Obit: Billings, Emily (1836 - 1901)
Transcriber: Stan

Surnames: BILLINGS GUERRE GURRR PAYNE TAYLOR VINE

----Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 03/21/1901

Billings, Emily (9 Dec 1836 - 12 MAR 1901)

Mrs. Emily Billings, who died at her home in Grant, Clark County, Tuesday, Mar. 12th, 1901, was born in Peamarsh, Sussex County, Eng. Dec. 9th, 1836. Her maiden name was Gurr, a shortened form of the name Guerre, the French Huguenot family of which she was a descendent.

She grew up to womanhood in view of the white chalk cliffs of Dover. She was married there to Hiram Payne in 1854, and came shortly after to Waukesha county, this state. One child was born to them now Mrs. John Vine, of Grant. After his death she was married to James Billings July 15th, 1858. They moved to Clark County in the autumn of 1856, when the county was in its youthful days. From Sparta the journey was made by team. The farm upon which she spent her last days was then a solid forest and the road leading to the same hardly more than an Indian trail. Her side by side with the other early settlers of the Ridge, she met the hardships of pioneer life. Her death was due to Bright's disease, from which she had been many years a sufferer.

Of this last marriage five children were born: Harvey, Caroline (Mrs. James G. Taylor, Deceased), Herbert, Henry, of Fresno, Cal., and Edwin, the former three being deceased. The funeral occurred Friday, Mar. 15th, from St. Luke's Church, Rev. Father W.J. Cordick of Wausau, officiating. Burial was in the Neillsville Cemetery.