Northern Pacific Railroad Co. signed by Frederick Billings - Billings, Montana - 1880 dated Autograph Stock Certificate

Stock signed Frederick Billings as president.

Frederick Billings (1823-1890) was a lawyer, railroad executive, and philanthropist. He was the fourth of nine children in his family. When he was quite young, the family moved to Woodstock, where his father, Oel Billings, held the position of Register of Probate for many years. Frederick graduated from the University of Vermont in 1844, was admitted to the bar in Windsor County in 1848, and served as Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs under Governor Eaton from 1846 to 1848. In 1840, while en route to California and waiting for a steamer in New York, he received news of gold being discovered near Sacramento. During the subsequent gold rush, Mr. Billings benefited from an early start and became the first lawyer to display his sign in the burgeoning city of San Francisco. His initial partner was Archibald C. Peachy, but he later partnered with Major General H. W. Halleck and Trenor W. Park, forming the prominent law firm Halleck, Peachy, Billings & Park in San Francisco. Mr. Billings was also a founding member of the College of California and was once encouraged to assume the presidency. After selling most of his California properties in 1866, he returned to the East and settled in New York City, spending every summer on a 600-acre farm near Woodstock, Vermont, where he constructed a beautiful home. The concept of an overland railroad sparked Mr. Billings's keen interest, and his knowledge of the Pacific coast and various proposed routes made his advice valuable to investors. He actively participated in the development of The Northern Pacific Railroad enterprise, and following the company's reorganization after Jay Cooke's failure in 1873, he provided such significant assistance that the stockholders elected him president for several years. However, he was ousted by Henry Villard in 1881. The town of Billings, Montana, is named in his honor.

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