"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship. Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914. p. 275. WILLIAM BILLINGS Among the documents and papers from which facts regarding Thurston County's pioneers were found, none were of more service to the compiler than the scrap book formerly belonging to Theodore L. Brown and loaned to the writer by his wife, Martha. Mr. Brown realized that the actual pioneers were rapidly being called, that soon there would be none left to tell the story, so he made an effort to collect brief sketches of as many of his old friends as he could reach. Among those who complied with Mr. Brown's request for a life history was Mr. William Billings. With characteristic modesty, Mr. Billings related only the baldest facts concerning a life rich with experience and adventure. A man who had been repeatedly honored by his government, and his fellow citizens, by appointment and election to important offices, a man who had always stood for the right, and who had never betrayed the trust of his fellow men, what an opportunity for self laudation was afforded him by Mr. Brown's request. The compiler, respecting Mr. Billing's memory, deems that no words of hers can be more eloquent or expressive than his own, written but a few months before his death: "Olympia, May 25, 1908. "Mr. Brown, "Dear Sir: In compliance with my promise, I will give you a short account of my life. "I was born in the town of Ripton, Addison County, Vermont, October 27, 1827, where I lived until I was 19 years old. Then I left home and came around Cape Horn on a whaling vessel as a hand before the mast. "I arrived at Sandwich Islands in 1848, when I left my ship and stayed there till June, 1849, and while there I learned of the discovery of gold in California. I then came to San Francisco, arriving on July 4, 1849. "I stayed but a short time in California. Came to Oregon, landing at Portland on the 8th of September, 1849. Remained in Portland till July, 1851, when I came to Olympia, then a part of Oregon. Olympia has been my home ever since. When the Indian war broke out in 1855,1 joined the volunteers. "In 1860 I was elected Sheriff of Thurston County and remained as Sheriff between twenty-three and twenty-four years. I have held the position of Deputy U. S. Marshal under United States Marshals C. E. Weed, Huntmgton, Hopkins, Phillip Ritz and E. S. Kearney. "I kept all the convicts in the Territory on a contract with the Territory for nine years and was in charge of the Indians on the reservation for about five years, living among them with my family, and must say I always found the Indiana good, kind neighbors. "Now, this is all I have to say and I am glad to be done, for I am shaky, half blind and feel that my time now is very short. WILLIAM BILLINGS." Although Mr. Billings did not elaborate on any of the events of his life, some of the incidents are too closely connected with the early history of Thurston County to be ignored. In 1877 he contracted with the Territory to build a jail at his own expense, take all the prisoners as soon as convicted, care for, board, clothe and protect them during their confinement at the price of seventy cents each, per day, he being permitted to use their services in any way he saw fit. He built his jail at Seatco, started a cooper establishment, developed a coal mine and organized the Seatco Manufacturing Company for making sash, doors and blinds, continuing this contract labor for a term of nine years. At the time he served as Superintendent of the Puyaliup Indian reservation there was not a white resident between that reservation and Fort Steilacoom, and for weeks at a time his family were alone among 600 Indians. That he found these Indians "good, kind neighbors," is an eloquent tribute to Mr. Billings' kindly management of the affairs of the reservation. Mr. Billings was a volunteer in Company B, First Regiment, Capt. Gilmore Hays, during the Indian war and took part in the engagements of Green River, White River and South Prairie. From 1869 to 1891 Mr. Billings was Sheriff of Thurston County, being continuously elected and re-elected on the Republican ticket, being the first man elected in Thurston County on that ticket. Mr. Billings was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Ann Kandle of Tumwater, who died in 1868, leaving two children, one of whom is Charles A. Billings, one of Olympia's prominent residents. In 1873 Mr. Billings was again married, this time to Miss Jeannette M. Ballentyne. Five children were born to them: Frederick D., John Alden, Eunice Cleora, Laura Alice, deceased, and Laura Blanche. The widow, with her daughter, Laura Blanche, live in their home on the corner of Ninth and Franklin Streets, Blanche being a stenographer in the State Industrial Insurance Commission. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.