FAN Club & the Arnett-Fullen House, Boulder, Colorado

Are you familiar with the FAN Club principle? Investigate the Friends, Associates and Neighbors of your ancestors. Recently I discovered a new member of my ancestor Daniel A. Robinson's FAN Club: Williamette Arnett. The Arnett name keeps appearing among the associates of my ancestors in Boulder, Colorado so I decided to investigate further. This led to a fun and interesting adventure.

While at the Carnegie Library in Boulder, I asked for a document relating to Willamette's father, Anthony. This started a conversation with the librarian. She told me about the house Willamette built and the interesting story behind it. Then she said I just had to go by and see the house, so I did.

The Arnett-Fullen house, built in 1877 by Willamette Arnett, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The story on the Arnett-Fullen House website really is interesting.

The current owners went to great lengths to restore the tower to its original multicolored slate.

I just love the weathervane horses.

The original stepping block used to board a carriage or horse is still in front of the house. I like to think Daniel came by to visit and used this very step.

This is just the beginning of my investigation of Daniel Robinson's FAN Club. I wonder where my investigation of the Arnetts will lead.

URL for this post: http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/2012/04/fan-club-arnett-fullen-house-boulder.html

© 2012, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Indirect Evidence to Identify a Photo - Summary

For the last several days, we have been examining this photo for clues and researching to see if we can answer the question, "Is the woman in the photo Mary Ann (Ballenger) Woods?" I believe the answer to be yes. Let's summarize and see if you agree.

The clues provided in the photo:

• The photo was taken in Denver.
• The photographer is G.R. Appel, 1579 Larimer Street, Denver, Colorado.
• On the back of the photo, Frances (Robinson) Lowe wrote "Walt Wood's mother." Frances is the daughter of Nancy Robinson mentioned below.

1. Using the prior series, about Mary Ann Ballenger,  I was able to link Mary Ann to her parents, and 2 siblings, Nancy and John via a census record. And have linked her to Boulder, Colorado (the home of the Ballenger family in the 1860's, 70's and possibly early 1880's). Using the previously discussed newspaper article, which is transcribed below, we can link Mary Ann to Boulder, Colorado and to her sister Nancy. 

Returns After Many Years.

Mrs. Milton Y. Woods, of Telluride, is in the city, accompanied by her three children. They are domiciled at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Robinson. Mrs. Woods is a sister of Mrs. Robinson, and in her girlhood days was well and favorable known as Miss Mary Ballinger. She comes to spend a short time with her relatives and friends, all of whom receive her cordially. It is about fifteen years since the visitor chose the southern part of the state as her home.

2. In Part 1 of this series, we linked Mary and her husband Milton to their son Walter W. Woods(possibly the person named on the back of the photo)  by using the 1900 and 1910 Census. In 1900, they are living in Telluride which is in the southern part of Colorado (consistent with the newspaper article).

3. We tie Walter Woods to Frances (Robinson) Lowe (former owner of the photograph) in Part 3, by using the 1920 and 1930 census and a get well card and note sent to Frances from Walt and Maude.

4. We can complete the circle by tying Frances (Robinson) Lowe to Nancy (Ballenger) Robinson as her daughter. We haven't discussed it in this article so you will have to take my word for it that I have Family Bible photographs showing Frances' birth in Boulder, her marriage also in Boulder, Frances' death certificate naming Nancy Ballinger as her mother, photos of Nancy that Frances labelled with Nancy's name and identified Nancy as her mother, the 1880 census showing Frances with her parents Dan and Nancy, and much more.

Clues from the photo that are important were discussed in Part 2, and the comments through out this series. The fact that the photo was taken in Denver (or at least the photographer had his studio in Denver) links the woman to the state of Colorado. The puffy sleeves date the photo around the mid 1890s. The photographer was in business at the address listed on the card during the same time frame. Thank you to Brett of Photo Sleuth blog and Sue at Family Folklore blog for your assistance in dating the photo!

What do you think? Is the woman in the photo, identified only as "Walt Wood's mother," Mary Ann (Ballinger) Woods?

Links from this series:
Using Indirect Evidence to Identify a Photo:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Elusive Mary Ann Ballenger
Mary Ann Ballenger Woods Continued

Photo Album Archiving & Digital Sorting - Part 1
Photo Album Archiving & Digital Sorting - Part 2
Photo Album Archiving & Digital Sorting - Part 3
Photo Album Archiving & Digital Sorting - Part 4

Sources:

1900 U.S. census, Montrose County, Colorado. Population schedule, California Precinct 10, sheet 13 B and 14 A, dwelling 229 & family 250, Milton Y. Woods family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 21 February 2010), citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 127.

1910 U.S. census, Montrose County, Colorado. Population schedule, Precinct 106 sheet 6 B, dwelling 139 & family 129, Walter Woods; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 November 2011), citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 123.
1920 U.S. Census, Rosebud County, Montana. Population schedule, District 121, sheet 1A, family 11, Walter Woods family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 November 2011), citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 975.

1930 U.S. Census, King County, Washington. Population Schedule, North Bend, sheet 4B, Walter Woods family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 November 2011), citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2490.

Ballenger & Richards, …Annual Denver City Directory…(Denver: Ballenger & Richards, 1892), p. 114, for “Appel, Gustaf R, photographer.” See also Gustaf’s entries under “Appel” in Denver City Directories for subsequent years with varying subtitles, specifically: ( 1894) 120, (1896) 121, (1899) 123.

“Returns After Many Years,” Boulder Daily Camera (Boulder), 7 December 1893, p. 1; digital images, Colorado Historical Newspapers (http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.) : accessed 30 November 2011.

Walt and Maude, letter, 14 June 1949, get well card and note; Lowe Family Papers, Privately held by Michelle Goodrum, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Mesa, AZ.
Walt Woods mother. Photograph. Original, privately held by Michelle Goodrum, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE]. 2010.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Indirect Evidence to Identify a Photo - Part 2

In Part 1, I hypothesized that the woman in this photograph is Mary Ann Woods.

Reader Brett Payne of Photo-Sleuth blog left a comment on yesterday's post stating that the size of the sleeves on the woman in the photograph indicate it was taken in the mid 1890s. What a great clue!

The Denver Public Library has many Denver City Directories digitized and on its website. Brett's clue allowed me to hone in on the directories published in the 1890s. The photographer, G. R. Appel of 1529 Larimer, is first listed in the Denver City Directory in 1892! He continued at that address at least until 1899. I stopped searching at that point.

It seems logical that Mary Ann Woods might have stopped for a portrait in Denver on her trip to Boulder from Telluride in December of 1893.

Tomorrow we will get back to the provenance of the photograph. Today was a short but necessary detour. Thank you again Brett!
Sources:

Ballenger & Richards, …Annual Denver City Directory…(Denver: Ballenger & Richards, 1892), p. 114, for “Appel, Gustaf R, photographer.” See also Gustaf’s entries under “Appel” in Denver City Directories for subsequent years with varying subtitles, specifically:  ( 1894) 120, (1896) 121, (1899) 123.

Walt Woods mother. Photograph. Original, privately held by Michelle Goodrum, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE]. 2010.

“Returns After Many Years,” Boulder Daily Camera (Boulder), 7 December 1893, p. 1; digital images, Colorado Historical Newspapers (http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org) : accessed 28 September 2007).


© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Day at the County Recorder's Office-Part 2



Courtesy of clker.com

...Continued from yesterday...You can read Part 1 if you missed it and would like to catch up.

Upon arrival at the Boulder County Recorder's Office, with my prioritized lists, I presented myself at the front desk and explained that I would like to look up some old deeds, marriage records and other documents. The nice person behind the desk asked if I had used the fische before and took me over to explain the system before turning me loose.

All of their older documents are on fische, organized by book and page number with some documents having been digitized.

First, using the information printed out from their online system, I looked up each item to see if it had been digitized. Very few had but those that were had been scanned at a very high resolution so the copy printed out very clear.

Next, it was on to the fische. Since I had the book and page number of each document I was after, it was very easy to pull the fische one by one, find the page and make a copy from the reader. I made sure to note the book and page number on each copy.

I had been warned that sometimes the printer in the fische reader could be temperamental and after a couple of jams, I asked if it would be OK if I were to unjam it the next time there was a problem. The lady was more than happy to show me how and she went back to work and so did I. I always like to ask before messing with other people's equipment because sometimes they don't like you doing that.

So what can you find in the Recorder's Office? Here's a list of some of the types of documents I pulled. I'm still transcribing, citing and digesting the information. The time period of documents I looked at covered the early 1860s through the 1950s. That's close to 100 years!

• Marriage certificate
• Deeds
• Patent (as in land patent)
• Quit Claim Deed
• Deed of Trust
• Warranty Deed
• Notice of Intent to Hold Mining Claims (lots of those)
• Mortgage
• Sheriff's Certificate of Purchase
• Contracts
• Notary Public Commission
• Location Certificate (related to mining)
• Bond Official
• Satisfaction of Judgement
• Chattel Mortgage
• Cemetery Deed
• Power of Attorney

There are probably a couple of other types of documents that I missed. As you can see there's quite a variety of information in the County Recorder's office about your ancestors. Each one contains clues about their lives, the people they associated with and when and where.

Boulder's Recorder Office seems to be pretty modern and it was easy to locate records by doing my homework ahead of time. If you haven't visited the Recorder's Office where your ancestor lived, it could prove to be a very productive experience. I hope you give it a try.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Day at the County Recorder's Office

Courtesy of clker.com

Last summer I had the opportunity to visit the Boulder County Recorder's office to retrieve a number of documents recorded by my ancestors. As it turns out some of them were rather "active" in that regard and this has turned into a fairly significant project. Today, I want to share with you the planning that went into this trip and my experiences in a Recorder's Office in the hope that it will encourage you to visit, if you haven't. I also hope you might share some of your experiences with us if you have.

First, I asked for advice. Since I am a member of the Boulder Genealogical Society, I contacted one of their members who was able to provide some fantastic pointers allowing me to prepare a list of documents I was seeking. She also explained the organizational system of the records and mentioned that the staff are very helpful (whew! for some reason I was intimidated by the thought of going into a place of business and asking for historical records).

Next, as instructed, I went to their online site to search records. I was able to compile lists of the documents I was interested in. Imagine my surprise when, by extending the search periods past the times my ancestors lived in the area (and even past their death dates, items appeared in the 1930s and 1940s. There was even one in 1951, decades after he had passed away.

Now with my compiled lists, I prioritized the items I would be looking for.

Finally, I checked the hours of operations and obtained a map to get to the office.

I was ready to go to the Recorder's Office. Tomorrow we will talk about my visit.


© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Look at a Cash Land Entry File - Part 7

Today's document from William Ballinger's Cash Entry file, which is really a preemption file, is a preprinted oath that has actually been signed by William himself. I have not seen this document in any "plain 'ol" cash entry files so it must be related to the fact that this is a preemption file. It is important because William signed this document. When I compare the signature from this document to the signature in the Military Bounty Land Warrant File in Mahaska County, Iowa (from the series Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems), there is no doubt in my mind that this is the same individual. Also, examining the composition of this family in the 1856 Mahaska County Iowa census further confirms this (but let's not get too far off track here).

I, William H. Ballinger

do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the
Constitution and Government of the United states against all enemies, whether
domestic or foreign, and that I will bear true faith, allegiance, and loyalty to
the same, any ordinance, resolution, or law of any State Convention or Legislature
to the contrary nothwithstanding; and, further, that I do this with a full
determination, pledge, and purpose, without any mental reservation or evasion
whatsoever; and, further, that I will well and faithfully perform all the duties
which may be required of me by law. So help me God.

William H Ballenger [SEAL]    [actual signature of William]

Colorado Territory

Arrapahoe Co                 ss

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 3d day of April 1865.

CMMle[_]necott [hard to read]

Register of the Land Office at Denver City. Co T

Previous Installations:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Subsequent Installations:
Part 8
Part 9
Summary

Artwork compliments of Free Clip Art Now
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Look at a Cash Land Entry File-Part 6

If you would like to catch up on previous installations in this series, check out the links at the end of this article.

Today we look at the receipt from the Receiver's Office at the Denver Land Office. The transcription appears first and then an image of the document.

No. 244 Receiver's Office at Denver City, C.T. Apl 3d 1865.

RECEIVED from William H. Ballinger
of Boulder County, Col Ter. the sum of Two
hundred dollars and ----------- cents; being in full for the
S.W. 1/4,, S.W. 1/4 Sec. 17 & S.E. 1/4,, S.E. 1/4 Sec. 18 & N.E. 1/4,, N.E. 1/4
Sec. 19 & N.W. 1/4,, N.W. quarter of Section No. --- 20 --- in Township
No. One North of Range No. Seventy West containing
160 acres and ------------- hundredths, at
$125 per acre.

CBClements

Receiver:

$200.

[Stamped across the front:]

PAT Delivered by R. & R.

Previous Installations:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Subsequent Installations:
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Summary

Artwork compliments of Free Clip Art Now
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

A Look at a Cash Land Entry File-Part 5

If you haven't been following along, you might want to read Part 3 and Part 4 in particular. Part 1 and Part 2 are about a separate Cash Entry file.
As I pointed out in Part 4, now that we have the legal description of William Ballinger's Preemption claim, we can plot the property on a map. Here's the legal description again:

• The SW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 17,
• and the SE ¼ of the SE ¼ of Section 18,
• and  the NE ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 19,
• and the NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 20,
• of Township 1 North
• of Range 70 West
• containing one hundred and sixty acres

We can use Google Earth to locate the township, range (outlined in orange), and some section numbers (outlined in pink). Then we can, pinpoint William’s property, which is the area within the red box, and drive out there for a look see (using a more detailed local map).

Recently, I was in Boulder helping a family member and had the opportunity to drive through my great great grandfather's land. Visiting the land my ancestors lived on has become a bit of a hobby for me. I find it exciting to stand where my ancestors lived and worked. It helps give perspective on what their lives might have been like and, it's fun!
A portion of William's land is now a school:

The rest is a very pretty residential area:

So, what did I learn? Driving through the area and back into Boulder gave me a fantastic perspective of the area the Ballinger family lived and worked in, and more importantly, what it took for them to "go to town". The land is just a few short miles from the original downtown portion of Boulder where the Ballingers would have gone to shop, socialize, or go to school. A nice horseback or wagon ride in the spring or summer. Probably a miserable, bitterly cold trip at times during the winter months.
My great great grandmother, Nancy Ballinger would have made this trip regularly; I am told she probably attended school in Boulder along with her siblings.

Stay tuned...
Oh, and one sidenote: Sections 15 and 22 contain Theodore Low’s property discussed in, Finding the Low Farm in Boulder.

Here are links to the entire series, in case you are interested:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Summary
Artwork compliments of Free Clip Art Now
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday - Boulder, Colorado Hike

Last summer while we were in Boulder, I took a photo of the famous flatirons that overlook the town.

Here's the view from somewhere "up there." We took a wrong turn on our way to do a nice little hike near the NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) facility and ended up on Flagstaff Mountain. If you're going to take a wrong turn, it was a great place to end up as the views are spectacular. Too bad we didn't pack a picnic lunch!

We did finally find NCAR and went on a very nice hike, although we made it a shorter hike than originally planned.

















© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday - Fall Along Boulder Creek

Boulder, Colorado

October 2010

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday - Fall In Boulder, Colorado

The Evert Pierson Kids' Fishing Pond along Boulder Creek.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Finding the Low farm in Boulder

In my Almost Wordless Wednesday post the other day, I mentioned we were driving around the outskirts of Boulder. One of my family branches, the Lows, had a farm that we were looking for. If you read my Time Capsule series, this would be the Lowe family that Frances Robinson Lowe married into.

I obtained the legal description of the property from the estate file of Theodore Low, the original of which is housed at the Colorado State Archives. Using Google Earth and the legal description, I was able to produce an arial map showing the boundaries of the property. Then it was a matter of hopping in the car and driving out there. Don't you just love modern technology?

As I was reading off the directions from the map, Younger Family Member, who was with us, suddenly exclaimed, "Jay Road! That's where my friend lives. Give me that map." Upon examination, Younger Family Member determined that said friend lives adjacent to the former Low farm. A text message ensued informing said friend that they are living almost on the property where Younger Family Member's ancestor's farmed. I think that might be a GOTCHA! Only time will tell.

Today the area is still very rural with a couple of housing enclaves consisting of what I would call "horse property." There are lots of fenced pastures.

I like to think that this peaceful spot with the beautifully painted buildings could have been the site of the Low home.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Jay Hill Farm

While driving around Boulder, Colorado the other day, in the area of Jay Road, we ran across the Jay Hill Vegetable stand. They have some of the most unusual gourds I have ever seen.

We were in the mood for pumpkins on that day and there was an excellent selection.

The "Cinderella" pumpkins spoke to us so one of those was selected.

For my Boulder readers, I encourage you to stop by the stand on Jay Road just east of Highway 119. They have a really fun selection of the fall harvest!

For the rest of the story on why we were driving around the area, check back in the next day or two...


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum
Photos printed with permission.

Treasure Chest Thursday - The Time Capsule - Part 2

Today I am examining the next layer of my great grandmother, Frances Lowe's "Time Capsule;" specifically some of the contents of the leather case. You can read previous posts about the "Time Capsule" here, here and here.

A partial inventory reveals items relating to the Order of the Eastern Star, including:

• 
  
  Rosters from Queen Esther Chapter No 5, Boulder Colorado for the years 1907, 1914, and 1938. Frances is listed as a member in the 1914 directory only with an address of Nye, Montana.
• 
  
  By-Laws for the same chapter.
• 
  
  Book titled, Ritual of the Order Eastern Star, published by Authority of the General Grand Chapter, Chicago, copyright 1890. The publish date is July, 1904.
• 
  
  2 receipts dated 9 July 1914 and 25 March 1915 stating Frances Lowe had paid her dues.
• 
  
  The "certificate" dated 25 March 1915 and shown below which, if I read it correctly, is saying that Frances was received as a member 24 November 1910 and  is now released from membership.

 

Frances moved with her husband, Milton, from Boulder, Colorado to Limestone/Nye, Montana in the mid 1890's. I can't help but wonder why she joined the Order of the Eastern Star, in Boulder, so long after she had moved from there.  Frances was born and raised in the lovely town of Boulder and moved literally to frontier country in Montana.  I visited their homestead last summer and it is still in what I would consider back country (or very nearly); a beautiful land but remote and harsh in the winters. Talk about going through a lifestyle change.  I would not be surprised if she had hoped to move back to Colorado.

Interestingly, the Ritual of the Order Eastern Star, has a paragraph titled Membership.  It states:

Master Masons in good standing in a Masonic Lodge, and their wives, daughters, mothers, widows, and sisters, who have attained the age of eighteen years, are eligible to membership in this Order.

I have found no evidence, yet, that Frances' husband, Milton, belonged to the Masons (although his father did[1]).  Frances' father, Daniel Robinson, was a Mason in Boulder[2].  So that could have been how she gained her membership. Frances' mother, Nancy (Ballenger) Robinson, was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Boulder (she is listed in the 1914 directory and her obituary[3] mentions it).

If you are interested in the Order of the Eastern Star, you can read more about it here and here.

So far all of the items in the Time Capsule (with the exception of the leather case) can easily be placed together in an archival safe box.  It is done.

Next up are by far my favorite finds to date in the Time Capsule.

Here are links to the other posts in this series as well as a couple of related articles:

The Time Capsule
First Steps
The Time Capsule's Top Layer
Part 2
Teacher's Certificate
Teacher's Certificate #2
Baby Shoes
Sewing Anyone?
Help! Do You Know What This Is?
Frances' Necklace
A Bottle of???
Embroidery
More Stuff To Sort
Doilies
Pictures, Announcements, etc.
Dress
Pictures, Announcements, etc.
Preserving the Time Capsule
Sorting Saturday - The Time Capsule is Sorted. What I learned.
COG-Scrapbooking Your Family History! Frances Lowe
Treasure Chest Thursday-You Are My Treasures


Endnotes:
[1] The Boulder Daily Camera (Colorado), 3 June 1897, p. 4.
[2] The Boulder County Herald (Colorado), 7 Feb 1900, page 5.
[3] Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Washington), 9 September 1927, section H.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Boulder Genealogy Society's Annual Dessert Night

Earlier this month, I was in Boulder, Colorado and it just so happened that the Boulder Genealogical Society was having their monthly meeting while I was in town.  I have been a "long distance" member for many years but had never been to one of their meetings, so I contacted the president and got directions.

Once a year they have Dessert Night.  Members bring lots of yummy goodies to feast on during their meeting.  This particular night they had the meeting in one of the local retirement communities which has a room with a beautiful view of the flatirons that overlook the town of Boulder.  There was some interesting weather that particular evening which made the view even more dramatic.

It was a large meeting and is a very active society.  The group was very warm and welcoming and I had a great time meeting friendly genealogists (are genealogists anything but friendly?).  I have been reading articles written by many of these people in the BGS Quarterly for quite a few years now so it was great to be able to put a face to a name.  I hope I can attend another of their meetings when I am in Boulder again!

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Sorting Saturday-The Time Capsule

Recently another family member made an interesting discovery in the family home.  It started with this very cool old leather suitcase.

Inside was another small, old, cute suitcase.

Tightly packed inside this suitcase is what appears to be a snapshot of the life, memories and some personal items that my great grandmother Frances Lowe held dear.  It has appropriately been dubbed the Time Capsule. Frances lived from 1871 - 1964 in Boulder, CO, Nye, MT and various homes in King County, Washington.

Follow along with me on Thursdays and Saturdays while I sort through the Time Capsule and figure out how to catalog, preserve and archive this fascinating look into the life of my great grandmother.

Here are links to the other posts in this series as well as a couple of related articles:

The Time Capsule
First Steps
The Time Capsule's Top Layer
Part 2
Teacher's Certificate
Teacher's Certificate #2
Baby Shoes
Sewing Anyone?
Help! Do You Know What This Is?
Frances' Necklace
A Bottle of???
Embroidery
More Stuff To Sort
Doilies
Pictures, Announcements, etc.
Dress
Pictures, Announcements, etc.
Preserving the Time Capsule
Sorting Saturday - The Time Capsule is Sorted. What I learned.
COG-Scrapbooking Your Family History! Frances Lowe
Treasure Chest Thursday-You Are My Treasures


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - The Family Fortune

A while back I discovered a letter to my mother from her grandmother on the occassion of Mom's college graduation.  You can read the original post here.

The letter read in part:

These antique napkins rings are the remnant of your Great Grandfather and Great grandmother’s fortune. The silver in the rings were part of a silver brick given to them by a friend and my father had six napkin rings made out of same and when their three daughters were married they gave each of us two napkin rings. They are over Seventy-five years old.

I finally found them!  They weren't where Mom thought but the box they were in was just as Mom described it and the fact that they were tied together with a ribbon.

The inscription reads:

Presented to

D. A. ROBINSON

By Wm Parker of

Sherman Mine

Caribou Colo.

According to the letter the would have been made in the early 1870's.

It was common for Boulder residents to be involved in mining ventures during this time.  Daniel A. Robinson was no exception.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Tombstone Tuesday - John Ballinger

Columbia Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado taken June 2007

You can read more about John in John Ballinger Part 1 and Part 2.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - John H. Ballinger - Part 2

Last week I discussed the dilemas regarding John's birth.  This week the topic, is the spelling of the Ballinger name which I have mentioned previously.

John served with Company D of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry in 1864.  You can see from the Company Muster-in and Descriptive Roll below and on the left that his name was spelled Ballanger.  The copies are rather light but on the right is the Company Muster-out Roll.  His name was spelled Ballenger. 

John's tombstone which stands in Columbia Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado has the surname Ballinger engraved on it.  You can see a picture of it tomorrow in the Tombstone Tuesday post.

This inconsistency in spelling caused problems for the Ballinger family years after John's death when his father, William Ballinger attempted to collect John's military pension as a dependent father.

William's daughter, Nancy, was still encountering problems with this in 1916, several years after her father's death, as illustrated below.

Many decades later, the spelling of this family's surname continues to cause confusion and problems. 

Check back next week for part 3 of John Ballinger's life.


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Monday Madness - Flora J. Ballinger

Flora was probably born 27 February 1859 (or 1857).  So far, no evidence of her marrying has been uncovered.  Her death date and place are unknown.

Here is a timeline of what I have been able to find out about Flora:

27 February 1857 or 1859 - Flora is born.  In the 3 census records I have for Flora (CO State census 1885, Federal MT 1900 & 1910), she is listed as being forn in Iowa.  Between the census records and the Declaration for an Original Pension of a Father, listed below in sources, there is a discrepancy in Flora's birth year.

1860s - Flora and her siblings Nancy, John and Mary Ann are listed as attendees in the first school house built in Colorado (see sources below).

1880 - Living in Boulder, Colorado, with Joseph Wolff, are his wife Eliza J, Flora Ballinger and several hired men.  Flora is doing housework. (1880 Federal CO census).

1892 - in the Directory of Farmers in Boulder County for 1892, Flora is listed as a farmer.  From the property description, it appears she is farming on her father's former homestead.

1900 - In 1900 in the Township of Stillwater, Carbon County, Montana, Flora J. Ballinger was enumerated with Charles Williams, his wife Georgie L., and their family, a servant and a boarder. Flora is listed as Aunt. She is the aunt of Georgie L. (nee Robinson). Flora’s sister, Nancy Robinson (nee Ballenger) was Georgie’s mother.

1910 - Flora is enumerated in the Town of Joliet, School District No 7, Carbon County, Montana with the Henry family.  Oddly she is listed un the relationship column as a patient.  Although it is very difficult to read.

After the 1910 census Flora appears to disappear.  I am waiting for something else to turn up.

Sources not listed above:

• Ed Hubbard's article from The Daily Camera 17 November 1909 as extracted and appearing in the Boulder Genealogical Society Quarterly February 2002.
• Declaration for an Original Pension of a Father, Military Pension file for John H. Ballenger, file number 630269, National Archives and Records Administration.  William H. Ballinger is the informant and made the declaration on 8 February 1896 in Boulder, Colorado.  Further he states in the document that he is a resident of Nye City, Montana.

Copyright 2010, Michelle Goodrum