Surnames: Billings, Matthias, Lacey

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 07/29/1926

OLD CLASS MATES OF YEAR 1894 MEET

On Friday, at the Press office; two men met who graduated from Neillsville High School in the class of 1894 -----32 years ago, and had never seen each other since the night of their graduation exercises. One of the men is Edwin S. Billings and the other is Franklin H. Matthias. Both were farm boys who came here to attend high school after finishing country school. Edwin S. Billings came from the town of Grant; after graduating from high school he taught country School at Oshkosh, and later received his degree from the University of Wisconsin. Since graduating from the University he has been superintendent of Consolidated schools in the state of Minnesota most of the time, at present holding that position at Chikio in Minnesota. Mr. Matthias came from the town of Hoard in the north end of the county. When entering high school here he got a place with the late Dr. I. E. Lacey, taking care of the doctor’s team and office for the privilege of sleeping in the back office at night. Dr. Lacey was an expert telegraphy. Is Stockwell entered railroad service and is still engaged in that work at Volga, South Dakota. Frank Matthias also became an operator and station agent, following the work for 15 years, then coming back to the home farm in the town of Hoard, which he now owns and carries on. For the past 8 years he has been chairman of his town and for several years he has been a member of the County Highway Committee. He is now one of the candidates for the office of Sheriff.

As might be expected, he and Billings did not recognize each other at first, but were able to recall many pleasant reminiscences of their high school days, after a few minutes of conversations.

*Note there could have been more to the article.