Person:John Billings (5)

moved to Indiana when he was 21. enlisted in Co F, 9th Indiana Infantry at LaPorte, Indiana family moved to Ashton, Iowa in 1871

When he died his body was brought to the house where they had funeral services (the house on West 6th Street that Charles talked to Lois through her bedroom window). Then they went to LeMars where the burial was. Charles and Lyle Roll were there standing back by the trees. They played Taps for JD and Lois can still remember the sound of it (the bugler stood at the Soldier's Memorial Circle) resounding through the cemetery and across the rise.

Sheldon, Iowa newspaper clipping, Oct 12, 1938. Picture of Mary, Carrie, Emma and Jessie..."are the duaghters of Mr. J.D. Billings who passed away 6 years ago at the home of a duaghter in Sioux City and is buried in LeMars, his home for manyyears.....Mr. Billings built the first hotel at Ashton and was the town's first school teacher, using one room in the hotel. ...Mr. Billings conducted a hotel here (Sheldon). The family moved from Ashton to Michigan, then to Sheldon and later to LeMars."

1895 Iowa State Census: Joshua Billings56 Michigan W O'Brien Second;Sheldon (J.D.??)

           Alma Billings48 New York W O'Brien Second;Sheldon 
           Finley Billings26 Michigan W O'Brien Second;Sheldon 
           Mary Billings19 Iowa Osceola W O'Brien Second;Sheldon 
           Harry Billings17 Iowa Lyon W O'Brien Second;Sheldon 
           Emma Billings16 Iowa Lyon W O'Brien Second;Sheldon 
           Jesse Billings 8 Iowa W O'Brien Second: Shelton

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} John D Billings, in Find A Grave.

   U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
   about John D Billings
   Name: John D Billings
   Residence: Laporte County, Indiana
   Enlistment Date: 9 May 1861
   Rank at enlistment: Private
   State Served: Indiana
   Survived the War?: Yes
   Service Record: Enlisted in Company F, Indiana 9th Infantry Regiment on 05 Sep 1861.
   Mustered out on 06 Sep 1864.
   Sources: Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana
   
   OBIT
   
   ANSWERS CALL
   VETERAN OF THE CIVIL WAR
   DIES AT AGE OF NINETY
   FOUR
   John D. Billings, aged 94, Civil war veteran, for many years a resident of Le Mars, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Earl Diller, 900 West Fifth street, Sioux City, Saturday night.
   
   Mr. Billings had been bedridden the last two years. Of late years he made his home in Sioux City after living in Le Mars, where he was engaged in draying and other work for many years. At one time he operated a Sawmill in Sergeant Bluff.
   
   John D. Billings was born in Michigan, Allegon county. May 26, 1838. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in Company F Ninth Indiana infantry and served until 1865. Following his return from the war he was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Moore.
   
   In 1870 he came to Sioux City and later homesteaded land in Osceola county where he lived until coming to Plymouth County.
   
   Mr. Billings is survived by his four daughters, Mrs. John Bixby, of Primghar; Mrs. Allen Semple, ot Madison, S.D., Mrs. Emmett Semple and Mrs. John Diller, of Sioux City, and five sons, M. D. Billings, of Seattle, Washington; Perry, of Le Mars; George, of Los Angeles; C. H. Billings and Frank Billings, of Sioux City.
   
   Accorded Military Funeral
   Mr. Billings was a member of Mower Post, G. A. R., of Le Mars.
   
   The funeral will be held at the Diller home at 1 p. m. Tuesday afternoon and services will be held at the graveside in Le Mars under the auspices of t h e G. A. R. and other military organizations at 3:15 p. m.
   
   Mr. Billings was well known, especially among the older residents of Le Mars and had a wide acquaintance in northwest Iowa.