Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-12-12
Picture at the left
shows one Of the
eariy-day North
ern Pacific trains
in MOntana.

the drudgery Of the profession and
went in for giving legal advice to men
Of business where important interests
4 we're involved. he was appointed coun-
/ selor to General Riley, and adiutant
4 general to the department Of which
Riley was in charge.
Early in 1861 Mr.. Billings was Sc
lected by Gen. John @. Fremont to
accompany him to England with a
view of disposing of the generals
Mariposa estate to a British syndicate
The estate was one of largest and most
valuable in California. The sale had
been all but consummated when the
Civil war broke out. The syndicate
broke off negotiations, fearful that the
property might sooner or later become
hostile territory.
Mr.. Billings returned to the United
States and that year was married to
Miss Julia Parmly of New York City.
In 1862 they went to California where
Mr.. Billings planned to resume the
practice of law His health became im-
paired, however, and after short time
they returned to New York hoping that
rest and a change would benefit him
In March, 1865, Mr.. Billings again
went to California, this time in yes
sci which was routed by way Of the
Straits of Magellan Among his fellow
passengers on that trip was Professor !
Agassiz, the noted astronomer. The
two formed a lasting friendship.
Explores the Northwest
After a few months passed in San I
Francisco, Mr.. Billings made an over
land trip through the northwest. pass
ing through Oregon, Washington and
British Columbia, and making a trip
up the Columbia river and through
Puget sound.
He was vastly impressed with the
resources Of the virgin and almost I'M
peopled region. its soil, forests, rivers
and harbors. No doubt his willingness
to later undertake the construction of
! railroad from the east to this sec
ton had its foundations in the know
ledge he acquired during this trip.
Still his health did not improve and
he returned, upon the advice Of his
physician, to New York, and soon aft
srwards TO Woodstock, where, except
when business required his presence
n New York, he passed the remainder
If his days. During the Civil war Biz
1ngS was q prominent unioniSt His
Efforts in behalf Of the north In Cali
ornia are credited with strongly in !
luencing the retention of that state !
o the union.
In addition to the Northern Pacific
arious times In other business enter
'rises directed toward the development
4 the west. He at one time formed q !
ompany for the construction of an {
canal across Central Amer b
"a by way Of Lake Nicaragua.
After his retirement as president OF
be Northern Pacific railroad, Mr.. Bill
ngs remained active in the conduct b
other business enterprises with which n
e was identified, among which were II
ne Minnesota 81 Montana Land In q
rovement Co. which owned the Bill 4
ngs townsite and much other land in q
nat vicinity.
At Christmas time In 1883 R6r. Bill
ngs was stricken with paralysis after n
aving suffered from heart ailment q
lr many years. He made some recov-
". but during the next summer his
overs gradually failed and he died 4
ept. 80, 1890. His eldest son, Parmly, ,
tier whom the Billings memorial Ii
rary was named, died two years be-
IRE his fathers demise. A younger v
N, Ehrick, died in 1891 at the age OF !,
!. There were five other children. q
After his last return from California, q
r. Billings purchased an estate at p
FoodstOck which he developed into one y
the most beautiful places In YER
ont. A student by nature, he spent
ogt of his leisure time reading. He n
lrchased the library OF George P. N
arsh, one-time ambassador to Italy. q
e later presented 1t to the University =
Vermont and erected a building in II
HIGH to house 1t and a few months y
fore his death he gave $50, 900 as an 81
ldowment fund for its current ex- -
,nses. He also gave $4,000 professor
lip to Amherst college IN memory OF
s son Parmly, who had graduated
ON there, and 8 similar amount to
cunt Hermon school in memory OF
6 son Ehrick