George Pierce Billings (1827-1896)
His father, Titus Billings, and mother, Diantha Morley, were some of the first members of the LDS church and joined the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio and later to Nauvoo, IL. They assisted in building the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. George followed in his parents' doctrine and died a consistent Latter day Saint.
He was enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, but accidentally got his foot cut, so he could not go. He drove one of his cousin, Heber C. Kimball's wagons to Salt Lake Valley the day before he turned 20. He came to Utah with the first company of 147 pioneers on July 24, 1846. He arrived very near naked, tall, lean and even hungry looking with no shoes. Soon thereafter, Brigham Young sent him back with 9 others to help the Charles C. Rich company. Not long after, their food supply became exhausted and the springs were dry. George went out to see if he could find food. With his rifle he set out across the hills. His thirst was indescribable, but found a brackish pool that he drank from, but only made his thirst worse. He next came upon a wounded buffalo with coyotes tearing at it's flesh, George made a fire to keep the coyotes away and he drank the blood of the buffalo. This only seemed to make his blood boil, but did give him strength. He moved on and found a lone Indian who gave him drink and buffalo meat-which saved his life and by the next morning he felt more himself. He traded the Indian his gun for 200 lbs of buffalo meat and met his men and the Charles Rich company hidden in the willows near the Platte River. It is in this company that he first met Jerusha, who would later become his 2nd wife and assisted them back to Salt Lake City. He was then called by Brigham Young back to Missouri 5 more times to help others cross the plains and as a scout.
Single and free, he got GOLD FEVER when the gold excitement started in California; he went to the Golden coast for 2 years with many others from Utah, but returned penniless. When he returned from California he came to Sanpete, Utah and married Edith Patten, by whom he had nine children. In 1851, he was called to colonize Manti, Utah and in 1856 called again to settle Carson, Nevada. Returning again to Manti later.
He learned from his father how to build and helped build the Salt Lake Temple was a prominent figure in the building of the Manti and St. George Temples; cutting all the stones for the Manti Temple. He also did the greater part of the construction and stone cutting of the well built pioneer homes in Manti.
27 April 1856, he married Jerusha Lois Shoemaker, his second wife in polygamy. George and Jerusha had eight children together. Of George's total of 17 children with 2 wives, there are 13 living, the youngest being 18 years of age. Nearly all the children were at his bedside during his last hours and witnessed his death.
He possessed a large and strong body at 6'4" tall and was large boned with a big frame. He was intelligent, a leader and possessed a commanding personality. He made ditches, tilled soil and made bridges. It was said he could accomplish much work on little sleep.
His soul responded to music and was a naturally gifted baritone singer and musician. He was taught by his father to play the violin and every instrument in the band. His father, Titus was the first band leader and choir director in Manti.
Every man in Sanpete county knows Sheriff Billings, as he served the people in that capacity for about 40 years and held numerous other offices in church and city. He was the guest of honor of the Utah Press Association in their Pioneer celebration last July. George Billings' headstone notes that he "Held the plow that turned the first furrow in Utah." George P. Billings had 2 wives. His first wife was Edith Patten (Sister of Thomas Jefferson Patten Sr) and had 9 children:
Hannah Billings (1852 -1881), Titus Billings (1853-1905), Edith Georgianna Billings (1856-1939), Louisa Billings (1858-1911), George Pierce Billings, Jr (1861-?), Leonard Billings (1865 -1915), John A. Billings (1866-1867), Orson Billings (1869 -1925), Heber Billings (1870 -1870)
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| George Pierce Billings and Jerusha Lois Shomaker Family |
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Deseret News, 11 Jan 1882, Wed, page 6 |
