CEALY BILLUPS
Is descended from one of the three Billups brothers who emigrated from
Wales to the Virginia colony at an early date, and settled in that
section of Mathews county which they called Millford Haven. He is a
son of John E. Billups of Mathews county, whose wife was Mary Ann
Borum and was born in that county, on February 12, 1839.
He married in Norfolk, December 4, 1860, Lizzie A. Summers, of that
city, and the record of their children is: Amanda, now married, living
at Max Meadows, Virginia; George C., living in Norfolk; Eulalie, died
in April, 1879, aged fourteen years; Bessie, died in 1869, aged nine
months; Bessie the second, Cecil and Annie living at home.
Mrs. Billups is a daughter of E. T. Summers, who came to this
country from Scotland with his father, when about one year old, and
who was mayor of Norfolk, 1855, serving one term, and was many
terms a justice of the peace. Her mother was of Scotch-Irish descent.
Mr. Billups was educated in Mathews county. In 1856 he came to
Norfolk, and clerked for the late Seth March until 1858. In that year,
he, with Thomas P. Warren, bought out Mr. March and continued the
business until the war. They were closed after the first year of the war,
until it was ended. In 1865 they resumed business, but a few months
later Mr. Billups withdrew from the firm, and started alone in his
present business, dealer in agricultural implements, iron, steel, etc.
He was in service in the 12th Virginia regiment, C. S. A., in 1861, but
on account of continued ill health was forced to put a substitute in the
field, after the first year. He has been two terms a member of the city
council of Norfolk, and has twice been elected since to the same office,
but declined to serve. He has also declined to accept other offices of
trust and honor tendered by the citizens of Norfolk.
