Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MOSES F. BILLINGS
Among the successful orchardists of Santa Clara county Mr. Billings
takes firsts rank. When he located on
his present cultivation. He set out
three hundred and fifty apricot trees, four hundred prune, and one hundred
peach trees, besides such other fruits as cherries, apples, plums, figs and
pears. The results of his labors as an
orchardist are gratifying, and although he is now living somewhat retired from
active life, at the age of seventy-five years he can look back over his past
efforts with satisfaction. The
management of the ranch has been turned over almost entirely to his son Frank,
who owns a ranch near that of his father, and is thus enabled to relieve his
father from care and labor in his declining years.
Mr.
Billings was born in Kennebec county, Me., June 19,
1829, a son of William and Eliza (Rice) Billings, both natives of Maine. The paternal grandfather, Oliver Billings,
was born in Massachusetts, where in addition to farming he also filled the
pulpit of the Baptist church in his home town.
His death occurred in Maine.
William Billings followed farming throughout life, making his home near
Fayette, Kennebec county, Me., and he died in Auburn, Androscoggin
county, that state. Mrs. Billings dying
at Livermore Falls, Me. Of the nine
children, five sons, and four daughters, born to Mr. and Mrs. Billings, Moses
F. is the third in order of birth. His
educational facilities were meager and it fell to his lot at an early age to
prepare for his support. At the age of
fourteen years he entered upon a three-years apprenticeship to the carpenter’s
trade in Fayette, Me., the first year receiving $40, the second year $50, and
the last year $80. With his knowledge of
carpentry as his stock in trade he went to Berlin, Wis., in 1848, and the next
year removed to Wausau, the same state, where he followed contracting and
carpenter work when the weather permitted outside work, and at other times he
was employed in the manufacture of sash, door and blinds. The year 1865 found him in Rockford, Ill.,
working at the carpenter’s trade, and from 1866 to 1868 he was similarly
occupied in Minneapolis, Minn. The
farming facilities in that locality, however, appealed strongly to him, and
laying aside his trade, he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits for
sixteen years near Minneapolis. At the
end of that time or in 1883, he came directly to Santa Clara county, Cal., and
the ranch which he then selected and purchased has been the family residence
ever since.
November
9, 1856, at Warsaw, Minn., Mr. Billings was married to Harriet M. Millard, who
was born in Allegany, N.Y. Her father,
Arnold Millard, was born in New York state, and his
death occurred while the family were en route to Illinois, on the Ohio
river. His wife, Maria W. Slater, was
also born in New York, and after the death of her husband continued the journey
to Illinois, settling in Rockford. Her
death occurred in the latter city. Mr.
and Mrs. Billings became the parents of three children: Reuel
Fay, deceased; Anna M., at home; and Frank Burton, who lives on a ranch near
Campbell, and in addition to managing is own property, has charge of his
father’s orchard. Politically Mr.
Billings casts his vote in favor of Republican candidates.
Transcribed by
Louise E. Shoemaker, June 04, 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 630. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Louise E. Shoemaker.