[JesseJames]

I'm wondering if anyone can help me. I am looking to see if there are any pictures in existence of an ancestor of mine. Here is his story from a Civil War page.

Colonel M.E. Billings, one of the attorney's of Waverly, Iowa, was born in Booneville, Oneida county, New York, July 8, 1837. His father was Jarvis Billings, formerly of Tolland, Connecticut; his mother, Almira Partridge, of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. They were married in Chenango county, New York, where eight children were born to them. In 1845, he emigrated with his family to Boone county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until 1855. That year he removed Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he laid out Preston, the county seat of that county, and where he still resides at the advanced age of ninety-three. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving his early education in the common schools, spending two years and eight months at Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, where he studied the languages and law, and fitted himself for a civil engineer. He was admitted to the Bar of the United States Courts in 1865, he entered in the First United States Sharp Shooters, participating in the engagements with the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam, by the explosion of a shell, and for this cause discharged January 7, 1863. He then returned to Minnesota, where he raised a company and joined the Second Minnesota Cavalry. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of the Company. After a time he resigned and enlisted as a private in Company L, of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant of the One Hundred and Fifteenth United States Veterans, and still later promoted to Captain of the one Hundred and Twentieth United States Veterans. He was in front of Petersburg and Richmond, when the Rebel army surrendered, at which time he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth United States Veterans. At the close of the war he returned to Minnesota. In 1867, he was appointed as assistant United States District Attorney, at Russellville, Kentucky; also appointed as assistant agent in the Freedman's Bureau. In 1869, he went to Kansas as civil engineer on the L & G R.R.; then to northwestern Missouri, where he was engaged on the Chicago and Southwestern Railroad; then to the Central Iowa Railroad. In the fall of 1869, Mr. Billings came to Waverly, where has since followed his profession, and is one of Waverly's most studious and energetic attorneys. He has built up a lucrative practice. Aside from his practice here, he has an extensive real estate interest in Fillmore county, Minnesota. he is an active member of the Legion of Honor of this place.

[GoBlue!]

We don't have a picture of M.E. Billings, but we do own one of his beautiful inlayed tables. We had it restored about 25 years ago and it is truely a work of art.................N. Smith

[JesseJames]

Where are you and the table at?