The Family of Eva Alzora Billings


Eva Alzora Billings was born in 1854, the 9th of 13 children. From the age of 7, and throughout her life, she was affected by the war. She was a Real Daughter of a Civil War soldier. She had two brothers who served. She had 5 brothers-in-law who served. She had a husband who served in the Civil War. 

 

Her father, Walter Billings enlisted in the 8th Michigan Cavalry, was captured by the "Rebels" and ended up at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. 

 

Two of Eva’s brothers-in-law served at the same time in Co. L of the 4th Michigan Cavalry. Hiram returned home after 3 years; Andrew did not. He left a 19-year-old widow and 2 small daughters.

 

Eva’s older brother, another brother-in-law, and a man named Freeland Gray all served together in Co. B of the 13th Michigan Infantry. Her brother, James, was wounded at Thompson’s Station in TN. Her brother-in-law, Samuel, was wounded at Chickamauga, GA. And Freeland Gray was wounded at Stone River, TN. 

 

Of the nine men in Eva’s immediate family who served in the Civil War, one was a Prisoner Of War at Andersonville, three were Wounded In Action, and one died of wounds and is buried at the Nashville National Cemetery in TN. Can you imagine the stories that that family had around the dinner table !


BILLINGS FAMILY HAS WAR HISTORY 

Descendant in Fennville and

Grand Rapids Cite Records

in Seven Wars. 

 

FAMILY DATES TO 1448 --- Fennville, Dec. 14. [1922] -- There are two outstanding facts concerning the Billings family of Fennville. First, by American and British records the genealogy can be traced back to 1448. Second, six generations have been actively engaged in wars for liberty in America, seven, in fact by counting the early colonial wars, previous to the revolution. The Billings name was originally Billing, the "s" being added since coming to America. The name was derived from Billing, England, situated four miles from Northampton. The first Billing of whom record was found, was Sir Thomas Billing, who was a noted lawyer. He was a member of parliament in 1448 and was recorder in 1451, being knighted in 1458. Billing was made chief justice in 1468. The Billing name is then carried down generation to generation until we find that William Billing was granted land from the king after King Philip's wa[r] in 1675-6, living then in Stonington, Conn., dying there in 1713. His son, Ebenezer Billings, also served in a series of colonial wars. James Billings, I, was the son of Lieut. Ebenezer Billings, being born in 1688. James Billings, II., a son, was born in 1719. James Billings, III., great grandfather of Mary Billings of Fennville, was born in 1751. Walter Billings, a son, served in the Civil war, as did his two sons, James and Eugene. Eva Billings, a sister of Eugene Billings, married Freeland Gray in 1868, having one son, Walter E. Gray, now living in Grand Rapids, who served in the Spanish American war in 1898. Elizabeth Gray, sister of Walter Gray, married George Erwood in 1896, and their son, Freeland Gray Erwood, served in the World war. Another sister of Walter Gray had a son, William Walter Cooper, who also served in the World war.

 

 

SOURCE: Billings Family Has War History Descendant in Fennville and Grand Rapids Cite Records in Seven | Date: December 14, 1922 | Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan | Newspaper: Grand Rapids Press


Family Chart