Mary Billings French

Mary Montagu Billings French (March 6, 1869 – June 14, 1951) was an American heiress and society figure, as well as YWCA president and board member. She was the daughter of Frederick Billings and inherited the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park from him before she died. She passed it on to her daughter, Mary French Rockefeller. Early life Mary Montagu Billings was born to Frederick Billings (1823–1890) and his wife Julia Parmly on March 6, 1869, in Woodstock, Vermont. Her mother Julia was born as the daughter of Dr. Eleazer Parmly of New York on December 8, 1835. Mary was named after her mother's older sister. Billings French had six siblings: Parmly (1863–1888), Laura, Frederick, Elizabeth, Ehrick (1872–1889), and finally Richard. Mary was the fourth child, after her brother Frederick and before her sister Elizabeth. The Parmly Billings Memorial Library, now called the Western Heritage Center, is named for Mary's brother Parmly. Billings French grew up in a wealthy family during the Gilded Age. Her father Frederick was one of the wealthiest men in California and was considered one of its "foremost citizens". After marrying Julia, they settled in Woodstock, Vermont, where the family was the wealthiest family of the town "by far". They owned the largest corn field in the state of Vermont, as well as a mansion on the family compound. Vermont estate After the death of her father on September 30, 1890, Billings French inherited his Vermont compound. It comprised 4,228 acres and six buildings, including the mansion, stables, a cottage, a farmhouse, and other buildings. When she died, it passed to her daughter Mary. At left is a view from the compound, the future Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.