Capt. John E. Billups
A Sea Captain, Confederate Naval Hero and Sheriff, Civic and Political Leader

Captain John E. Billups, the son of John and Mary Ann (Borum) Billups, was born in Matthews County, Virginia, March 2, 1836.

He had the misfortune, when a small lad, of losing his father in death. The family then moved to Norfolk, Va. John E. Billups’ early education was limited to that received from a governess and from William and Mary College, where he spent several years.

He loved the sea, sailors, and sea stories; therefore, he spent all his spare time around the wharves and docks. He liked to listen to sailors of the deep sea. One day the urge for adventure overcame him, and without a word to his mother, he left, a stowaway, aboard an old sailing vessel, bound for a three-year cruise of the “Seven Seas.” He survived the severe punishment and slave-like drudgery that fell the lot of all stowaways. He had a dogged determination to make a success of sea life and refused an offer to go back home from the first port at which his ship stopped. After three years of great adventure, he returned home. He had made a good sailor at the age of seventeen, had won his spurs and was made a petty officer on the ship on which he had been a stowaway. From this date until 1873, he spent his time at sea and was considered by many as one of the most expert navigators of his time.

When the Civil War was declared, John E. Billups’ adventurous soul could not be still. At the first call for volunteers, he entered the Marine service. No navy of the world had a more illustrious history than that of the Confederate Navy. Mr. Billups served as a midshipman, and a lieutenant, giving vigilant service.

Billups served on the Florida and other ships. Most of the time he was on the Webb with Captain Read. The story of the work of the Red River Expedition is a matter of history that any Southerner can point to with pride. When recalled to run the blockade at New Orleans, Capt. John F. Billups was one of the men sent into the city to cut the telegraph wires. The Webb, loaded with cotton to hide her guns, the officers and crew dressed in Federal uniforms, with the United States flag flying, passed under the guns of the fort. The Webb saluted the Federal boats; and in turn was saluted by ten or twelve Union battleships, until almost out of danger. Then the Federals recognized the Webb and shelled her. At the first shot, the Union flag was lowered and the Confederate flag raised. With full steam ahead, the boat made a run to the shore where the noble little vessel, badly damaged, was set afire by the crew to keep it from being salvaged by the enemy. The crew fled to the woods, but soon realized that the chances of the infantry troops of the Union army surrounding them were too great. They had the alternative of taking a chance of escaping on foot, or of returning to the wrecked Webb and of surrendering to the naval authorities. All but three of four of the crew did return.They were captured and sent to Fort Warren, but were soon released. Lieut. Billups and several others finally reached the cost and were placed on the privateer Tacony, which was later captured off the coast of Maine; the men were sent to Fort Warren, where they were placed in a dungeon and treated as pirates. The Billups family has a picture of this group of prisoners in front of Fort Warren Prison, and also has Lieutenant Billups’ discharge papers, by the order of the Acting Commander of the Navy, J. W. Smith, U. S. S. Bermuda, stationed at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.

He returned to his old Virginia home after his release from Fort Warren. Here he recuperated from his wound, and from prison experiences. His professional experience was limited to seafaring. Naturally, as soon as he was able, he went back to the sea as a sailor.

While his ship was laid up for repairs at New Orleans, he decided to visit a third cousin, who had come to Texas in 1836, and was then living in the Carancahua Settlement, Jackson County. (This was across the creek from the old Branch Home, now [1931] the Bonnot Ranch.) He arrived via Galveston, Indianola, and by smaller craft up the Carancahua River, then by horseback to the home of George R. Billups where he received a most cordial welcome. He spent several weeks there and liking the climate and the friendliness of the people he met, he finally decided to make Texas his home. Seeing the possibilities of the coast towns, he bought a large schooner at Indianola and entered the coast trade, following that line for several years.

He was united in marriage in the Catholic Church at Indianola, Texas, February 10, 1871, to Miss Fanny L. Billups, who was the oldest daughter of George R. and Sarah White Billups.

He moved to Texana in 1875, and served as sheriff of Jackson County from January 1, 1879 to January 1, 1891, a total of twelve consecutive years. He was known as a fearless officer, and was active in the improvement of the new county seat at Edna, to which place he moved as soon as the change was made. His friends called him “Capt. Billups” or “Capt. Jack.” He was a convert to the Catholic Church and was active in having the first one built in Edna.

He died March 19, 1901, just a few months before the death of his oldest son, Landry. His wife died June 25, 1925, in San Antonio, where she had been living with her daughters, Misses Maude and Louise Billups. Another son, J. E. Billups, who lives in Edna, Texas, survives him.

The Cavalcade of Jackson County, by I. T. Taylor, Third Edition, Pages 360-362
Used by permission of the Jackson County Historical Commission