The next in order and the most conspicuous of the family was William Bill, L. L. D., who in a letter of introduction to Queen Anne, is characterized as a “learned and honest man, plentifully endowed with knowledge and exemplary morals.” He became Vice Chancellor of the University of St. John, from which he was removed after the accession of Queen Mary, on account of his decided faith in Protestantism. Upon the accession of “Good Queen Bess” he was highly honored, becoming her Majesty’s Chief Almoner, Fellow of Eton College and subsequently Provost, and June 30, 1560, was installed as the first Dean of Westminster. He died July 15, 1561, leaving among his bequests ten pounds for poor students, thirty pounds for the poor of his native town, and to Trinity College one hundred marks.

The next member of the direct line was Charles Bill, born in London about 1550, who became highly educated and the author of classical works. His son, John was born in 1576, and became publisher to King James I, his chief publications being Bibles and prayer-books. A number of Bibles bearing his name and that of his son Charles as having been published by assignees are still extant, some on the shelves of the American Bible Home in New York. The eldest son of the above-named John Bill was also christened John. He came to America prior to the year 1635, accompanied by his wife Dorothy and three children, leaving two behind who subsequently followed with a family named Tuttle, the father of whom was presumed to be the brother of Mrs. Bills.

The Bill family can be traced still farther into the past than to Dr. Thomas Bill, the records of Bedford giving the name for five hundred years in that county alone. While it would be interesting to trace the history in detail, as can be done when accurate records are kept, it serves our purpose but to show the relation of one of Peoria’s esteemed citizens to a family that has furnished men of high standing in the mother country, those who in the formative period of American history have sustained the reputation of their ancestors and contributed their full share to the honor of the name.

As from John Bill and his wife Dorothy have sprung the numerous family of Bill or Bills, as sometime written, we may denominate him the first as far as they are related to American history. In the next generation we find Philip, a resident of Ipswich, where he became possessed of considerable property. Joshua appears in the third generation, Phineas in the fourth and Joshua in the fifth, the latter a soldier in the Revolution. While serving his country he was wounded in the leg by a cannon shot that caused him much suffering and trouble and on account of which he received a pension of $8 a month during the last ten years of his life. He died December 20, 1841, aged eighty years.

In the sixth generation we find Avery Bills, who was born in Groton, October 1, 1796, and December 10, 1820, married Betsey Barnes. His occupation was that of a farmer, although the cutting and hauling of timber and wood received much attention from him. In a brief period he stripped several farms in Ledyane, Preston and Griswold of their growth of forest, accumulating in this way considerable property. He finally settled in Southington, Conn., where he died March 12, 1866. To him and his worthy wife ten children were born, the fourth being the subject of this sketch. His natal day was January 14, 1827, and his birthplace Groton, new London County, Conn.

The days of his early boyhood were passed by Roswell bills, in the district schools of his native State and he subsequently attended the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. When twenty-one years of age he taught school near his home. The time of his youth being his father’s until he was of age, his wages, when drawn in the springtime, wee divided among father and son. That year, 1848, Mr. Bills started West as a book agent, reaching Michigan the Sunday preceding the Presidential election in which Lewis Cass was candidate. He began canvassing at Mt. Clemens, following it until the next June in Michigan and Indiana, and then returning to his native State.

In the fall of 1849, Mr. Bills started for Peoria, Ill., as a book agent and while engaged in his work in Chicago, saw an advertisement asking for insurance agents. This changed his life work, for obtaining an introduction he began the new employment as soon as he could make out his bond, for which he obtained security through his connection with the Odd Fellowship. After canvassing in Du Page and DeKalb Counties he came to Peoria where he met C. B. Stebbings, a former acquaintance of his brothers and sisters, with whom he went into partnership. That connection continued some five years, when our subject became associated with the Hon. Peter Sweat with whom he continued in business until 1858.

In 1866 David McKinney and J. Stevison having returned from the war, Mr. Bills entered into partnership with them under the firm name of Roswell Bills & Co., the connection being kept up until 1875. The firm name of Bills & Bacon was then established, which was dissolved by the death of the junior member, Charles F. Bacon, in 1886. In the forty years during which Mr. Bills has followed the insurance business he has represented companies having a capital stock of over one hundred million dollars.

When establishing a home of his own Mr. Bills was fortunate in securing as companion and helpmate, a lady of genuine worth of character and many domestic accomplishments. This was Miss Louisa, daughter of Jacob Kuhn, with whom he was united in marriage in Peoria, November 4, 1851. The happy union has been blest by the birth of three children, now grown to maturity and occupying their own homes in Peoria. They are: Mars. Norman S. King, Mrs. C. W. Houghton and Howard R., the latter of whom resides at No. 210, North Madison Street, with his parents and is clerking for his father.

Mr. Bills has won an enviable position among business men by reason of his energy, capability and straightforwardness, qualities which he carries into everything with which he is connected, whether church, society or personal affairs. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, and in religion a Presbyterian, being enrolled among the members of the First Church. He is a member of the Masonic order.

Pages 716-717