News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-10-06
DEATH OF JAMES ]. BILLINGS
Prominent Resident Dies Suddenly. Was
Well-KnoWn Lumber Dealer

Well-KnoWn Lumber Dealer
]. j. Billings, a prominent citizen of
Morrsvile, died very suddenly at 1890
O'clock last Friday morning at his resi-
dence on Park street. He had been in
poor health for several years, suffering
from heart trouble with complications,
which made death not unexpected. He
had been as we'll as usual, however, on
the day before his death, having returned
from Stowe where he had spent couple
of days with Mrs. Billings at The home of
their SON H. w. Billings. He was taken
with bad spell of the heart about 1l:S0
and grew rapidly worse until the end.
James Jackson Billings was born in
Warren VT, November 6, 1915, son of
Count De Estang and Almina M. (Royce)
Billings. The ancestors of the family
are traced in direct line to the reign of
King Henry III of England. Sir Thomas
Billings, knight, was law advisor to Ed
ward ", and in 146S was lord chief jus
tice of the Kings bench. The first
American ancestor of Mr.. Billings was
Richard Billings, who was a resident 0 f
Hartford Conn, as early as 1910. Later
generations were original grantees of the
town of Swanton. Count De Estang, in
early childhood came to Warren, vt.
with his father, Rufus Billings, and with
him was extensively engaged in the lum.
Der business there and at Fayston for
many years. Thus j. j. Billings was the
third generation of the family to engage
extensively and successfully in the lum-
Der business.
The deceased spent his boyhood days
and early manhood in Fayston and vicin
ity, his early education having been OBJ
tained in the district schools of that
town. In 1870 he was united in marriage
to Jeanette, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
VIM. McKoy. In 1875 they moved to Mid
dlesex and from there came to Norris
town in 1882, when he built mill in
Sterling, where he did an extensive lum-
Der business until 1901, when he moved
the mill to Belvidere. The business at
Belvidere was looked after by his son,
e. j. Billings, until the latter's death
about three years ago. In 1908 Mr. Bill
lings bought tract of land at Stowe
forks and erected a mill near Stowe
Branch, which has since been success
fully conducted by the younger son,
Harold w, Billings. A few years ago
Sis1ss.r4Eillinas Purchased a residence on
ParlV ,ereet, upon which he recently
completed extensive repairs and improve
ments.
In the death of Mr.. Billings Morrisville
loses one of her most highly respected
and substantial citizens, one whose sue
cess in life had been attained from his
own resources and energy, coupled with
shrewd business insight and adaptability
to his chosen business.
He was a genial, large hearted man,
who always considered the rights of
Others and never passed an opportunity
to render assistance to worthy cause.
He will be greatly missed in the COM
He is survived by a wife and
two children, Harold Billings of Stowe
and Mrs. Charles w. Mcfarland of Nor
risvile. The sincere sympathy of the
community is extended to the bereaved
family in their great affiiction.
The funeral services were very largely
from the home Monday after
noon, Rev. c. c. ST. Glare of the Congre-
gatioual church officiating. The bearers
were:-Harold W. Billings, Charles W.
Emory H. Smith, Lysander
NJ. Heath, Frank c.. Turner and Fred P.
Billings. The floral tribute was very
large and included beautiful sheath of
wheat, palms and roses from the Stone
Lumber Company of Boston and large
wreath from the Perry & Whitney Lum-
Der Company of Boston. The business
places in town were closed during the
funeral hour. Interment was made in
the family lot in Pleasant View cemetery.
Among those from out of town to at
tend the funeral were the following:-
Mr.. and Mrs. G. N. Billings and w. w.
Howe, Waitstield; Mrs. (. A. Dumas and
Leslie E. Dumas, Fayston; l.. M. Heath,
Bethel; Mr.. and Mrs. o. D. Scribner,
Mr.. and Mrs. F. c. Turner
and Ralph F. Turner, Barre; A. W. Bill
lings and w. c. Somerville, Waterbury;
E. II. Smith, Brookfeld; F. P. Billings, |
Morris harris, Willis Barnes and B. F. |
OUopel, Stowe; j. o. Thomas, H. w. |
w. E. Davis, Clarence Coburn, |
John Mulligan, Will Laraway and Arthur
Howe, Belvidere.
Special Board Of Trade Meeting