Among the enterprising and prosperous farmers of Washtenaw county is numbered Walter S. Bilbie, who resides in Ann Arbor township and was there born in 1859. He is descended from an old English family that was founded in England by ancestors who went to that country from Normandy with William the Conqueror. Many representatives of the name have been English squires and the ancestral home was known as Normanton Hall. The ancestry can be traced back in direct line to William Bilbie, who was sheriff of Nottingham in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was the father of Richard Bilbie, a gentleman farmer, who died in 1809. His birth had occurred at Normanton Hall in
1736 and he was the last of the family to hold the ancestral estate, which was then lost in chancery. His son, John Bilbie, was the grandfather of our subject.

Walter S. Bilbie is a son of Richard Bilbie, whose birth occurred in Nottingham, England, in 1829 and who, after arriving at years of maturity, was married in that country to Miss Mary A. Henry, who was likewise born in England but was of Scotch descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a lace manufacturer and the father worked at that business until 1849, when thinking that he might have better opportunities in the new world he crossed the Atlantic to America. His father had previously visited this country and had purchased eighty acres of land in Ann Arbor township, Washtenaw county, after which he returned to England. It was to this farm that Richard Bilbie made his way on coming to the United States and there he lived for eight years, after which he returned to England. It was during his visit to his native country that he was married in 1858 and with his bride he returned to the new world. He then purchased ninety acres of land on section 9, Ann Arbor township, where he has since made his home and is now living at a ripe old age. He carried on general farming for many years and also had a fine orchard. In 1881 he added to his original purchase a tract of forty acres, so that his farm now comprises one hundred and thirty acres of land. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation and has become recognized as one of the prosperous and reliable farmers of the county, who owes his success to his own labors, while his life record proves the opportunities that are afforded in America to young men of determination and energy.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bilbie were born two sons: Walter S. and Edward N. The latter, completing his education in Berlin under Professor Saraut and Professor Wirth, is now a professor of music in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, being a teacher of the violin.

Walter S. Bilbie acquired his early education in the district schools and afterward continued his studies in the public schools of Ann Arbor. He remained upon the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, and later he spent the years 1887 and 1888 in England. In 1884 he was married to Miss Kate A. Welling, a daughter of George H. Welling, of Albany, New York. He then took up his abode on the farm and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, having had charge of the old homestead for twenty years. He carries on general farming and is also engaged in the dairy business, keeping eighteen cows and selling the milk to the wholesale trade. He has led a life of industry and activity and by careful management and keen discernment has made the farm a good source of profit, carrying on his work in harmony with the most advanced and modern ideas of agricultural development.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bilbie have been born three children but one died in infancy. The others are Richard and Laura B. In his political affiliation Mr. Bilbie is a democrat and on that ticket was elected supervisor in 1902 and has since been reelected, so that he is serving for the third term. In 1891 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office and in 1891-2 he served as road commissioner, while on the school board, he was moderator for several terms. In matters of citizenship he is public spirited and progressive, giving his allegiance to every movement and measure which he believes will benefit the community.

Quoted from Past and Present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, 1906, p 57.

Among the enterprising and prosperous farmers of Washtenaw county is numbered Walter S. Bilbie, who resides in Ann Arbor township and was there born in 1859. He is descended from an old English family that was founded in England by ancestors who went to that country from Normandy with William the Conqueror. Many representatives of the name have been English squires and the ancestral home was known as Normanton Hall. The ancestry can be traced back in direct line to William Bilbie, who was sheriff of Nottingham in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was the father of Richard Bilbie, a gentleman farmer, who died in 1809. His birth had occurred at Normanton Hall in
1736 and he was the last of the family to hold the ancestral estate, which was then lost in chancery. His son, John Bilbie, was the grandfather of our subject.

Walter S. Bilbie is a son of Richard Bilbie, whose birth occurred in Nottingham, England, in 1829 and who, after arriving at years of maturity, was married in that country to Miss Mary A. Henry, who was likewise born in England but was of Scotch descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a lace manufacturer and the father worked at that business until 1849, when thinking that he might have better opportunities in the new world he crossed the Atlantic to America. His father had previously visited this country and had purchased eighty acres of land in Ann Arbor township, Washtenaw county, after which he returned to England. It was to this farm that Richard Bilbie made his way on coming to the United States and there he lived for eight years, after which he returned to England. It was during his visit to his native country that he was married in 1858 and with his bride he returned to the new world. He then purchased ninety acres of land on section 9, Ann Arbor township, where he has since made his home and is now living at a ripe old age. He carried on general farming for many years and also had a fine orchard. In 1881 he added to his original purchase a tract of forty acres, so that his farm now comprises one hundred and thirty acres of land. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation and has become recognized as one of the prosperous and reliable farmers of the county, who owes his success to his own labors, while his life record proves the opportunities that are afforded in America to young men of determination and energy.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bilbie were born two sons: Walter S. and Edward N. The latter, completing his education in Berlin under Professor Saraut and Professor Wirth, is now a professor of music in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, being a teacher of the violin.

Walter S. Bilbie acquired his early education in the district schools and afterward continued his studies in the public schools of Ann Arbor. He remained upon the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, and later he spent the years 1887 and 1888 in England. In 1884 he was married to Miss Kate A. Welling, a daughter of George H. Welling, of Albany, New York. He then took up his abode on the farm and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, having had charge of the old homestead for twenty years. He carries on general farming and is also engaged in the dairy business, keeping eighteen cows and selling the milk to the wholesale trade. He has led a life of industry and activity and by careful management and keen discernment has made the farm a good source of profit, carrying on his work in harmony with the most advanced and modern ideas of agricultural development.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bilbie have been born three children but one died in infancy. The others are Richard and Laura B. In his political affiliation Mr. Bilbie is a democrat and on that ticket was elected supervisor in 1902 and has since been reelected, so that he is serving for the third term. In 1891 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office and in 1891-2 he served as road commissioner, while on the school board, he was moderator for several terms. In matters of citizenship he is public spirited and progressive, giving his allegiance to every movement and measure which he believes will benefit the community.

Quoted from Past and Present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, 1906, p 57.