North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

DD3711935
HERITAGE
2
OF WILKES
COUNTY,
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198
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North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Editor
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Published by the Wilkes Genealogical Society,Inc.
in cooperation with
Hunter Publishing Company
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
master at Noble and a successful
the following children: Willia ,Jolln,
Bird,
disposition
Peter, James,
of his
Rebecca,
propertyRhod
aftfhiS
,Gibson,
deathE!izalists
beth, Elsie and Mary.
William Billings, a son o'f Pe er, was born in
Wilkes County January 31, 801. In White
County, Tennessee about 18 2, he married
Mary Davis and his first five chi oren were born
here. In 1828, he moved to La rence County,
Indiana, where Mary died in 840. The children of this marriage were: Re ecca and Elizabeth, twins, Peter, Nancy, John, Jesse,
Aaron, James, Lucinda Jane nd Joseph.
On February 1 , 1843, Wiilia, married Sarah
(Elkins) Schaufner. The famil continued to
live on their farm in Lawren e County until
1852 when they moved to Ri hland County,
Illinois, and settled on a far
near Noble.
William and his familv rema ned here until
about 1865 when he moved t Missouri and
lived near Appleton City in Bate County. Sarah
died here September 1, 1871, and she was
buried at Round Prairie Cem tery. The children ofthis marriage were: W lliam D., Mary
A., Lucinda E., Bird Franklin and Lydia
Catherine.
August 31, 1873, William m rried Sarah E.
Hall at Appleton City and they h d two children:
Rhoda E. and Abraham. Abe di d at Sheridan,
Wyoming, April 11, 1966.
illjam died in
Bates County September 22, 1c80, and he was
buried at Round Prairie Ceme' ery.
Peter Biliings, ason o"fWilii m, was born in
White County, Tennessee M rch 18, 1825.
November24, 1842, hemarrie
fv1aryMurray,
a daughter of Timothy and Co.herine (Finger)
fviurmy, in Lawrence County, Indiana. This
marriage resulted in five child, en: Timothy (b
Sept. 6, 1843 d Dec. 29, 1929 , John William
(b May 11,1846 d Dec. 8,185,),
Catherine (b
Jan. 25, 1856 d Oct 15, 1858), Lewis Elijah (b
Aug. 13, 1859 d Apr. 27, 19 f9) and James
Marion (b July 23, 1863 d N v. 18, 1949).
Peter Billings was a prominent citizen and a
successful farmer in Richland ounty. He built
one of the first brick homes i that area and
owned several hundred acres f land north of
Noble, Illinois.
Mary died April 16,1890, an was buried in
North Freedom Cemetery Nort of Noble. Peter married Matilda Speigal Jan arj 11 , 1891,
and moved to Texas. He lived near Houston
and died there January 30, 1914, and was
buried in Hollywood Cemetery. He and Matilda
had a daughter, Ethel, who ma ried George F.
Brosius.
Lewis Elijah Billings, a son f Peter Billings
and Mary Murray, was born n ar Noble, Illinois, August 13, 1859, where he grew to manhood. He received his educati n in the common schools and giaduated fr m Olney High
School in June 1880 - one 0', the first of the
Billings clan to accomplish this. December 29,
1896, he married Pearl Chapm n in the home
of her father at Hanson, Texas. Their children
were: Hazel Norrine (b Oct. 1 " 1897 d Dec.
27, 1979), Myrtle Ruby (b June 1, 1899, d
April 16, 1969) and Claude E rl (March 12,
1901 d Oct. 15, 1981).
dom Schoolhouse near Noble f r a few years .
HeLewis
workedElijah
on the
Billings
Noble taught
newsp ~ChOOIat
per, was postFree-
merchant.
He owned and operated four apple evaporators
and shipped dried apples all over the U.8'. and
to foreign countries. About 1914, he moved to
Arkansas where he continued in the grocery
business for several years. He and Pearl were
divorced, and December 4, 1917, he married
Margaret India Jenkins of Newton, Illinois.
She was the daughter of W. H. and Gertrude
(Miller) Jenkins. This marriage was productive
in four boys: Lewis William (b Oct. 31,1918),
James Jenkins (b July 20, 1920), David Neal
(b June 14, 1924), and John Wesley (b Jan.
13,1931). Lewis E. Billings died at Ilis home
south of Little Rock, Arkansas, April 27 , 1949,
and Margaret Billings died November 15,
1975. They are buried at Landmark Cemetery.
Lewis William Billings, a son of Lewis E. and
Margaret Billings, was born at ~iewton, Illinois
October 31,1918. He graduated from Mabelvale High School in May 1938 and joined the
C.C.C. While in camp near Russellville, Arf\ansas, he met and married Martha Berry, a
daughter of Charles W. and Beulah (Rachel)
Berrj, December 19, 1941.
After serving in the USNR during WW II, he
completed his college work at Arkansas Tech
at Russellville. In 1957, he received his masters degree in education for the University of
Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has taught schoo!
for thirty years: sixteen years at Crossett,
Arkansas, and 'fourteen years at Russellville
High School.
Lewis and Martha Billings have two children: Lewis W. jr. who married Patricia Boyd,
the daughter of Frederick and Betty (Harold)
Boyd. Their children are: Lewis W. ill, born at
Shreveport, Louisiana, July 12, 1968, and
Matthew C., born there November 10,1969.
Martha Anne BillinQs married Peter Dennis
McCarthy, the son af Edward and Mary (Pender) McCarthy. Their daughters, born in Memphis, Tennessee, are: Carol Michelle, born
April 26 , 1974, and Mary Kristen, born t\pril 9,
1981.
Sources: Family records, family Bible records, county
records from the counties mentioned and family tradition.
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Lewis W. Billings
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William M. Biliings was born around 1784 in
Wilkes Co. married first Winifred Alexander on
April 10, 1816, possibly married again, and on
April 8, 1831 married Sally Childers, born
1795. He was a miller and 'farmer, owning
lands near the Jesse J. Billings place on the
middle prong of Roaring River in the Dockery'
community. On the 1840 School Census he is
listed with the following
children: Amelia,
Susan, Jesse, Addison and Wilburn. Jackson
was listed with the family in the 1850 Census.
Little is known about the two girls, 1) Amelia
born around 1822 and 2) Susan. Amelia. was
living with her father in 1870, apparently still
unmarried.
3) Jesse James Billings, born Jan. 4, 1824,
married on Jan. 17, 1851 Emily Elizabeth Buttrey, daughter o"f John Abraham Buttrey and
Sarah Barker. He started the 8illings School
near his home to educate his and neighbor
children in those early years. He died on June G,
1906 and is buried with his wife on the family
plot overlooking the river near his home. Emily
Elizabeth was born Dec. 31, 1831 and died
Feb. 10, 1888. To Jesse J. and Emilv were
born six children: Rowan, Avery, James, Roxie, Ellen and Leander.
Rowan C., born Oct. 23, 1853 married 1.
Mary I. McNeill then moved to Tennessee,
where he remarried after the death of his first
wife. Avery Columbus, born Sept. 27, 1856
married first Mattie Alice Kilby, daughter of
James Kilby, and on April 24, 1907 afier her
death on Ju!y 29, 1906, he married second Ida
Ann Higgins, daughter of John T. Higgins and
Aiice Jennings. A son, eugene, became a
prominent surgeon, pioneering in open heart
surgery in Philadelphia,
Penn. James E.
(Jeemes) was born May 13, 1859 and married
on May 1, 1899 Carrie Jane Gambiil, daughter
of William D. Gambill and I-\merica Holbrook.
Carrie was born March 21 , 1880 and lived until
Feb. 1,1972, rearing 4 children. A d,wghter,
Pearl, became 2 nurse; granddaughter Henrietta Burchette works for a newspaper and her
sister Virginia Dare Burchette, wife of William
Morris, is a school teacher in Nevv Jersey.
Sarah Roxie f-\nn was born May 13, 1862 and
lived with her sister Ellen, born Dec. 7,1866,
on the aid homeplace in Dockery until her
death on Feb. 29,1940. Known a:iiectionately
as Miss Roxie to her many stucients, she
taugh'( more than 50 years as a pubiic teacher
in Wilkes County. Ellen died on clune 22,1955.
Leander born in 1a5S, died young.
4) Addison Billings, first child 0'[ William M.
Billings and Sarah Childers, was born around
1834. He married first on March 12, 1854,
Susan Holbrook, and married second Betsy
Ann Blackburn. (See Addison Billings)
5) William Wilburn Billings, born about
1836, married Catilerine Holbrook,
born
1835, daughter of Ezekiel Holbrook and Elizabeth ,L\dams. They ilad 5 children: Andrew
Jackson, Susan Emily, Robinson Crusoe,
Nancy Caroline and Lewis Gilmer. Catherine
died around 1899.
ft,ndrew Jackson was born on March 15,
1859 and married Dousie A. Smoot, daughter
of Ga.lomiei Leonard Smoot and Nancy
Clementine Walker. Dousie was born Jan. 17,
1861 and died Feb. 3,1936. They lived in the
Moxley area and had 7 children: Esta A.,
Claude E., Metta L., Clementine, Retia I.,
Challie G. and Rose EUen. Esta A. married a
well-known 8aptist preacher, Rev. Louis Baxter Murray, who helped organize several churches in Wilkes County. Claude E. married
Laure. Elledae and lived in the Mt. View community. Their son Ciaude served as Wilkes Co.
Sheriff during the years 1950-58. Clementine
married Wiiliam Clyde Brewer and reared a fine
family in the Moxley area. Metta L. died early.
Retta I. married first Burr Bowers and married
second John IV8Y Myers. Challie Gilmore married Grace Armstrong
and they moved to
Michigan.
Rose Ellen married Anderson
Mitchell Church, Jr., son of A.M. Church and
Lillie Staley'.
Susan Emily, born Feb. 24, 1860, married
.John Wesley Brown who became a well-known
Baptist preacher. john W. was born May 1,
1859
af1d
died March 17, 1952. They had 2
<::hildren: Nannie Sara who married Joseph D.
Brinegar, son of Josep'
S. Brinegar and
Louisa Billings, and Ave
Columbus, who
married Martha Jane Hol rook, daughter of
James Calloway Holbrook and Alsie Cleary.
Robinson Crusoe was orn June 6, 1862,
married on Dec. 3, ",890 to Laura E. Childress,
born April22, 1875. They oved to Tennessee
and many of the descend nts of their 10 children still live in the Rock' Jood, Tenn. area.
II .
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Na~cy' Caroline was bar, in 1867. She marned nrst Nov. 29, 1890 James Soots, by
whom she had 3 childre : Mitchell married
Kate Whitlock, Minnie die young, and Lelia
married V. Cooper Parau and had 10 children. Nancy Caroline ma ried second Elisha
Childers and married thir Frank Bowers.
Lewis Gilmer, born Aug i7, 1868 married
first Jennie 8elle Carrico ambill, born Aug.
26, 1869 daughter 01 Aa on K. Carrico and
Rousie Emeline Cornette a d widow of Nathan
H. Gambill, and later move to Missouri. Their
children were: Virgii Emer on married Nettie
Carlen, Howard Quay j arried Gladys E.
Robertson, Lillian Mayo married first Mr.
Adams and second Arthur Hudson, and Lillie
Mae married Freeman Rolo on. Mter the death
of Jennie 8elle on Oct. 9, 903 and her burial
in Pattonsburg, Mo., Lewis returned to N.C.
and married second Minnie Cook, by whom he
had 2 more children: Jame Montgomery who
married Efca Crabb and
obert Hillery who
married first Hiida Jane Bu chette and second
Velna Pruitt.
6) Jackson T. Biilings .as born Feb. 1,
1830 and married Margar t Clementine Porter, oldest child of Andre' Porter and Mary
Cooper and sister of IN.F Porter. Margaret
was born in 1832 and died une 7, -1907. They
lived in the Mulberry sectio of Wilkes County,
where they had 12 children, 4 of whom were
dead by 1907. They are b lieved buried in a
ountain. The chilfamiiy plot on Chestnut
dren of Jackson and Marg ret were: Martha,
Jesse F., William Francis, Sarah Ann, John,
Emily, Joseph, Doxanna, ' oxanna and Alice.
Martha E. born 1855 married McDaniel
i
Absher, son of Jacob Abs er and Sarah Hall.
Jesse F. born Aug. 20, 1 58 married Polly
Shumate, dau. of King Shu ate. Wiliiam Francis "Yank" was born June 16, 1862, married
first Samantha Shumate, rn rried second Cloie
E. Shumate, daughter of sley Shumate and
Nancy Kilby. Sarah Ann, b rn March 9,1863
married Nathan Alfred W at'1, son of Lewis
Wyatt and Phoebe Brown. John A. was born
March 5, 1865 and mar ied first Elizabeth
Absher, married second
;artha Handy and
third Sarah Shumate. Em Iy, born in 1868,
died Dec. 12, 1890. J seph Columbus
"Birch" was born Sept. 5, 1872, married
Lura Elizabeth Cofiey, da ghter of Asberry
Cofiey and Sarah Wingler.
oxanna and Roxanna, twin girls, were bo n June 5, 1875.
Doxanna died young. Rox nna married Silas
M. Shumate, son of Hug A. Shumate and
Candis M. Absher, who w s a prominent 'farmer in the Mt. View area. lice Octavia, born
April 8, 1880 married Jam s Gilbright Myers,
born Oct. 31, 1877. Their son Fred Everette
Myers was Wilkes County Sheriff '10r several
102
tZ-'?33
years in the late 1950s.
Sources:
Census; other Public Records;
-
Newspapers.
Naomi 8. Gordon
353
Benjamin Bingllam was born in 1756. He
resided in Culpepper County, Virginia, until he
entered the Revolutionary War in 1776. He
served with his brother, Robert, but they became separated during their service.
According to A Histof1j at Watauga County,
"It is a family tradition that Benjamin Bingham, who came from Virginia to Reddy's River, fired the last cannon at Yorktown. This
Benjamin was a giant in his day, and it is
related of him that a noted fighter, wishing to
test his strength as a wrestler, carne to Reddy's River and lay in the shade of some trees
and watched Benjamin lead the reapers in the
wheat harvest till sundown, when he made his
business known. It was then that Benjamin,
without resting or eating, girded his loins and
threw his opponent as alien as he wished to try
conclusion with him."
It is believed the following were his children:
(1) Anne, who married James Wiles on Jan.
10, 1810 in Surry Co., (2) Edney, who married
Joshua Jones on Aug. 31,1815,
(3) Jane,
who married William lies on Dec. 11, 1813,
(4) Stephen N. born about 1796 In Virginia,
married Synthy Pritchard in Surry County on
Dec. 20,1817, (5) Jemima, born Feb. 8,1798
in Virginia, married James Arrington Proffitt
on May 21,1816. Jemima died Nov. 29, 1881
in Greene Co., Mo. Jemima and Arrington also
lived in McMinn Co., Tenn., moving there
about 1824.
Another probable son is Benjamin, who
married Nancy Prm'fit in 1818 with that marriage bond being in Wilkes County.
OUi early Benjamin Bingham moved on to
Blount Co., Tennessee, where in 1832, he
states in his Rev. War Declaration that he is 76
years old.
Sources: A History of Watauga County, Rev. War Papers, Marriage Bonds and Census Records.
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Mrs. J. Arnold Simpson
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354
George M. Bingham was born July 20,
1805, on Reddies River, Wilkes County, North
Carolina. About 1833, he was married to Mary
Ann Davis, born in 1813, and beiieved to be
the daughter of Golston and Elizabeth Whitlow
Davis.
i
George was prominent in the Methodist
Community of Henson's Chapel. His motherin-law, Elizabeth Whitlow Davis, is believed to
be the first Methodist in that area. George is
also credited with offering his home as a meeting house for a couple of Missionary Baptists
about 1854.
George M. was the first elected Clerk of
Superior Court in 1852 but resigned during his
first term because 01 a speech impediment.
He died on January 20, 1880 in Watauga
County.
Sources:
Records.
A History of Watauga County and Census
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that time, she moved to Idaho. Her husband
had died during the Civil War. (3) Harvey, the
next child, was born February 13, 1839 and
died March 17, 1895. In 1861, he married
Nancy Ann Miller, the daughter of John B. and
Mary Triplett Miller. (4) Harrison died in infancy. (5) Violet Emeline was born about 1843
Margaret Somers
355
joseph Terry Bingham, born 20 Oct. -i818,
married 23 Nov. 1846 Minerva Adline Lewis
daughter of David and Mary (Polly) Hendrix
Lewis. They lived in the part of Wilkes which
later became Watauga County. They were the
parents of six children: Stephen, Jerusha,
Mary Caroline, Devalt, Robert Lewis and
Cynthia Bingham.
In the year of 1877 Joseph T. Bingham was
appointed Postmaster at Pine Run in Watauga
County. He was a land owner, a farmer, and
operated a dry goods store and a mil!. His wife,
Minerva Adline, died 28 Feb. 1877 and was the
first person to be buried in the cemeter! at
Rutherwood in Watauga County.
Joseph T. Bingham married second LouS.
Brown and they had three children: Joe, Edna
and Grace. He died 28 Sept. 1897 and is buried
with his first wife at Rutherwood.
Mary Caroline Bingham, the third child of
Joseph T. and Minerva Adeline Lewis Bingham, is remembered for the beautiful quilts
she made on a spinning wheel. She married
David Marshall Winkler. (see The Ancestors of
Mary Elizabeth Winkler Carroll.)
Sources:
personal
knowledge.
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Gayle C. Benton
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The children of George M. and Mary Ann
were: (1) William G., born in 1835, and married to Roxanna Presnell. (2) Louisa, born
about 1837, married Marshall Milier in 1856,
and lived on Cove Creek until about 1837. At
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and died at an early age. (6) Thomas, born on
February 3, "\845, was married twice, to Sarah
Ann Farmer in 870 and to Laura E. Combs in
1885. (7) Elliot was born about 1847 and was
killed during the Civil War on Beech Mountain.
(8) Marshall, who was born about 1849, died
at age 34, unmarried. (9) Isidor was born
about 1851 and died at age DNO. (10) Nancy
Carolina was born about 1853 and married
E.L. Presnell.
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356
Harvey Bingham was the third child 01
George M. and Mary Ann Davis Bingham. He
was born on Februarv 13,1839. In 1861, he
married Nancy Ann Miller, daughter of John B.
and Mary Trip!ett, who was born In Wilkes
County on January 12, 1840. Their children
were: (1) Mary Laura (1865-1947) who married William Johnson; (2) Lunda Louisa (18681937) who married Charles H. Somers, (3)
Eudora L. (1870-1949) who married Albert R.