Billings - Hiram M - Civil War
Source: Kingman Star Friday, October 30, 1914
CAPTAIN HIRAM M. BILLINGS, one of the best known men in this part of the state, died at his home in Veedersburg about 10 o’clock Monday morning after a short illness. Mr. Billings had been suffering from heart trouble for the past few days, but he was much improved Sunday and his condition was not regarded serious. He spent a very restless night Sunday night and death claimed him Monday morning. He enlisted in Co. E of the 86 Indiana in Warren county and served throughout the war although terribly wounded in the shoulder in the Atlanta campaign. He went in as a private and came out with a captains commission. After the war he returned to Williamsport and at one time was sheriff of that county. Later he moved to Waynetown where he lived several years and afterwards went to Veedersburg. While at Waynetown he was at one time the Republican candidate for the legislature, but it was in a Democratic year and he failed of election. He leaves a widow, three sons, H. D. Billings of Williamsport, O.S. Billings of Redlands, Cal., and Bert Billings of New Ross, and two daughters, Mrs. A. B. Brown of Toledo and Miss Evangeline at home. He also has a stepson, Charles Hartsock of Kelso, Washington. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wednesday October 28, 1914
To the Veterans of Montgomery County: There lies dead in Veedersburg tonight a former resident of this city, as brave a man as ever wore the blue - Capt H.M. Billings, who was so seriously wounded on the battle line for the maintenance of our country undivided and our flag unsullied, was so severely wounded that he has been unable wholly to care for himself. Capt. Billings was one of God's own noblemen, true to his country, his family, and his friends, honored, beloved and respected by all who knew him. Some 20 years ago he married as loyal, true and patriotic a little woman as ever lived. Faithfully, untiringly, lovingly, she has cared for the crippled old veteran as she would have cared for a sick and disabled child, as well as to rear and guide the pathway of a beautiful daughter to the threshold of womanhood. When they shall turn from the silent city of the dead and bid farewell to their loved one, their protector, husband and father, they turn to face the cold charities of a cruel world, forever, unjustly, cruelly, debarred from the little pittance this great government which he so earnestly strove to maintain, doles out to other - may less deserving - soldiers' widows, by that unjust monstrosity, the soldier's widows' pension bill, simply because she married him since June 27, 1890. The Hon. Martin A. Morrison - honest, honorable gentleman that he is - went to Congress as representative of this district, bound by his pledge of honor in white and black over his own signature that he would do all within his power to correct this outrage. Has he done it? No. Has his voice ever been lifted in the Hall? No. (may be more but all I found - kbz)
According to findagrave.com he was married to Sarah Wood 1844-1874; then to Sarah, widow of HH Woodward and finally in 1877 to (Mrs) Lydia Hartsock. He was the son of Nathan and Margaret Higgenbotham Billings - had 3 children Lizzie; Harley; Maggie (at least)
Born: Warren County Indiana buried in West Lebanon
Dates: 29 Jan 1842 - 26 Oct 1914
