p 93 - "In 1824, Thomas Billingsley established the first school in Perry County, in the town of Marion. A native of Montgomery county NC, where he was born on February 16, 1781, Billingsley had registered lands* near the future site of Marion on January 10, 1820.
"Billingsley later became a planter and erected a home at present-day Lakeland Farm in 1837. He died on October 9, 1850, and is buried in the Marion Cemetery."
[end Harris quotes]
* Billingsley is found on the 1820 Early Settlerslist in the Hamburg section.