Clarence Edward Bilyea

Regions: Otsego Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 861-862 CLARENCE EDWARD BILYEA. It is always pleasant as well as profitable to study the life record of such a character as Clarence Edward BILYEA, for therein lie lessons which cannot fail to benefit the reader if properly pondered, for he always held before him the principles of the Golden Rule and lost no opportunity to better his own condition and that of the community. Mr. BILYEA was born on October 24, 1864, in Otsego county, New York, the son of Orson and Fannie (LITTS) BILYEA. Orson BILYEA was born in that county on January 7, 1837, and was the son of Nathaniel and Polly (SOUTHWORTH) BILYEA. Nathaniel's father was a sailor and his grandfather, a German, owned three hundred acres of land where Sing Sing, New York, is located. Orson BILYEA grew to manhood in New York and in the fall of 1863 he and Fannie LITTS were married. She, too, was a native of Otsego county, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (FOX) LITTS. Her father was born in New York, probably near Albany or Schenectady. Elizabeth FOX was born and reared in Otsego county. The only child born to Orson BILYEA and wife, was Clarence E., of this sketch. Clarence E. BILYEA was nine months old when his parents brought him to Walworth county, Wisconsin, the father there upon buying the farm of one hundred acres where the son now lives in section 25, the eastern part of Walworth township, this county, and here the subject grew to manhood and assisted with the work on the place. He received his education in the common schools and in the Jennings Seminary at Aurora, Illinois. On February 8, 1888, he was united in marriage with Carrie SMITH, a native of Linn township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is the daughter of Richard and Emma (BRAND) SMITH, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Clarence E. BILYEA has devoted his life to farming and is now operating his father's place, two miles southeast of Walworth, his father having moved into Walworth in 1902, retiring from active life. After his marriage the father farmed thirteen years, then moved to Walworth village. He lives in a modern elegant home in the village, which he built. To the subject and wife four children have been born, named in order of birth as follows: Jessie Maude, Ray Clarence, Carrie Pearl and Ruth Edna. After the marriage of Clarence E. BILYEA and wife they lived on the farm thirteen years, then moved to the village of Walworth where they made their home seven years, then moved back to the farm where they now live. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen. Submitted by Carol

See Also: Richard Smith