Biography of D. E. Billman, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net). USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************************************** Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. III, page 178, 1923. BILLMAN, D. E. It is universally admitted that no man can make a success as a salesman until he has first sold himself; that he must be so firmly convinced of the absolute truth of his assertions that his sincerity will impress his prospects with his own convictions of the desirability of the goods he is handling. Possibly the underlying reason for the remarkable achievements of the realtors of Florida lies in the fact that they one and all are so enthusiastically sold with reference to Florida land no matter where it is located, and so impressed with the countless advantages accruing to the possessors of any of this property that their real earnestness cannot help but make ready sales. Whatever the reason, the fact is that in few lines is advancement so sure and rapid as that of real estate, and this branch of business has attracted to it some of the ablest men of the country. One of them who not only has achieved a reputation for fair dealing and reliable investments, but has also accumulated a fair share of this world's goods and won a high position in his community is D.E. BILLMAN, of Saint Petersburg, whose office is at 2 Fourth Street, South, and whose attractive residence is at 350 Seventh Street, North. Mr. BILLMAN was born at Dayton, Ohio, March 24, 1873, a son of SILAS and SUSAN (STAUFFER) BILLMAN. SILAS BILLMAN was born on a farm near Dayton, in Montgomery County, Ohio, where he lived for sixty-five years. He still survives, although now ninety years of age, and lives on the east coast of Florida. His father, JACOB BILLMAN, was born and reared in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but became an early settler in Ohio. The Billmans came to America from Holland at an early date. The name was derived from an agricultural implement called a "bill". The mother of D.E. BILLMAN was born in Montgomery County, daughter of REUBEN STAUFFER, a native of Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania-Dutch origin. She lived to be sixty-six years of age. The parents had five children, all of whom reached maturity, and four are still living, and D.E. BILLMAN was the youngest of the family. Growing up amid rural surroundings, D.E. BILLMAN was early taught to make himself useful to his parents. When he was nineteen years old, seeking to improve himself and prepare for a commercial life, he took a business course and graduated therefrom. Following that he embarked in an ice and coal business at Dayton, Ohio, and for three years was vice president of what was known as the Riverdale Ice & Coal Company. Owing to excessive competition this business was crowded out, and Mr. BILLMAN went to Miami County, Ohio, and for a time was engaged in farming and in conducting on a small scale a dairy and bottling plant. During the winter months he began going to Saint Petersburg, his firsts trip to Florida being down the east coast to Wabasso and thence to Saint Petersburg, where he found conditions so ideal that he began to lay plans to locate here permanently. This he was able to do in 1908, and he then organized the Billman Agency and began handling real estate and rentals. Some idea of the courage required to make this change may be gathered from the fact that when he and his wife reached Saint Petersburg they had $20 and a round trip ticket to Ohio. The Saint Petersburg of 1908 was far different from the city of today. There was but one automobile in the city, and only six blocks had been paved. The Billman Agency was the first business of its kind in the city. From his small beginnings, which grew out of a suggestion of his wife's, has grown a business which is one of the largest and most prosperous in this part of the state. His home comprises four houses, corner of Seventh Street and Fourth Avenue, North, all completely furnished. On April 1, 1895, Mr. BILLMAN married VANNAS C. FRANTZ, who was born and reared near Troy, Miami County, Ohio. She was educated at Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Mr. And Mrs. BILLMAN have three children, namely: RUTH N., who was born in Miami County, Ohio, is the wife of M.L. ALLEN, now of Schenectady, New York; FRANTZ M., who was born in Miami County, Ohio; and D. EDWARD, Junior, who was also born in Miami County, Ohio. Mr. BILLMAN belongs to the Saint Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and the Real Estate Association. He and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is connected with that body in an official capacity.