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Below is a family biography included in History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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R. L. BILLINGTON was born August 1, 1840, in Bedford County, Tenn., and is the youngest of six children (four boys) born to Jared and Farraby (Wageworth) Billington, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively, and son and daughter of Ezekiel Billington and Jason Wageworth, of English and Scotch origin. He was reared on a farm and attended school about three months in his lifetime. His father died January, 1853, in McCracken County; his mother died in Texas, in 1866, aged sixty-nine years. The family moved to McCracken County, in 1840, and located twelve miles west of Paducah. In 1855 R. L., with his mother, moved to Graves County, Ky., and in 1856 moved to Robertson County, Tex., where he was engaged in herding cattle till March, 1859, when he came to Ballard County, Ky., in the vicinity of Blandville, where he was engaged in farming. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, under Capt. Nealey, William Jackson, colonel commanding. He took part in the battles of Nashville, Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sukatonica Bridge, Miss., Fort Pillow, Britton’s Lane, Tenn., Island No. 10 (here his company escaped after surrender), Shiloh, Harrisburg, Miss., Corinth, Mitchell’s Cross Roads, Holly Springs, and was at Vicksburg when it surrendered, but escaped again; was at the fight at Franklin, and was in Forrest’s command. He surrendered and took the oath in May, 1865. He returned to Ballard, was accused of being a captain of a guerrilla company, was arrested and imprisoned at Paducah, till July 2, 1865, but proved his innocence and was released. He was married July 11, 1865, to Miss Carolina Crawford, of McCracken County, Ky., native of Henry County, Tenn., and daughter of John and Fannie (Aaron) Crawford, natives of Tennessee and Virginia respectively. He had born to him three children: Ella Lee (deceased), Emma A. and Bedford C., and after marriage he engaged in farming. Mr. Billington is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the K. of H. and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In 1882 he was elected jailer of Ballard County, which office he still holds.

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This family biography is one of 186 biographies included in the Ballard County, Kentucky section of The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Ballard County, Kentucky family biographies here: Ballard County, Kentucky Biographies

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