Otha Billingsley

    Otha Billingsley, farmer, Center Township, resides on Section 29, and possesses 300 acres of land, was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, February, 1829, where he received a common school education. He has been a farmer all his life. He was married, September 10, 1858, to Miss Priscilla J. Mefford, a native of Kentucky, who was born in Newport, December 10, 1837. Eleven children have been born to their marriage, namely: Elizabeth, George, Rebecca A., Mary J., Eliza B., William, James, Emily, Otha, Inez, and Joseph. Mrs. Billingsley's father, James P. Mefford, was bon in 1808, and was killed in California, in 1856, while blasting a mine. Mr. Billingsley's father, John was born in Red Stone, Virginia, in February, 1790, and as was very common in his day, received no education. The mother, Elizabeth Stitt, died June 6, 1866. They raised seven children: James, Thomas, Otha, Mary, Nancy, Elizabeth,  and Emily P. Four have passed beyond the river: Thomas, Mary, Nancy and Elizabeth. Father Billingsley flat-boated in early life, and walked from New Orleans to this county. The balance of his life has been devoted to farming, at which he has been successful.

Source: History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana by F.E. Weakley & Co., 1885.