Samuel Billingsly, a prominent young farmer of Clark Township, was born October 14, 1861, son of Samuel and Mariah L. (Harbert) Billingsly; the former was born in North Carolina, November 16, 1809, of Irish descent, and died August 19, 1876, and the latter was a native of this state, born October 5, 1817, and was of English descent. Although she is seventy-one years old, she does the housework and cooking for her son and hired help. Our subject’s early life was spent on the farm on which he now lives. He received a good common school education, and when he was fourteen years of age his father died, which caused him to give up the idea of further schooling, and he then had to take charge of the farm and the care of his widowed mother. He is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, he is an ardent democrat, and a recognized leader among the young men. He was elected trustee of his township, at the April election of 1888, by eleven votes, his predecessor having been elected by only four votes. He and his mother own 120 acres of well-improved land.