Franklin Noble Billings (March 8, 1829 - December 11, 1894) was a Vermont businessman and merchant. A member of the prominent Billings family, he was notable for his investment stakes and management roles in several Vermont businesses. He was the father of Governor
Franklin S. Billings and grandfather of Judge
Franklin S. Billings Jr. In addition, he was the brother of
Frederick H. Billings
Frederick H. Billings (September 27, 1823 – September 30, 1890) was an American lawyer, financier, and politician. He is best known for his legal work on land claims during the early years of California's statehood and his presidency of the ...
, uncle of
Mary Billings French
Mary Montagu Billings French (March 6, 1869 – June 14, 1951) page 251. was an American heiress and society figure, as well as YWCA president and board member. She was the daughter of Frederick Billings and inherited the Marsh-Billings-Rockefelle ...
, and grand-uncle of
Mary French Rockefeller
Mary French Rockefeller (née Mary Billings French, May 1, 1910 – April 17, 1997) was an American heiress, socialite, philanthropist, and a member of the extensive Rockefeller family. She was married to Laurance Rockefeller, son of John Davison ...
.
Early life
Franklin Noble Billings was born in
Royalton, Vermont
Royalton is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,750 at the 2020 census. It includes the villages of Royalton, South Royalton, and North Royalton. Vermont Law School, the state's only accredited law school, i ...
on March 8, 1829, the son of Oel Billings (1788-1871) and Sophia (Wetherbe) Billings (1796-1870).
His family moved to
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock is the shire town (county seat) of Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 3,005. It includes the villages of Woodstock, South Woodstock, Taftsville, and West Woodstock.
History
Chart ...
when he was six, and he was educated in the schools of Royalton and Woodstock.
At age 13, Billings began a mercantile career when he accepted a position in the general store of O. A. Bryant.
He later moved to the store owned by Abram Stearns, and boarded with the Stearns family while continuing to learn his trade.
From 1842 to 1846, Billings completed his education with attendance at Woodstock Academy.
Career
During the
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California fro ...
, Billings traveled to California, joining his brother Frederick, who had become a prominent attorney in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
.
Billings worked in the mercantile business at the San Francisco warehouse of Simmons, Hutchinson, & Co., and was briefly employed to book passage for travelers and transport of cargo on a
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River ( es, Río Sacramento) is the principal river of Northern California in the United States and is the largest river in California. Rising in the Klamath Mountains, the river flows south for before reaching the Sacramento–S ...
steamboat, the ''
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...
''.
In 1852, he returned to Vermont.
Shortly after arriving in Woodstock, Billings and a cousin traveled to
Freeport, Illinois
Freeport is the county seat and largest city of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,973 at the 2020 census, and the mayor of Freeport is Jodi Miller, elected in 2017. Freeport is known for hosting the second Linc ...
to explore business opportunities.
They decided not to remain, and Billings returned to Woodstock to consider ventures closer to home.
In 1854, Billings and partner James B. Jones purchased the store and inventory of George R. Chapman.
The Jones & Billings store operated until 1860, when a fire burned a large portion of downtown Woodstock.
Billings constructed a store as part of Woodstock's newly built Phoenix Block commercial building, and his new venture opened in April 1861.
He remained in business until 1894, when he sold the store to E. B. Wilson and William J. Boyce; Boyce had worked for Billings for more than 30 years.
Other business endeavors in which Billings was involved included promotion of the
Woodstock Railway, of which he was an original incorporator and served as president.
In addition, he was president of the
Woodstock National Bank, Woodstock Gas Light Company, and
Woodstock Aqueduct Company.
Billings also served on the board of directors of the Woodstock Hotel Company and
Norman Williams Norman Williams may refer to:
* Norman Williams (Australian cricketer) (1899-1947), Australian cricketer
* Norman Williams (New Zealand cricketer) (1864-1928), New Zealand cricketer
* Norman Williams (RAAF officer), Royal Australian Air Force of ...
Public Library.
When the Rutland and Woodstock Railroad Company was incorporated in 1882, Billings was one of two commissioners empowered to execute the corporation's initial stock subscription.
Billings occasionally took part in politics.
A
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, in June 1874 he was a delegate to the party's state convention in
Burlington
Burlington may refer to:
Places Canada Geography
* Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador
* Burlington, Nova Scotia
* Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington"
* Burlington, Prince Edward Island
* Burlington Bay, no ...
.
In 1876, he was again a delegate to the state Republican convention. In 1880, Billings again attended the state Republican convention, this time as an alternate delegate.
Family
In 1859, Billings married Nancy Swift (1822-1904) of
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast region. Up throug ...
.
They were the parents of a son,
Franklin S. Billings, who served as
Governor of Vermont
The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...
from 1925 to 1927.
Billings was also the grandfather of
Franklin S. Billings Jr. who served as a state and federal judge. Billings' siblings included businessman and attorney
Frederick H. Billings
Frederick H. Billings (September 27, 1823 – September 30, 1890) was an American lawyer, financier, and politician. He is best known for his legal work on land claims during the early years of California's statehood and his presidency of the ...
. In addition, Billings was the uncle of Frederick Billings' daughter
Mary Billings French
Mary Montagu Billings French (March 6, 1869 – June 14, 1951) page 251. was an American heiress and society figure, as well as YWCA president and board member. She was the daughter of Frederick Billings and inherited the Marsh-Billings-Rockefelle ...
, and grand-uncle of Frederick Billings' granddaughter
Mary French Rockefeller
Mary French Rockefeller (née Mary Billings French, May 1, 1910 – April 17, 1997) was an American heiress, socialite, philanthropist, and a member of the extensive Rockefeller family. She was married to Laurance Rockefeller, son of John Davison ...
.
Death and burial
Billings died in Woodstock on December 11, 1894.
He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Woodstock.
Legacy
Locations with connections to Billings are included in the Woodstock Village entry on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
. These include the Amos Warren House, which Billings purchased in the late 1860s and remains in the Billings family. In addition, the historic district includes the Phoenix Block, where he owned and operated his store.
Related
*
Frederick H. Billings
Frederick H. Billings (September 27, 1823 – September 30, 1890) was an American lawyer, financier, and politician. He is best known for his legal work on land claims during the early years of California's statehood and his presidency of the ...
*
F. H. Gillingham & Sons
*
Franklin S. Billings
*
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park in Woodstock, Vermont. The park preserves the Marsh-Billings House, as well as the site where Frederick Billings established a managed forest and a p ...
*
Woodstock, Vermont
Woodstock is the shire town (county seat) of Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 3,005. It includes the villages of Woodstock, South Woodstock, Taftsville, and West Woodstock.
History
Chart ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billings, Franklin Noble
1829 births
1894 deaths
People from Royalton, Vermont
People from Woodstock, Vermont
People of the California Gold Rush
19th-century American railroad executives
American bank presidents
Vermont Republicans
Burials in Vermont