Sylvester Alexander Billings [b. 3 Jul 1876, Clarke Co., IA; d. 6 Mar 1941, Riverton, IA m. Grace Ward, Children--Clifford, Mearl, Earl, Macel (Tysor), Sidney]


A1. Children of Ira D. Billings and Diannah J. Welch:

1. Frank M. Billings [b. 24 Jun 1873; d. 29 Sep 1900, bur. Bethel Cem, Liberty, IA]

2. Rosa E. Billings [b. 10 Aug 1875; d. 15 Aug 1967; m. Thomas C. Southward, 22 Sept. 1895, lived in Milo, IA]

3. Henry Albert Billings [b. 19 Jan 1878; d. 16 Apr 1957; bur. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA; m. Bessie Wilson, lived in Creston and Red Oak, IA]

4. James Billings [b. 15 Mar 1880; d. 11 Sep 1961, Van Meter, IA]

5. Effie Billings [b. 13 Feb 1882, d. ? in Des Moines; m. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Vicker]

6. Myrtle Billings [b. 31 Jul 1884, d. ? m. Mr. Wright, lived in Boone, IA]

7. Blanche Billings [b. 5 Mar 1889, d. ?, m. Mr. Short, lived in Boone, IA]

8. Nora Billings [no info, died in early childhood/infancy]

9. Infant Billings [no info, died at birth]

A1.3 Children of Henry and Bessie Billings:

a) Jerald Billings [b. 29 Apr 1906; d. 6 Nov 1940; bur. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA--was having an affair with a married woman and was murdered by the husband!]

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

c) Ralph Billings [b. 28 May 1910; d. 25 May 1994; bur. Omaha, NE]

d) Velda I. Billings [b. 1912; d. 1913; bur. Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, IA]


Ok...there it all is! I descend from Glen Billings, he was my grandfather. So my line, going back is:

Glen> Henry Albert> Ira D.> Jeremiah.


Take a look and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Melissa Billings

UPDATE...I just received this email from a relative of yours, so I FINALLY have the connection now, I think...

"Now we have a connection.
Your Ira's father had uncle named Ira born in 1841 & his brother was Jeremiah born in 1833.
Jeremiah was a brother to my Grandmother Cynthia Ann Billings b: 16 June 1840 who married William M. Roberts on 19 Jun 1856 and was the first marriage in Clarke Co. IA."

So it appears that your Cynthia is one more generation back than I have. I would sure love this information!

Thanks!
Melissa Billings

Melissa,
Ira has a brother Jeremiah C. Billings and a sister Cynthia Ann Billings. Their parants are Elijah W. Billings and Mary (Lake?). Still looking for more info. Would love to exchange information. I have much more on other members.
My line goes through Jeremiah. You are my 3rd cousin one time removed.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Your cousin, Bob

Would like to correspond with you on Jeremiah Billings

Would like to correspond with you about Cynthia Billings Roberts.