John Billingsley

BILLINGSLEY, John - Died at his residence near Billingsley, Ark. on the 25th inst., 1883, John Billingsley. Obituary next week.

[Fayetteville Democrat 1/25/83)

{from West Fork} Editors Democrat: Dear Sirs: By the request of the heirs and friends of the late John Billingsley I have gathered the following information: Major John Billingsley was born in Logan county, Ky. May 1st, 1801. In 1802 his father moved to Middle Tennessee. In 1813 he moved to Arkansas Post. Two years later he located at a place called Arbuckle Island and here our hero spent considerable of his time hunting deer, bear, and other wild game with which the country abounded. At one time he had on hand 3000 lbs. of bear meat. On Nov. 4th, 1821, he married a Miss Rebecca Edwards, who shared the joys and cares of his life with him until 1861 when she was thrown from a buggy by a runaway team and killed. In 1883{?} he moved to Washington county and settled the farm on the head of Illinois river where he remained until his death. Shortly after his marriage to Miss Edwards he joined the Missionary Baptist Church but on moving to Washington county he united with the Cumberland Presbyterians and remained identified with them during the remainder of his life. He was elected a major in a regiment of militia in the first settling of this county and ever afterward carried the title. He represented Washington county in the House of Representatives in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eleventh legislatures. He was always an energetic, enterprising good­ hearted man and held his vitality up to the last year or so of his life. He came to his part of the county first; the nearest settler being eight or ten miles away. He built the first mill in that part of the county; was on the first jury ever empaneled in Washington county; helped to view the first wagon road from Fayetteville to Van Buren. He caught a wild buffalo calf on the site where Fayetteville now stands, kept it until it was three years old and sold it for fifty dollars. On the 4th day of November 1867, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Graham who survives him. By his first wife there were twelve children, four of whom are still living. He died on the 24th of January 1883. Thus, another of the old landmarks passed away. History might be studied with profit by the rising generation. He started in life poor, raised a large family and amassed a good property. He held the confidence of all who knew him and died respected. Respectfully submitted, G.S. White.

[Fayetteville Democrat 3/8/83]