Joseph Billis, Grant and Orleans Parishes, Louisisna
Submitted to USGENWEB by: Kay Thompson-Brown
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890



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JOSEPH BILLIS

Joseph Billis, like so many of the residents of this parish, is an
agriculturist and merchant.  He was born in France in 1840 to Joseph and
Angelic (Marty) Billis, who spent their lives in their native land, the mother
being still alive.  The father died in June, 1890, a worthy tiller of the
soil.

The subject of this sketch is the second of six children, but he was the only
one of the family to come to the United States.  He was reared in his native
land on his father's farm, receiving a common school education, and served
seven years in the French Army, and in the last war (in 1870) between France
and Germany.  In 1871 he came to Louisiana, where he had relatives living, and
here has since made his home, being one of the leading planters of Grant
Parish.  His tract of land embraces 785 acres, and all but 100 acres, which is
cleared and under cultivation, is heavily covered with timber.  He has 640
acres in another tract, and since 1875 has managed a mercantile establishment
with good results, keeping a full and choice stock of plantation supplies.
All of this property is the result of his own unaided efforts, for which he
deserves much credit.  He was at one time postmaster of Nautacha, is a
Catholic in his religious belief, and socially is a member of Lodge No. 45 of
the K. of P. at New Orleans.