Manti Messenger Untitled Newspaper 4 December 1896:
OBITUARY.
George Pierce Billings, one of the pioneers of Utah, died at his residence in this city
on Wednesday night at 8:40 o'clock, of inflammatory diarrhea. He leaves a wife and
thirteen living children, with thousands of friends to mourn his loss. The funeral will
be held in the Tabernacle on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2 o'clock.
Bro. Billings was born on July 25, 1827, and was therefore in his 70th year. His father,
Titus Billings, was one of the first members of the church, and the son followed in his
parents' doctrine and died a consistent Latter day Saint. He came to Utah with the first
company of 147 pioneers and remained in Salt Lake City till the gold excitement started
in California, when he went to the Golden coast with many others from Utah. When he
returned from California he came to Sanpete, and married Edith Patten, by whom he had
nine children. A few years later he married Jerusha Shoemaker, who still survives him,
and by her had eight children. Of the 17 children 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. One son, Titus, is in Tintic, and a daughter, Mrs. T. J. Patten, is
in Provo.
Every man in Sanpete county knows Sheriff Billings, as he served the people in that
capacity for about 20 years. He was the guest of honor of the Utah Press Association in
their Pioneer celebration last July, and was looking forward to the coming
semi-centennial in Salt Lake City as one of the happy re-unions of old friends. It is
expected that some of the church authorities in Salt Lake City, who were his personal
friends, will be in attendance at the funeral