D.S. Billington-part 4- Tradegy

BILLINGTON STORY COLLECTION: BABY MARGARET, JEAN AND ESTELLA 

"Margaret Billington was born March 6, 1909 as the ninth child born to the DS Billington Family. With the joy of her arrival, followed a sad week for the Billington Family. Estella was in critical condition with infection. She had been suffering at home but it was advised by Dr. Ainsworth she should go to the hospital. She wanted to say good-bye to all the children first. All the children assembled except Jean. For the first and last time, Dee had to lie to his wife. He just didn't have the heart to tell her in her weaken condition that Jean had died just a few hours earlier. He told her the neighbors were going to watch Jean while he was taking her to the hospital in nearby Deadwood. It was a cold spring night. Two cars left from Spearfish (one to help the other out) and two left Deadwood at the same time and met half way. The steep winding gravel road was not dependable, so they wanted to make sure they got her there safely.

Earlier that day after school Estella had asked Cecil (aged 10) and Jean (aged 7) to go over the hill to the West Side Store for some warm stockings for the children. When they returned Jean laid down in her mother's room and said she didn't feel good. Dad came in and said he thought she was just a little out of joint because of the new baby. Cecil said she probably just didn't want to do the dishes. Later she grieved a long time about saying that. She and Jean were very close. They played together all the time.

Dee took Jean in the other bedroom and laid her down because he thought she was a little pale. He went to get the nurse who was tending mother. The nurse thought she would be all right. Her father laid down next to her and held her and comforted her for a while. Then he noticed she began to labor at breathing and he immediately called the doctor. But before the doctor could arrive, she had passed away. No one could give a good reason for her death. They guessed she might have some childhood contagious disease such as scarlet fever. They recommended she be buried immediately so as to not contaminate the others. (Since that time, family members have concluded she may have had a heart defect. All the girls have had one. Jean's was probably worse and doctors in those days didn't think of kids having heart conditions.)

Dee insisted they have a funeral for her. He said no one would have to come but he insisted on a funeral. It was scheduled it for the next day. Mother Estella's surgery was also that next day. Dee talked with her after the surgery and she seemed to feel better, so he left to attend the funeral of his daughter. Many people came despite the fact they were afraid of what she might have had.

After the funeral, Dee was about rush back up the hill to see Estella, when a man came and told him that she had died."

                                                                ****

Because Dee owned the livery stable, it was his own black horses, decked with large black plumes that had the honor of pulling the beautiful black funeral coach carrying two of his precious loved ones to their burial place at Rosehill Cemetery in Spearfish.

Even more townsfolk came to Mother Estella's funeral. It was the largest funeral ever in Spearfish during those days. It seemed like the whole town was there. She was such a revered woman: respected, loved and admired. Dee gave her name to the baby and she was then named Estelle Margaret, shortened to Stella.

Soon the whole town became interested in the family. Many told Dee he was just not going to be able to raise that baby girl and she should be adopted. A rich couple in the town really wanted her. Some relatives from Canada wanted her. People would actually get mad at him for insisting the family would stay together.

Dee moved his family to the house next to the livery which he owned so he could be near his children. The same nurse that had been with the mother, took baby Estella home with her. She lived on a farm. She didn't take very good care of her. Binks (Hazel) and Sid went to see her one day and found her dirty and covered with flies. The nurse was working out in the fields. Binks went crying to Dad, "You've got to bring her home! She is going to die there! She was sickly apparently because she could not digest ordinary milk.

Dee went to get baby Estella and the nurse said, "You might as well leave her here, she's going to die anyway."

Dee said, "Then she'll die at home and she'll be clean!"

Dee took her around to one friend after another begging someone to take care of her. They would take one look at the sickly, skinny baby and shake their heads. "She's going to die, Dee, and we don't want to be responsible."

Mrs. Curry, a black woman, heard about the situation, and went to Dee. She said, "Mr. Billington, I will take care of that baby and make her well."

Dee said, "Just take care of her and keep her clean as long as she lives."

Mrs. Curry said, "She's going to live, Mr. Billington, you'll see.”

Binks and Cecil tell us that Mrs. Curry boiled oatmeal, barley, or rice and poured off the liquid and gave it to the baby, instead of milk. From ·that day on she gained weight and grew.

One day Dee came home and was horrified to find the baby outside in a box, stark naked. He took her in and was about to scold Mrs. Curry, but she said, "You put her right back where you found her, the sun is good for her!"

                                                *****

We have much to thank that dear wise "uneducated" woman.

She took care of Stella until she was about 4 years old, then she went to Denver. Stella's older sisters Cecil and Binks, and her Dad devoted tender loving care of her for the rest of her younger years. 

Hazel on the right of Baby Stella

Stella at four years old

Later in life, when a teacher in Chicago began to call her Estelle, she liked that better than Stella, so it has stuck since then.

When Estelle was in the second grade, Mrs. Curry came back and took a job cooking for Johnson's restaurant. Since she knew Estelle would be coming there for dinner, she waited until then, scooped her up in her arms and shouted, "My baby, my baby!" She was so excited to see her again. Estelle was happy to see her all right, but she sure was embarrassed to be called a "baby!" Mrs. Curry spent a lot of time telling Estelle over and over how her mother loved her: how she would hug and kiss her and was so proud of her baby girl. Margaret,(now Estelle), was only four days old when her mother died. Her mother was too ill and in the hospital so she couldn't do much mothering, but Mrs. Curry knew that Estelle needed to hear about her mother.

Estelle has always been happy that she was not adopted by another family. She has been so grateful to be raised by a wonderful father and family who loved her dearly. She is grateful to Mrs. Curry for bringing her back to health and providing the years of mothering she really needed.

D.S. Billilngton- part 3--Settling Down

Deadwood Stage in the 1880's--internet photo..not Dee at shotgun

Stage Coach Driver  Billington..as told by Estelle Fontana

   “One December day, probably 1883, when the choir sang for the territorial jail, the jailer, Dee Billington, took notice of a young lady, Miss Estella Boyden. He later commented that he knew then she was the one for him ... although he had always said he wanted to remain single and never settle down.

   Dee showed a lot of interest in her, but Elijah, her father, did not approve because of the differences in ages. When Elijah, a professional photographer, went on a picture-taking spree, Estella begged to go with him. He refused, and she insisted that if he would not take her with him, she would be married by the time he came back. Sure enough while Elijah was gone, Estella and Dee were married in nearby Lead City, Lawrence County, Dakota Territory by a Justice of the Peace. The date was March 19, 1884.

    By this time Dee was riding shot gun on the stage coach line from Spearfish to Deadwood. Estella’s father did not approve, because Dee was the adventuresome type and he was twice as old as Estella. Elijah bought them a farm in nearby St. Onge because he felt the stage coach job in Deadwood was too dangerous. Elijah hoped he could encourage the new family to become farmers. Dee said, "I don't know why anybody would think I was a farmer, but people used to think, if you couldn't do anything else, you could farm."  

The people of St. Onge were French. They came as fur traders. They traded with the Indians for furs then decided to stay and settle down. They were marvelous farmers. They had things growing when nobody else could. It was hardly a town. It was just a bunch of farms.

      They had a drought that year. Everyone suffered from it. There was no water. But Dee, our entrepreneur, bought a machine to do other farmer's work. He said, "As it turned out, I had a good onion crop, when everybody else failed. The weeds were so tall & so thick, they shaded the onions." That is the only reason he had a crop. He was so busy working other's people's farms, he didn't have time to tend his own.

     One day he turned to Estella and said, "I think I am through farming, if you are."

     She said, "I am too!" and they just packed up and left. Dee sold the farm and they moved back to Deadwood for a short time.   Their two boys and the two who died in infancy were born in Deadwood. Dee remembers the day he talked Estella into going for a little ride. They didn't go very far and left the two boys with someone else. But when they came back, and those two little boys were crying for her, Dee could never get her to go out again.

    Deadwood had a reputation as a wild town, not a great place to raise children, so Dee bought a livery stable in Spearfish and Elijah bought a house there and invited his daughter and family to live with him.

    That house was actually in the city limits, but half the city didn't know they were there, it was right on the very edge of the city and right up against the hill side. There was no back yard, only side yard and front yard. It was all woodsy between the house and the creek. At one time the creek went through the corner of the yard but it would flood every year and then it would cut a new bed.

     One more boy and four girls were all born in Spearfish. Spearfish is on the northern edge of the Black Hills. There are pretty mountains east, south and west of Spearfish. On one side is LookOut Mountain or Eociha. That was the Sioux look out over the Spearfish Valley. The other side of the valley is Crow Peak, the Crow Look Out. Spearfish valley was the last battleground between the Sioux and the Crow. It was full of arrowheads. The kids used to dig them up and play with them and throw them away.”

                                          ***

Meet Estella Loring Boyden----by Lana Rankin

Estella Loring Boyden was born June 6, 1869. Her death certificate said she was born in Newfoundland. Family records say she was born on board a ship off the coast of Cape Breton near Nova Scotia and also state that her mother's last name was McDonald, supposedly related to Sir John McDonald, first Prime Minister of Canada. However, no record of this claim has been found.  Instead her family’s official records are found in Sydney Mines, Canada. Estella’s grandparents were Mary Campbell and Charles McDonald.  Family records state that Estella's mother, Ann, died in Eastport, Maine, a year after Estella was born. However, no death records have yet been found at this time. Family records also state that Estella was raised in a French Convent in Michigan. where, she learned to do French needlework and other handiwork. Again, no official records place Estella anywhere in Michigan. Later in life she had placed first in needlework, at the St. Louis World's Fair, for a lace table cloth in very fine lace called "rose point." Now this fact might be true as I have piece of the needlework she has done.  So, we don’t know for sure who raised her from infancy to 10 years old.

When her father, Elijah Loring Boyden, a traveling photographer, finally settled in Deadwood, South Dakota, and opened a photography shop there, he sent for Estella. She appears on the Census records for Deadwood 1880 as a 10 year old girl. The census record also states that she was born in Michigan. She became active in a local church there and even sang in the church choir.

Deadwood 1880's on left and 1980's on right from the same location

Estella's father, Elijah, loved taking pictures of his daughter in his studio. He was always taking pictures of her, but she would always tear them up! One day she put on his hat thinking he wouldn’t take a picture of her in his hat..it just wouldn’t be right..but he did anyway and we are lucky to have that photo.

D.S. Billington- part 2- Moving North

                   The Buffalo Hunt by James Fontana

(Somewhat revised by his mother Estelle, after presenting his version at school- third grade)

My Grandfather went to South Dakota on a buffalo hunt when he was about 19 or 20 years old. It was during the Gold Rush to the Black Hills. The white men killed many buffalo just for sport and the Indians did not like it because they were killing off the buffalo which the Indians needed for food, clothing, shelter, and weapons. The Indians also thought the white men were very clumsy hunters.

I do not know how Grandfather first met Chief Yellowbird, but the chief knew that Grandfather was a very good rider. One time Grandfather met Chief Yellowbird and about 50 Indians when they were going to hunt buffalo. Chief Yellowbird invited Grandfather to hunt with them. Grandfather was very pleased because the Indians never let white men hunt buffalo with them. Grandfather knew he would have to do what the Indians did and follow the Chief's instructions.

First he took the saddle and blanket off his horse. Then he took off his clothes wearing only his cartridge belt and carrying his gun.

The Indians formed a long line, one behind the other, with Chief Yellowbird at the head. At first they trotted easily until the chief signaled them to stop. He had sighted the buffalo grazing. They then proceeded at a slow, quiet walk .. still in single file .. until they had circled around so the buffalo were between them and the direction of the wind so the buffalo would not get their scent and start running.

Chief Yellowbird signaled again and each hunter turned his pony toward the buffalo. Now they were in one long line riding

abreast •.. still slowly and quietly. They proceeded this way--closing in on the herd until the first buffalo raised his head, gave a warning snort and started the herd moving. Then with a yell the chief signaled for the stampede and every pony broke into a wild gallop into the buffalo herd. It was a serious and dangerous game. There is just one place to shoot a buffalo to fell it quickly. That is right behind the left fore leg. You can see that is not an easy shot for a target running wildly and from a pony on a fast gallop. But to wound a buffalo and not kill it was asking for death. A wounded buffalo was likely to turn and charge horse and rider and in that mass of wild animals one could only hope his pony could outrun the enraged buffalo. It was no boy's game and only those who were sure of their ability to shoot took part in it.

Each Indian killed one buffalo and when his buffalo fell, the hunter dropped a moccasin beside it as he rode by. Later, after he rode back to camp, his squaw came and identified his buffalo by the moccasin. As Grandfather had no moccasin to mark his kill, they knew his buffalo was the one not marked. Grandfather gave his buffalo to Chief Yellowbird to be cooked for a feast for his people as a token of. thanks for letting him ride with them.

Of course the chief invited him to the feast, but Grandfather had to ride on to Deadwood. This was an honor that was accorded to very few white men. It was a very high compliment for the Indians to pay to Grandfather's riding and hunting ability.

(I might add that every bit of the buffalo was used by the Indians.' The hides for tee pees, clothes, boots, straps etc. The horns for powder horns, dippers etc. The bones for tools scrapers, needles, etc. Nothing was wasted. The most buffaloes killed by white men, were killed by buffalo hunters for the army. They just took the hump which was the choicest meat and left the rest. This naturally angered the Indians to see this waste of one of their main resources.)

“Jailer Days”  as told by Estelle Fontana

“When Dad decided he wanted to stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota, he looked for a job. They had a dangerous prisoner in the jail (in Deadwood) and needed another man for the night shift, so Dad got the job. A Mr. Leighton was in jail at that time and was considered very dangerous. He had killed four men. He as the reason they needed another man. Dad asked for the key to go into the room where the prisoners were kept. The jailer said, "Don't go in there!” ff

Dad said, "How can I do my job if I'm afraid to go in there?"

He took the keys to go in. The jailer unlocked the door, then locked it again after Dad. He could hardly believe what he saw. Leighton was chained hand and foot to a bench. He just scowled at Dad. Dad went over to him and saw that his wrists and ankles were swollen over the irons. Dad went to the door and asked for the keys to the irons and a basin of warm soapy water. Fellows outside said, "You're crazy, he will kill you." But they did give him the keys and the water, but they locked the door after him again. Dad took off the irons and bathed his wrists and ankles and messaged them.

He thought he saw a tear in Leighton's eyes. He said, "Thank God, there's one human being here."

Dad got him to walk around and exercise. He became very friendly and he and Dad would have long talks to while away the long hours. Leighton admitted he was getting what he deserved. He didn't blame anyone but himself. He said it was his uncontrolled temper. He said each of the four men had wronged him, but they didn't deserve to die. Dad really liked the man.

When the time came for Leighton to be hanged, he asked Dad, "Do you think you could get me the rope?" When Dad asked why he said, “f I want to be sure who ever ties that knot knows how to do it right." You see, he didn't want to hang and choke to death - the knot should break his neck. Dad was able to bring him the rope. So, Leighton himself, tied the knot that broke his neck the very next day. That same knot is on display today at the Adams Museum, in Deadwood, South Dakota.”

                                                                   ****

JAILER DAYS

"Unusual Weapons" as told by Estelle Fontana

“Dad often had to go to the saloon to break up a fight or put someone in jail until he sobered up. Mostly on Saturday nights when the cowboys came in with their week's pay. Dad, of course, had a gun but didn't usually wear it. He believed the best way to get shot was to wear a gun. He also was more concerned about killing someone than being killed himself. He had two English bull dogs. He said they looked fierce but wouldn't hurt a mouse. Whenever he had to bring someone into jail, he would take the dogs along instead of his gun.

"Come on, I'm taking you to jail until you sober up," he would tell the guy stirring up the trouble.

"Who's going to take me??" was often the reply along with a dirty look and a fist ready to hit Dad.

"Take'em Boys!" dad would yell at the dogs. The dogs would each grab a pant leg and pull until the guy sat down ---HARD! After that the guy would step on his heels         to get into the jail away from the dogs. The dogs loved this game.

One time when the jail was full, one of the inmates asked Dad to let the dogs in because there was a mouse in there they thought the dogs could get. So, Dad let the dogs in and locked the door. But it sounded like all H ..... broke loose. When Dad opened the door, every man was downed, and the dogs were looking at him very self-satisfied.

They didn't understand they were sent in- just for a little old mouse!”

                                                               ***

JAILER DAYS

"A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES" as told by his daughter Estelle Fontana

“In Deadwood, many men were without their families; such as miners, adventurers, cowboys, you name it. Some literally "ended up" in jail and 'ended up" dying there. In that case they were given a new suit of clothes to be buried in. I don't know who provided it; the town; the territorial government or who.

There were two brothers Ike and Jake who had a tailor shop. Dad thought up a scheme to give them a scare. He sent someone to tell Ike one of the inmates had died and he wanted to make a suit for him for burial. Ike came to measure the man who was "laid out" on the table looking very dead. Ike carefully measured him but when he measured his chest the dead man raised up and grabbed Ike in a tight embrace. Poor Ike froze. When everyone laughed, he recovered. The "dead man" got off the table, but Ike said "No, no ... somebody, go get Jake."

So, the little drama was repeated, but Jake didn't freeze. He gave the "corpse" a terrific blow to the face and ran out the door and down the street out of sight. They later found him in the black- smith shop. The blacksmith wondered what the poor man had seen. Dad realized then that sometimes a good joke can backfire, but it must have been funny at the time. Dad would laugh so much he could hardly tell this story.”

"Your Horses or Your Scalp?"

“When Dad was living in Deadwood South Dakota, he had many responsibilities. 

Dad had to go down Spearfish Valley to bring back the body of a Mr. Deffenbaugh who was killed by Indians. Spearfish valley was the last battleground for the Sioux and the Crow Indians. There were still sporadic raids and the Indians were also protesting the White man's invasion of the Black Hills. People were very cautious if they had to leave Deadwood. Dad and another man, wrapped the wagon wheels and the horses’ feet with gunny sacks and left at night hoping the Indians would not see or hear them. They thought they would be back before daylight. However, they didn't make it before daylight. When crossing the flat land before the hill to Deadwood they saw a band of about 50 Indians riding toward them. The other man readied his gun to shoot. Dad grabbed his gun and pushed it down yelling at him, "What are you doing? What chance would we have ... two of us and about 50 of them?!!!"

"Well, I'd take a couple with me anyway."

"If we just stay calm and wait for them, they might not do anything," Dad replied.

Reason prevailed and when the Indians approached, Dad recognized his friend, Yellow Bird. He wanted to know what they were doing out of Deadwood. When they explained their reason, Yellow Bird said they had better let him escort them to Deadwood. So they did .... to where the road went downhill into Deadwood. Yellow Bird said they should have their horses for the safe escort to Deadwood. So, Dad unhitched the horses and gave them to the Indians. His friend was furious!

To which Dad simply replied:

"Would you rather lose the horses or your scalp?"”

                            ***

"THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN"

"Earlier in his career, Custer had been friendly with the Indians and had even become a "blood brother." No Indian would have killed him. They knew him well as "Yellow Hair." D.S. Billington said three Indian Chiefs told him what really happened, and he thoroughly believed them.

Custer was conceited and took his own way disregarding any advice. He was put out of the Army for this, but when the Army planned a campaign against the Indians, they recalled him because he was experienced. Custer was glad to be reinstated. They planned to encircle the Indian forces. Custer would come from one side and General Reno from the other side and meet at the Little Bighorn. Custer got there first and saw that the Indian force was small. Thinking he could finish them off quickly he didn't wait for Reno. He underestimated the Indians and was caught in the trap they had set.

His men were killed, and Custer was disgraced. History books all say Custer was the last man standing. D.S. said that the reason he was the last one standing is because they wouldn't kill him, he killed himself and saved himself from saying he made a terrible mistake.

A book D.S. Billington read from cover to cover over and over was "The Last Hunting Ground" by Annie Talent. She described South Dakota accurately as it was during his time there."

                                                          ****
"Crow Dog"--(story also  appeared on an earlier post)

"When the Dakotas became a territory, officials, anxious to.establish law and order (and give the new circuit courts something to do), rounded up all known criminals, including Chief Crow Dog, who had killed Chief Spotted Tail.  

My father, D. S. Billington, was the jailer in Deadwood at that time. Some years prior and at the invitation of Chief Yellow Bird, my father had hunted with the Indians. Few white men had this privilege. He came to have a great respect and admiration for the Indians. He and Crow Dog became friends. 

Crow Dog had an arrow wound in one lung. Dad, knowing also how painful it was for an Indian to be caged, told Crow Dog that he would let him out during the day if he would return at sunset every evening to be locked up for the night. My father had absolute faith that an Indian would keep his word to a friend, not necessarily to anyone else,, but defnitely to a friend. So, with one of my father's two English bulldogs, Crow Dog would go up to White Rocks every day and return at sunset every evening. This went on for nearly four years. 

Most people expected the day would come when Crow Dog would not return, but Dad's faith in him never wavered. The wait Crow Dog endured was unusually long for a man accused of 'a crime which carried a sentence of death. Crow Dog was sure he would eventually be hanged according to white man's law. The reason for the long wait was that there was no one to defend him. No one wanted to take a losing case.  

One day Dad and another man had to go down Spearfish valley to pick up the body of a man killed by the Indians (that's another good story.) Crow Dog overheard their plans. That evening Crow Dog and the dog did not return. People were sure their predictions had come true. 

When Dad returned, he was soundly reprimanded, but he still believed that Crow Dog would eventually return. He probably went to the Reservation to tell his people good-bye. Not having Dad's faith in Indians, the Marshall sent a man named Billy to bring back Crow Dog. I don't remember how many days had passed before Crow Dog came hack to Deadwood alone. When asked where Billy was, Crow Dog answered,. "I don't know any Billy. I left by myself. I came back by myself." 

Dad asked him about his dog. Crow Dog said, "Sorry, I ate it." 

In the meantime a young lawyer in Boston named Plowman had heard about this "strange" case. Not knowing anything about the West other than tales he had heard, he thought that it would be quite a lark (and some publicity) to go West and take this case. He went to the Reservation and talked to many Indians. He learned that Crow Dog had been tried by the tribal council and that he had been exonerated by them. At Crow Dog's long awaited trial young Plowman  proved that this was double jeopardy, and Crow Dog was freed. 

Unlike the television rendition of this story, the people of  Deadwood were glad that Crow Dog was set free. They had come to like this Indian who had been quite a fixture in Deadwood. Many had to admit that Crow Dog had taught them an unforgettable lesson in honor. '"

D.S. Billington - Part 1- Boyhood Days

The history of  Demetrious Seldon Billington starts in Texas. The following oral stories were recorded via tape recorder by Estelle Fontana, Dee's youngest daughter,  then transcribed here as the Billington Story Collection, from the voice recording. 

"Dad was born in Limestone Co, Texas near what is now Tyler, Texas. His father raised thoroughbred horses and that's where Dad got his love for horses and a keen knowledge of them and of riding. I don't know how extensive their land holdings were, but they wouldn't be the storybook plantation owners. I believe they were comfortably fixed but not rich. They were not plantation owners with lots of slaves but most people except the "poor whites" had some. Dad remembered his father and uncle talking about slavery. They were quite religious (Baptists) and they felt strongly that slavery was wrong. They had a few slaves though, and when Dad's father and uncle talked about slavery they concluded that the right of some human beings to own others, was wrong and would have to end. But they felt the negroes would have to be educated so they could take care of themselves. Therefore, they required the black children to go to school with the others. It wasn't against the law there to teach black children.

There was a young black boy about Dad's age named Jim. Dad and Jim were great friends. Families lived far apart, so the children made up their own games and things to entertain themselves. Jim and Dad liked to tell stories of witchcraft and superstition, etc. until they would scare themselves and run to the house. One of the superstitions was about the Will-O-the Wisp - a light that seemed to dance over a swampy area. Dad and Jim had been sent to a neighbor to bring back an iron pot the neighbor had borrowed. The neighbor lived about 3 miles away. Suddenly they saw it-- “The Will-O-the Wisp.”

"Massa Dee, ifen we doin' t run faster than 0 " will-O-the wisp  we's daed, sure nuff," said Jim. And they ran as fast as they could. Dee thought he was a fast runner, but Jim was ahead of him with the iron pot on his head looking like a headless ghost.

When they reached home, Jim fell in the door and the iron pot rolled across the floor. Dad sank down in the doorway. "What's the matter with you boys?" asked his father. All they could answer was

" wh---wh---wh==wh.

(They didn’t have matches in those days and if the precious fire went out, Dee and Jim were sent to the neighbors to get some hot coals in a little iron pot to start the fire again.)"

                          ****

"Another time Dee and Jim had been to the neighbors and had to go through a wood.  Coming back at dark through the woods Dee said,

“Look at those branches.  Don’t they look like Longhorns?”

“Dey is Longhorns!” shouted Jim and ran back hollerin, “Run, Dee, you’re gonna get runned over!”

They both ran as fast as they could back to the neighbors, sure      that they heard the pounding hooves of stampeding Longhorns.  The neighbors had to take them home; they were too afraid to go by themselves." 

                                                              ****

"One day the thought came to Dad that Jim could be his slave. That made him feel pretty important. That evening he asked his father if Jim could be his slave.

"Would YOU like to be a slave?" asked his father.

"No, but I'm not black," said Dad.

"You don't have to be black to be a slave. Being a slave means you belong to someone else. They can do anything they want with you and you can't do the things you want to do. You can't plan what you want to be or want to do."

"I would be good to HIM," said Dad.

"Dee, Jim can either be your slave or your friend. Which would you want?"

Dad thought awhile and said, “I guess I’d rather have him as a friend.”

And they were friends until the slaves were all freed and Dad and his family left Texas for Missouri. He often wondered how Jim fared. Things got pretty tough during the Reconstruction and people lost contact one with another."

  

"Dad's father,James A. Billington and his brother (Uncle Toss), joined the confederate army as every able-bodied man in the South had to. They brought their own guns. When the officer inspected their guns, he asked where they got them. They said they made them. The officer then said they could do more for the army making guns than serving on the front line, so they set them up with more equipment to produce guns. The location where the guns were made was kept a secret. Dad was often sent to bring them their meals and he had to watch to see that no one saw him." 

                            ****

"After the war, Dee's folks, like so many suffered great loss and with many others took their remaining stock and went north to Missouri. Dee often declared that the South wasn't beaten, they were starved out. The period that followed, called the Reconstruction, was a bitter time for the South. 

Dad was about 12 when his mother and father and all the children joined many other ranchers who had suffered losses from the Civil War and drove their horses north. A book was written about that drive named, "North of 36". Dad said he guessed he rode farther than the rest of them because he had to ride over and investigate every thing he saw in the distance." 

***

"As the problems and the bitterness of the Reconstruction mounted, the ranchers decided to take their remaining stock and go north where land in the mid-west was opening up for settlement. They decided if they all went together they would be safer from Indians and could help each other with the stock. So Dad's family decided to join the others and head for Missouri. They took the remaining thoroughbred horses and with their belongings in a couple of wagons, and left Texas.

The book,"North of 36" was written about that drive. From Texas to Missouri was a pretty long horseback ride but Dad, like the other boys, rode much farther; they had to ride to investigate everything they saw then ride back to join the others. When his father caught the boys racing, Dad was reprimanded sharply. He had to tie his horse to the wagon and ride in the wagon until he could think about caring for his horse properly. After all, the horse had a long way to go and racing him wasn't very kind to him. Dad, like all growing boys had lot to learn. He was adventuresome and mischievous."

+ + + +

"One day Dad found a dead Indian. He galloped back to tell the others.Several men rode back with him to see what he was yelling about. When they saw that the Indian had died of small pox, Dad was severely reprimanded for "endangering" the others. He was told to stay with the group from then on."

+ + + +

"There was an old man and his wife who had been their servants for years. When the slaves were freed, they didn't know where to go or what to do. They begged to go with the family. They cried like babies, Dad said. Finally, Dad's mother told them they could come but to remember they were free. They arrived in Missouri at a time when there was great conflict as to whether Missouri was to be slave state or a free state. Feelings were still strong against those who had slaves. Dad said he thought they were going to fight the war over again because people thought they had brought slaves with them. It was hard to convince some that these "slaves" were free and begged to come because they didn't know where they could go or who would take care of them."

+ + + +

"They settled in a little town named Carollton, Missouri. Dad and his brothers and sister went to school there and attended the Baptist Sunday School regularly. Dad really learned his Bible there. He always remembered his Sunday School teacher, Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly must have had a good influence on those young boys."

  

***

"I guess Dad was pretty good in school and was a consistent winner in the spelling bees. But before a final match he was afraid he couldn't spell the word diarrhea, so he studied it until he was sure he wouldn't miss it. When the time for the match came it looked like Dad would win. Only two others were still standing. Dad was given the word "diary". He spelled it "diarrhea." Once more he was given the word "diary" because they thought he misunderstood the word, but Dad insisted on spelling "diarrhea" and was counted out."

****

"By age thirteen Dad was already "The Man of the House."

His father, James, died in Carrollton in 1868. Since Dee was the oldest and knowledgeable about horses, his mother depended on him being there when anyone came to buy a horse. That was good excuse to be out of school and Dad used it to the limit. He finally dropped out of school. That ended his education as far as school was concerned. But as he grew he became an avid reader and had a great curiosity about people and things and was considered a well-educated man."

                              ***

"At one time Dad was an actor and singer on a show boat. We have pictures (a tin-type) of him in costume taken at this time. He worked on a river boat on the Missouri River from St.Louis to Bismarck N.D. Although much is written about Deadwood and the wild west, Dad said Bismarck was the worst town of them all. He said whenever the boat docked, he always put a piece of iron pipe up his sleeve before he left. It's a good thing he did, because one night three men attacked him. He hit one and he fell down like he was dead. Dee thought he had killed him ... and the others ran away."

+ + +

"It was during this time that he got the idea to go to the Black Hills and hunt buffalo. He left Carrollton, Missouri and rode horseback all the way to Deadwood, South Dakota. While there he earned the reputation as such a good rider and good "shot" that the Indians invited him to hunt with them. As they didn't admire the white man's riding or hunting ability, he was one of the few white men they let hunt with them." (See "The Buffalo Hunt" by James Fontana- next blog)

D.S. Billington, the actor

The Steamboat, "The St. Louis"