Franklin Noble Billings

Franklin Noble Billings was born in Royalton, Vermont on March 8, 1829, to Oel Billings (1788–1871) and Sophia (Wetherbe) Billings (1796–1870).[1] His family moved to Woodstock, Vermont when he was six, and he was educated in the schools of Royalton and Woodstock.[1] At age 13, Billings began a mercantile career when he accepted a position in the general store of O. A. Bryant.[1] He later moved to the store owned by Abram Stearns, and boarded with the Stearns family while continuing to learn his trade.[1] From 1842 to 1846, Billings completed his education with attendance at Woodstock Academy.[2]

During the California Gold Rush, Billings traveled to California, joining his brother Frederick, who had become a prominent attorney in San Francisco.[1] Billings worked in the mercantile business at the San Francisco warehouse of Simmons, Hutchinson, & Co., and was briefly employed to book passage for travelers and transport of cargo on a Sacramento River steamboat, the Jenny Lind.[1][3]

In 1852, he returned to Vermont.[1] Shortly after arriving in Woodstock, Billings and a cousin traveled to Freeport, Illinois to explore business opportunities.[1] They decided not to remain, and Billings returned to Woodstock to consider ventures closer to home.[1]

In 1854, Billings and partner James B. Jones purchased the store and inventory of George R. Chapman.[1] The Jones & Billings store operated until 1860, when a fire burned a large portion of downtown Woodstock.[1] Billings constructed a store as part of Woodstock's newly built Phoenix Block commercial building, and his new venture opened in April 1861.[1] He remained in business until 1894, when he sold the store to E. B. Wilson and William J. Boyce; Boyce had worked for Billings for more than 30 years.[1]

Other business endeavors in which Billings was involved included promotion of the Woodstock Railway, of which he was an original incorporator and served as president.[1] In addition, he was president of the Woodstock National Bank, Woodstock Gas Light Company, and Woodstock Aqueduct Company.[1] Billings also served on the board of directors of the Woodstock Hotel Company and Norman Williams Public Library.[1] When the Rutland and Woodstock Railroad Company was incorporated in 1882, Billings was one of two commissioners empowered to execute the corporation's initial stock subscription.[4]

Billings occasionally took part in politics.[5][6] A Republican, in June 1874 he was a delegate to the party's state convention in Burlington.[5][6] In 1876, he was again a delegate to the state Republican convention.[7] In 1880, Billings again attended the state Republican convention, this time as an alternate delegate.[8]

In 1859, Billings married Nancy Swift (1822-1904) of New Bedford, Massachusetts.[2] They were the parents of a son, Franklin S. Billings, who served as Governor of Vermont from 1925 to 1927.[2][9]

Billings was also the grandfather of Franklin S. Billings Jr. who served as a state and federal judge.[10] Billings' siblings included businessman and attorney Frederick H. Billings.[10] In addition, Billings was the uncle of Frederick Billings' daughter Mary Billings French,[11] and grand-uncle of Frederick Billings' granddaughter Mary French Rockefeller.[12]

Billings died in Woodstock on December 11, 1894.[2] He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Woodstock.[13]

Locations with connections to Billings are included in the Woodstock Village entry on the National Register of Historic Places.[10] These include the Amos Warren House, which Billings purchased in the late 1860s and remains in the Billings family.[10] In addition, the historic district includes the Phoenix Block, where he owned and operated his store.[14]

• Frederick H. Billings
• F. H. Gillingham & Sons
• Franklin S. Billings
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
• Woodstock, Vermont

• Franklin Noble Billings at Find a Grave