Delphos Republican
June 27, 1930
George Newton Billings was born in east Gaines, New York on December 7, 1845. He was the oldest of three children born to Joseph Drake Billings and Melinda, his wife. Two sisters, Cora May, born in 1859, and Lottie, born in 1861, completed the family of five.
Early in life Mr. Billings formed an intimate friendship with a neighbor boy, George C. Stebbins. The two hunted, fished and played together. When Mr. Billings had finished with common school, his father, who had by diligence obtained an education far above the ordinary, wished his son to have the same opportunity, and so sent him to the Albion Academy. Mr. Stebbins went also and when it came summertime again, the two boys decided to organize a boy's militia, for the Civil War had begun and patriotism was at fever heat. George Billings was made captain, and Mr. Stebbins the first lieutenant, and night after night, the ever-increasing army of youths drilled. The next year, the officers of the troop were the same, and people came from miles around to watch the boys drill. But the troop did not continue the third year, for the captain, becoming of age, had enlisted in the Union Army.
He served through the remainder of the war, first in Company C of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, whose tremendous losses earned it the name of the "Bloody Eighth", and at the last of the war, in the Tenth New York veteran volunteers. At the time of his discharge, he was a sergeant in the latter corps.
The war over, he returned home for a few months, and then enrolled in the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, New York. Somewhat more than a year later, he was given his diploma by the college, and he returned to Albion to teach penmanship and bookkeeping in the academy, at the same time finishing the course there that he had commenced before the war. There he fell in love with Miss Grace Bedell, then a student at the academy, and in 1867 the two were married.
For two years the two stayed in Albion, where Mr. Billings bought a store, then early in 1870, when a railway had been completed to Cheyenne, started for the Greeley colony in Colorado. The colony did not please him and he took a stage from the small mining town of Denver and started east for Kansas. He homesteaded a farm 3 miles north of Delphos, and in August Mrs. Billings, his wife, came out to live with him in their pioneer home. Their son, Harlow, was born in 1872.
Those first years were hard, and for a time even horses could not be afforded, and practically their sole possessions were their home and a team of oxen. Soon after the town of Delphos was established, Mr. Billings obtained work in the store of Seymour, Simpson and Easley at twenty-eight dollars a month. Here he gained such a reputation for honesty and reliability that when the firm dissolved, he had no difficulty in obtaining work first with one store and then another. He bought a saddle horse and rode in from his farm after doing the morning work, arriving often before daylight to open the store.
In 1880, Frank Sexton established the Bank of Delphos and George N. Billings was made cashier. Later he became a partner in the bank and when it was incorporated under the state laws, he became a stockholder. Much of the time he operated the bank alone, though his capable wife often aided him with the books. As the business grew, others were added to the force at the bank, but still he remained cashier, running the affairs of the growing business with cool competency and at the same time, managing to befriend the needy, the widow and the orphan.
In the meantime, his childhood friend, Geo. C. Stebbins, had become famous as a composer of religious hymns, as a singer and an evangelist. The two remained always the closest friends and exchanged visits. Through much enterprising work Mr. Billings raised subscriptions to build a public meeting house and was made its first manager. Upon one of his visits Mr. Stebbins sang in the meeting house.
Mr. and Mrs. Billings moved to town in 1880 and in 1881 built the residence in which they have lived since. Mr. Billings took a lively interest in public affairs and with "Joe" Smith, a close friend, he organized the first telephone service in Delphos. He was also a partner in one of the first grain elevators here. He was a charter member in the Delphos Masonic Lodge.
The number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Billings grew. Their son, Harlow, was taken into the bank where he has remained since. It was Mr. Billings' rule that no beggar should be turned away from his door without first being fed of the same that he had for himself. From the time the bank was established until the depression following the World War, the bank, of which he was cashier, did not foreclose a single mortgage, nor did it have a case in court – more than forty years, surely ample proof of his matchless integrity to depositors and borrowers alike.
The ripe age of eighty four years scarcely ever troubled by sickness was Mr. Billing's reward for a clean, good life. The love and respect of those who really knew him has been a great satisfaction to him. A policy of always doing what he believed to be just and right, has made him go with the matchless reward of a pure conscience. A stroke four years ago was the beginning of a gradual decline that ended in his death. The pain of his last sickness has been lightened by memories of the past well spent.
His life was a varied one. Born a farmer boy, he lived out of doors and was always a true sportsman. He was successively a student, a soldier, a pioneer farmer and business man, living up to his ideals of right and leaving this life as a true soldier, unafraid and without regret.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace B. Billings; his son, Harlow; his only remaining sister, Cora B. Lattin of Albion, New York, and his three grandsons, George, Arthur and Roger.
Funeral services were conducted at the home Tuesday evening at sunset, Rev. Paul J. Vielguth in charge. Burial was made in the Delphos cemetery with the Masonic order in charge.
Four members of the G.A.R. were present in honor of their comrade: G.A. Smith, Chas. Neumann, H.B. Goodwin, and J.M. Hare. Honorary pallbearers were I.N. Richardson, Thos. Nelson, Eli Mullinax, W.A. Hale, Robt. Rollings and J.S. Olds. Pallbearers were E.B. Philips, O.L. Young, C.E. Rollings, John Nelson, Jr., Wendell Wilkins and Gurney Paramore.
Music was furnished by Alva Adams at the piano and Mrs. O.L. Young as soloist.
June 27, 1930
George Newton Billings was born in east Gaines, New York on December 7, 1845. He was the oldest of three children born to Joseph Drake Billings and Melinda, his wife. Two sisters, Cora May, born in 1859, and Lottie, born in 1861, completed the family of five.
Early in life Mr. Billings formed an intimate friendship with a neighbor boy, George C. Stebbins. The two hunted, fished and played together. When Mr. Billings had finished with common school, his father, who had by diligence obtained an education far above the ordinary, wished his son to have the same opportunity, and so sent him to the Albion Academy. Mr. Stebbins went also and when it came summertime again, the two boys decided to organize a boy's militia, for the Civil War had begun and patriotism was at fever heat. George Billings was made captain, and Mr. Stebbins the first lieutenant, and night after night, the ever-increasing army of youths drilled. The next year, the officers of the troop were the same, and people came from miles around to watch the boys drill. But the troop did not continue the third year, for the captain, becoming of age, had enlisted in the Union Army.
He served through the remainder of the war, first in Company C of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, whose tremendous losses earned it the name of the "Bloody Eighth", and at the last of the war, in the Tenth New York veteran volunteers. At the time of his discharge, he was a sergeant in the latter corps.
The war over, he returned home for a few months, and then enrolled in the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, New York. Somewhat more than a year later, he was given his diploma by the college, and he returned to Albion to teach penmanship and bookkeeping in the academy, at the same time finishing the course there that he had commenced before the war. There he fell in love with Miss Grace Bedell, then a student at the academy, and in 1867 the two were married.
For two years the two stayed in Albion, where Mr. Billings bought a store, then early in 1870, when a railway had been completed to Cheyenne, started for the Greeley colony in Colorado. The colony did not please him and he took a stage from the small mining town of Denver and started east for Kansas. He homesteaded a farm 3 miles north of Delphos, and in August Mrs. Billings, his wife, came out to live with him in their pioneer home. Their son, Harlow, was born in 1872.
Those first years were hard, and for a time even horses could not be afforded, and practically their sole possessions were their home and a team of oxen. Soon after the town of Delphos was established, Mr. Billings obtained work in the store of Seymour, Simpson and Easley at twenty-eight dollars a month. Here he gained such a reputation for honesty and reliability that when the firm dissolved, he had no difficulty in obtaining work first with one store and then another. He bought a saddle horse and rode in from his farm after doing the morning work, arriving often before daylight to open the store.
In 1880, Frank Sexton established the Bank of Delphos and George N. Billings was made cashier. Later he became a partner in the bank and when it was incorporated under the state laws, he became a stockholder. Much of the time he operated the bank alone, though his capable wife often aided him with the books. As the business grew, others were added to the force at the bank, but still he remained cashier, running the affairs of the growing business with cool competency and at the same time, managing to befriend the needy, the widow and the orphan.
In the meantime, his childhood friend, Geo. C. Stebbins, had become famous as a composer of religious hymns, as a singer and an evangelist. The two remained always the closest friends and exchanged visits. Through much enterprising work Mr. Billings raised subscriptions to build a public meeting house and was made its first manager. Upon one of his visits Mr. Stebbins sang in the meeting house.
Mr. and Mrs. Billings moved to town in 1880 and in 1881 built the residence in which they have lived since. Mr. Billings took a lively interest in public affairs and with "Joe" Smith, a close friend, he organized the first telephone service in Delphos. He was also a partner in one of the first grain elevators here. He was a charter member in the Delphos Masonic Lodge.
The number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Billings grew. Their son, Harlow, was taken into the bank where he has remained since. It was Mr. Billings' rule that no beggar should be turned away from his door without first being fed of the same that he had for himself. From the time the bank was established until the depression following the World War, the bank, of which he was cashier, did not foreclose a single mortgage, nor did it have a case in court – more than forty years, surely ample proof of his matchless integrity to depositors and borrowers alike.
The ripe age of eighty four years scarcely ever troubled by sickness was Mr. Billing's reward for a clean, good life. The love and respect of those who really knew him has been a great satisfaction to him. A policy of always doing what he believed to be just and right, has made him go with the matchless reward of a pure conscience. A stroke four years ago was the beginning of a gradual decline that ended in his death. The pain of his last sickness has been lightened by memories of the past well spent.
His life was a varied one. Born a farmer boy, he lived out of doors and was always a true sportsman. He was successively a student, a soldier, a pioneer farmer and business man, living up to his ideals of right and leaving this life as a true soldier, unafraid and without regret.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace B. Billings; his son, Harlow; his only remaining sister, Cora B. Lattin of Albion, New York, and his three grandsons, George, Arthur and Roger.
Funeral services were conducted at the home Tuesday evening at sunset, Rev. Paul J. Vielguth in charge. Burial was made in the Delphos cemetery with the Masonic order in charge.
Four members of the G.A.R. were present in honor of their comrade: G.A. Smith, Chas. Neumann, H.B. Goodwin, and J.M. Hare. Honorary pallbearers were I.N. Richardson, Thos. Nelson, Eli Mullinax, W.A. Hale, Robt. Rollings and J.S. Olds. Pallbearers were E.B. Philips, O.L. Young, C.E. Rollings, John Nelson, Jr., Wendell Wilkins and Gurney Paramore.
Music was furnished by Alva Adams at the piano and Mrs. O.L. Young as soloist.
Delphos Republican
June 27, 1930
George Newton Billings was born in east Gaines, New York on December 7, 1845. He was the oldest of three children born to Joseph Drake Billings and Melinda, his wife. Two sisters, Cora May, born in 1859, and Lottie, born in 1861, completed the family of five.
Early in life Mr. Billings formed an intimate friendship with a neighbor boy, George C. Stebbins. The two hunted, fished and played together. When Mr. Billings had finished with common school, his father, who had by diligence obtained an education far above the ordinary, wished his son to have the same opportunity, and so sent him to the Albion Academy. Mr. Stebbins went also and when it came summertime again, the two boys decided to organize a boy's militia, for the Civil War had begun and patriotism was at fever heat. George Billings was made captain, and Mr. Stebbins the first lieutenant, and night after night, the ever-increasing army of youths drilled. The next year, the officers of the troop were the same, and people came from miles around to watch the boys drill. But the troop did not continue the third year, for the captain, becoming of age, had enlisted in the Union Army.
He served through the remainder of the war, first in Company C of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, whose tremendous losses earned it the name of the "Bloody Eighth", and at the last of the war, in the Tenth New York veteran volunteers. At the time of his discharge, he was a sergeant in the latter corps.
The war over, he returned home for a few months, and then enrolled in the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, New York. Somewhat more than a year later, he was given his diploma by the college, and he returned to Albion to teach penmanship and bookkeeping in the academy, at the same time finishing the course there that he had commenced before the war. There he fell in love with Miss Grace Bedell, then a student at the academy, and in 1867 the two were married.
For two years the two stayed in Albion, where Mr. Billings bought a store, then early in 1870, when a railway had been completed to Cheyenne, started for the Greeley colony in Colorado. The colony did not please him and he took a stage from the small mining town of Denver and started east for Kansas. He homesteaded a farm 3 miles north of Delphos, and in August Mrs. Billings, his wife, came out to live with him in their pioneer home. Their son, Harlow, was born in 1872.
Those first years were hard, and for a time even horses could not be afforded, and practically their sole possessions were their home and a team of oxen. Soon after the town of Delphos was established, Mr. Billings obtained work in the store of Seymour, Simpson and Easley at twenty-eight dollars a month. Here he gained such a reputation for honesty and reliability that when the firm dissolved, he had no difficulty in obtaining work first with one store and then another. He bought a saddle horse and rode in from his farm after doing the morning work, arriving often before daylight to open the store.
In 1880, Frank Sexton established the Bank of Delphos and George N. Billings was made cashier. Later he became a partner in the bank and when it was incorporated under the state laws, he became a stockholder. Much of the time he operated the bank alone, though his capable wife often aided him with the books. As the business grew, others were added to the force at the bank, but still he remained cashier, running the affairs of the growing business with cool competency and at the same time, managing to befriend the needy, the widow and the orphan.
In the meantime, his childhood friend, Geo. C. Stebbins, had become famous as a composer of religious hymns, as a singer and an evangelist. The two remained always the closest friends and exchanged visits. Through much enterprising work Mr. Billings raised subscriptions to build a public meeting house and was made its first manager. Upon one of his visits Mr. Stebbins sang in the meeting house.
Mr. and Mrs. Billings moved to town in 1880 and in 1881 built the residence in which they have lived since. Mr. Billings took a lively interest in public affairs and with "Joe" Smith, a close friend, he organized the first telephone service in Delphos. He was also a partner in one of the first grain elevators here. He was a charter member in the Delphos Masonic Lodge.
The number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Billings grew. Their son, Harlow, was taken into the bank where he has remained since. It was Mr. Billings' rule that no beggar should be turned away from his door without first being fed of the same that he had for himself. From the time the bank was established until the depression following the World War, the bank, of which he was cashier, did not foreclose a single mortgage, nor did it have a case in court – more than forty years, surely ample proof of his matchless integrity to depositors and borrowers alike.
The ripe age of eighty four years scarcely ever troubled by sickness was Mr. Billing's reward for a clean, good life. The love and respect of those who really knew him has been a great satisfaction to him. A policy of always doing what he believed to be just and right, has made him go with the matchless reward of a pure conscience. A stroke four years ago was the beginning of a gradual decline that ended in his death. The pain of his last sickness has been lightened by memories of the past well spent.
His life was a varied one. Born a farmer boy, he lived out of doors and was always a true sportsman. He was successively a student, a soldier, a pioneer farmer and business man, living up to his ideals of right and leaving this life as a true soldier, unafraid and without regret.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace B. Billings; his son, Harlow; his only remaining sister, Cora B. Lattin of Albion, New York, and his three grandsons, George, Arthur and Roger.
Funeral services were conducted at the home Tuesday evening at sunset, Rev. Paul J. Vielguth in charge. Burial was made in the Delphos cemetery with the Masonic order in charge.
Four members of the G.A.R. were present in honor of their comrade: G.A. Smith, Chas. Neumann, H.B. Goodwin, and J.M. Hare. Honorary pallbearers were I.N. Richardson, Thos. Nelson, Eli Mullinax, W.A. Hale, Robt. Rollings and J.S. Olds. Pallbearers were E.B. Philips, O.L. Young, C.E. Rollings, John Nelson, Jr., Wendell Wilkins and Gurney Paramore.
Music was furnished by Alva Adams at the piano and Mrs. O.L. Young as soloist.
June 27, 1930
George Newton Billings was born in east Gaines, New York on December 7, 1845. He was the oldest of three children born to Joseph Drake Billings and Melinda, his wife. Two sisters, Cora May, born in 1859, and Lottie, born in 1861, completed the family of five.
Early in life Mr. Billings formed an intimate friendship with a neighbor boy, George C. Stebbins. The two hunted, fished and played together. When Mr. Billings had finished with common school, his father, who had by diligence obtained an education far above the ordinary, wished his son to have the same opportunity, and so sent him to the Albion Academy. Mr. Stebbins went also and when it came summertime again, the two boys decided to organize a boy's militia, for the Civil War had begun and patriotism was at fever heat. George Billings was made captain, and Mr. Stebbins the first lieutenant, and night after night, the ever-increasing army of youths drilled. The next year, the officers of the troop were the same, and people came from miles around to watch the boys drill. But the troop did not continue the third year, for the captain, becoming of age, had enlisted in the Union Army.
He served through the remainder of the war, first in Company C of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, whose tremendous losses earned it the name of the "Bloody Eighth", and at the last of the war, in the Tenth New York veteran volunteers. At the time of his discharge, he was a sergeant in the latter corps.
The war over, he returned home for a few months, and then enrolled in the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, New York. Somewhat more than a year later, he was given his diploma by the college, and he returned to Albion to teach penmanship and bookkeeping in the academy, at the same time finishing the course there that he had commenced before the war. There he fell in love with Miss Grace Bedell, then a student at the academy, and in 1867 the two were married.
For two years the two stayed in Albion, where Mr. Billings bought a store, then early in 1870, when a railway had been completed to Cheyenne, started for the Greeley colony in Colorado. The colony did not please him and he took a stage from the small mining town of Denver and started east for Kansas. He homesteaded a farm 3 miles north of Delphos, and in August Mrs. Billings, his wife, came out to live with him in their pioneer home. Their son, Harlow, was born in 1872.
Those first years were hard, and for a time even horses could not be afforded, and practically their sole possessions were their home and a team of oxen. Soon after the town of Delphos was established, Mr. Billings obtained work in the store of Seymour, Simpson and Easley at twenty-eight dollars a month. Here he gained such a reputation for honesty and reliability that when the firm dissolved, he had no difficulty in obtaining work first with one store and then another. He bought a saddle horse and rode in from his farm after doing the morning work, arriving often before daylight to open the store.
In 1880, Frank Sexton established the Bank of Delphos and George N. Billings was made cashier. Later he became a partner in the bank and when it was incorporated under the state laws, he became a stockholder. Much of the time he operated the bank alone, though his capable wife often aided him with the books. As the business grew, others were added to the force at the bank, but still he remained cashier, running the affairs of the growing business with cool competency and at the same time, managing to befriend the needy, the widow and the orphan.
In the meantime, his childhood friend, Geo. C. Stebbins, had become famous as a composer of religious hymns, as a singer and an evangelist. The two remained always the closest friends and exchanged visits. Through much enterprising work Mr. Billings raised subscriptions to build a public meeting house and was made its first manager. Upon one of his visits Mr. Stebbins sang in the meeting house.
Mr. and Mrs. Billings moved to town in 1880 and in 1881 built the residence in which they have lived since. Mr. Billings took a lively interest in public affairs and with "Joe" Smith, a close friend, he organized the first telephone service in Delphos. He was also a partner in one of the first grain elevators here. He was a charter member in the Delphos Masonic Lodge.
The number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Billings grew. Their son, Harlow, was taken into the bank where he has remained since. It was Mr. Billings' rule that no beggar should be turned away from his door without first being fed of the same that he had for himself. From the time the bank was established until the depression following the World War, the bank, of which he was cashier, did not foreclose a single mortgage, nor did it have a case in court – more than forty years, surely ample proof of his matchless integrity to depositors and borrowers alike.
The ripe age of eighty four years scarcely ever troubled by sickness was Mr. Billing's reward for a clean, good life. The love and respect of those who really knew him has been a great satisfaction to him. A policy of always doing what he believed to be just and right, has made him go with the matchless reward of a pure conscience. A stroke four years ago was the beginning of a gradual decline that ended in his death. The pain of his last sickness has been lightened by memories of the past well spent.
His life was a varied one. Born a farmer boy, he lived out of doors and was always a true sportsman. He was successively a student, a soldier, a pioneer farmer and business man, living up to his ideals of right and leaving this life as a true soldier, unafraid and without regret.
He leaves his wife, Mrs. Grace B. Billings; his son, Harlow; his only remaining sister, Cora B. Lattin of Albion, New York, and his three grandsons, George, Arthur and Roger.
Funeral services were conducted at the home Tuesday evening at sunset, Rev. Paul J. Vielguth in charge. Burial was made in the Delphos cemetery with the Masonic order in charge.
Four members of the G.A.R. were present in honor of their comrade: G.A. Smith, Chas. Neumann, H.B. Goodwin, and J.M. Hare. Honorary pallbearers were I.N. Richardson, Thos. Nelson, Eli Mullinax, W.A. Hale, Robt. Rollings and J.S. Olds. Pallbearers were E.B. Philips, O.L. Young, C.E. Rollings, John Nelson, Jr., Wendell Wilkins and Gurney Paramore.
Music was furnished by Alva Adams at the piano and Mrs. O.L. Young as soloist.
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