Mormon Pioneer

"...Billings, George Pierce – (9th Ten) Born in Kirtland, Ohio, on July 25, 1827, to Titus and Diantha Morley Billings. His father was the second person to be baptized in Kirtland, Ohio, and later served as counselor to the Church's first Presiding Bishop. George worked on Mississippi River boats and helped his father, a stonemason and carpenter, build the temples in Kirtland and Nauvoo. He joined the pioneer company at age 20. He drove a wagon across the plains for his cousin, Heber C. Kimball. By the time Billings arrived in the Valley, his shoes and shirt were gone and his buckskin pants had stretched, been trimmed and shrank. Elder Kimball's wife made him a new shirt of a striped straw tick, and a pair of moccasins. Upon seeing him in his scant outfit, Heber C. Kimball felt to prophesy that soon "clothing can be bought here as cheap as in New York City." This prophecy was literally fulfilled with the arrival of California pioneers and gold seekers. Billings later went to California in search of gold. He found gold, went to Mexico and bought livestock and was bringing it to Utah when all of his stock became diseased and died. He returned poorer than he left, just as Brigham Young said would happen to those who left in search of gold. He helped settle Carson Valley, Nev. After the arrival of Johnston's army in 1858, and the abandonment of the outlying settlements, he moved to Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah. There he helped build the temple. He died in Manti on Dec. 2, 1896, at age 69..."

SOURCE: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58061/Biographies-of-the-orig...

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From Find a Grave.com:

Birth: Jul. 25, 1827, Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Death: Dec. 2, 1896, Manti, Sanpete, Utah, USA

Manti Messenger Untitled Newspaper 4 December 1896: OBITUARY.

George Pierce Billings, one of the pioneers of Utah, died at his residence in this city on Wednesday night at 8:40 o'clock, of inflammatory diarrhea. He leaves a wife and thirteen living children, with thousands of friends to mourn his loss. The funeral will be held in the Tabernacle on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2 o'clock. Bro. Billings was born on July 25, 1827, and was therefore in his 70th year. His father,
Titus Billings, was one of the first members of the church, and the son followed in his parents' doctrine and died a consistent Latter day Saint.

He came to Utah with the first company of 147 pioneers and remained in Salt Lake City until the gold excitement started in California, when he went to the Golden coast with many others from Utah. When he returned from California he came to Sanpete, and married Edith Patten, by whom he had nine children. A few years later he married Jerusha Shoemaker, who still survives him, and by her had eight children.

Of the 17 children there are 13 living, the youngest being 18 years of age. Nearly all the children were at his bedside during his last hours and witnessed his death. One son, Titus, is in Tintic, and a daughter, Mrs. T. J. Patten, is in Provo. Every man in Sanpete county knows Sheriff Billings, as he served the people in that capacity for about 20 years. He was the guest of honor of the Utah Press Association in their Pioneer celebration last July, and was looking forward to the coming semi-centennial in Salt Lake City as one of the happy re-unions of old friends. It is expected that some of the church authorities in Salt Lake City, who were his personal friends, will be in attendance at the funeral.

Parents:

Titus Billings 1793 - 1866

Diantha Morley Billings 1795 - 1879

Spouses:

Edith Patten Billings 1832 - 1884

Jerusha Shomaker Billings 1840 - 1915

Children:

Hannah Billings Booth 1852 - 1881

Titus Billings 1854 - 1905

Edith Billings Larsen 1856 - 1939

Marian Billings 1857 - 1857

Louise Billings Voorhees 1858 - 1911

Nancy Billings Reid 1859 - 1928

Clara Isabella Billings Patten 1861 - 1944

George P. Billings 1861 - 1909

Luella Billings Shoemaker 1864 - 1957

Leonard Billings 1865 - 1915

Orson Billings 1867 - 1925

Ezra Golden Billings 1868 - 1957

Diantha Billings Nelson 1870 - 1953

Eunice Billings Nelson 1873 - 1934

LaPriel Billings Sorensen 1878 - 1958

Headstone Inscription: Pioneer

Created by: Family2Gather

Record added: Jun 21, 2008

Find A Grave Memorial# 27738437