Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems -Summary of William Ballenger's Military Warrant File

We have reviewed and analyzed the Military Land Warrant of William Ballenger and the deed of sale of the property to Jeremiah J. Ballenger. Today it's time for the "final report".

Each document in the file represents one of the steps in obtaining the land.

Step 1: A warrant was issued to Christopher Rian for his service in the Mexican-American War on 20 March 1848. See Part 7.

Step 2: Christopher Rian sold the warrant to William H. Ballenger on 17 February 1849. See Part 8.

Step 3: William located the property he wanted in Mahaska County, Iowa, took the warrant to the Land Office in Iowa City on 10 April 1849 and filled out the appropriate paperwork to notify them of his intention to claim the property. See Part 4 and Part 5.

Step 4: The patent, which granted William ownership of the land, was subsequently issued. The patent was not actually in the file obtained from NARA but is available for viewing at Bureau of Land Management(BLM), General Land Office (GLO) Records Automation web site.

We can use some of the information from the file to fill in William Ballenger's timeline from 1848 to 1856 more thoroughly.

Remember this TIP: Click on the image to view a larger version and then click on the back arrow button to return to this post. If the larger version isn't big enough try this: Windows users: hold down the Control key (Mac users hold down the Command key) and press the plus key to make it even bigger (minus key makes it smaller).

Numerous questions still beg an answer:

1. Who is Christopher Rian?
2. Is William associated or related to Christopher Rian somehow?
3. Why does William want property in Iowa? What's the push or pull factor?
4. Who are Jeremiah J. Ballinger and Samuel Ballinger?
5. When did William leave Scott County, Illinois for Mahaska County, Iowa?

I hope examining this Military Land Warrant File has helped you to understand the kinds of information that can be obtained by obtaining one from NARA. We have gained some valuable information about the life of William Ballenger by examining this file. It hasn't directly answered my question of, "Who were William Ballenger's parents?" but many valuable clues have been unearthed and I am confident they will eventually help to answer this question when combined and correlated with other data.

Note: My timeline format is a slightly modified version of one that Miriam Robbins Midkif of Ancestories uses. She wrote about it in her post, Using Timelines.

For a full list of posts in this series, go to Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 9

After a short break, today we return to the William Ballenger/Christopher Rian Military Land Warrant File. If you want to review the posts to date, check out the Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium. We have reviewed the documents in the file as well as the deed of sale when William later sold the property.

In Part 1, when we looked at the Bureau of Land Management website, there were some other Ballinger/Ballengers listed in Mahaska County, Iowa. Today let's look at the legal description of their land and map their property in relation to William's.

First, here are the legal descriptions. Remember this TIP: Click on the image to view a larger version and then click on the back arrow button to return to this post. If the larger version isn't big enough try this: Windows users: hold down the Control key (Mac users hold down the Command key) and press the plus key to make it even bigger (minus key makes it smaller).

Here are the properties plotted out. I have bolded the dividing lines between the different ranges and townships and included arrows to point out which is which. Remember the viewing TIP from above.

I immediately note the proximity of the various Ballenger/Ballingers to each other. To me this indicates a possible relationship between some or all of these men. Using the various censuses to look for additional clues to analyze and correlate this information might be helpful. Perhaps in another future series...

We're almost done. Stay tuned just a little bit longer.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 8

Today we look at the last document in William Ballenger's Military Land Warrant File. First we will look at  a clue and what I learned. Below that section you will find a transcription that basically says Christopher Rian sold his warrant to William H. Ballenger. For an image of the document, look at the very bottom of this post.

Clues:

• Christopher Rian did not know how to write his name.

What I learned:

• William purchased the warrant for 160 acres on 17 February 1849 at Winchester, Scott County, Illinois.

Question:

• William didn't actually sign this document. So does this put him in Winchester, Illinois on 17 February 1849 when the transaction occurred?

Transcription:
For value received I do hereby sell and assign


unto William H Ballenger all my right and
title to the within certificate or warrant No. 12389
for 160 acres of land . Witness my hand this 17th day
                                                    his
of February AD 1849 Christopher X Rian
                                                   mark
Acknowledged before me this 17th day of February
AD 1849
Attest Joseph H Berry
Jos. H Berry Justice of the Peace Scott County
D Johnson Illinois


State of Illinois
                       SS I Ornshe Wayrice[?] Clerk of the County Commis
Scott County
sioners Court and Recorder of Civil Commissions within and for Said County
Do hereby certify that Joseph W Berry Esq Whose name appears
to the above acknowledgments was on the date thereof an Acting
Justice of the Peace, within & for Said County of Scott duly Elected
and Commissioned and as Such full faith & credit is and Should
be given to all his official acts as Such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set
my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court
at my office in Winchester this 17th day
of February AD 1840
Ornshe Wayrice[?] Clerk
C.C.C.S.C



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© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 7

After getting slightly out of order, I am back on track (I think).

So today we look at the next document in William Ballenger's Military Land Warrant File.

First the transcript, then the clues gleaned from the document. An image of the original will appear at the bottom of this post.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Office of the Commissioner of Pensions.

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED, that the Land Warrant No. 12389 for 160 acres
has been issued in the name of Christopher Rian, Private
in Captain Montgomery's Company -
1st Regiment Illinois volunteers,
under the date of March 20th, 1848 - and will be deposited
in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE, at the Seat of Government, and that,
pursuant to the provisions of the subjoined ninth section of the Act of Congress,
approved on the 11th day of February, 1847, entitled "An act to raise for a limited
time an additional military force, and for other purposes," this Certificate of right
to locate said warrant on any quarter Section of land subject
to private entry, will be received at any of the Land Offices of the United States,
under the regulations and restrictions set forth in the accompanying statement of the
Commissioner of the General Land Office.


After the location of this Certificate, it is to be surrendered to the General
Land Office, whence the PATENT will issue.


GIVEN under my hand, at the Pension Office,
this 20th day of March, 1848


J. S. Edwards [signature]
Commissioner of Pensions.
By F[?] S. Evans

[notation below is to the left of the signatures]
Claimant
Winchester
Scott - Co:
Ills:

Clues:

• On 20 March 1848, Christopher Rian’s land warrant was issued for his military service.
• The notation “Claimant Winchester Scott – Co: Ills:” is a big clue since William and Lucinda Ballenger’s marriage return was filed in that location in November 1849.

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© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 6a

Looks like I did an oops and got slightly ahead of myself! I stated in my last post that we were finished with William's Military Land Warrant File. There were two more documents we have not yet examined! Hang in there...I'm trying to!

Photo by Thundafunda

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 6

We have been reviewing the documents in the Military Land Warrant File of William H. Ballenger. While we are finished with that file, there is much more to look at in relation to William's property, particularly as it relates to answering the question of who were William's parents. Today we take a look at what William did with this particular piece of property by looking at the deed recorded at the time of the sale. I will start with a summary of what information was gleaned from this deed and follow with a transcription.

Summary

• On 7 March 1854 William H. and Lucinda Ballenger sold 160 acres, with the same description as the land acquired in the file we have been studying, to Jeremiah J. Ballenger.
• Price was $300.
• Samuel Ballenger was the witness.
• The deed was filed on 20 April 1854 and recorded 22 April 1854.

The significance of his transaction lies in who the land was sold to (Jeremiah J. Ballenger) and who the witness was (Samuel Ballenger). My theory is they are brothers or possibly some other relation.

Transcription

[left hand margin is written “34-76-15”]



Wm H Ballenger etux
To Deed
JJ Ballinger

Filed for Record April 20th 1854 at 1
O'Clock PM & Recorded April 22nd 1854

For the consideration Three hundred dollars we hereby convey
unto Jeremiah J Ballinger the following tract of land Situated
in the County of Mahaska in the State of Iowa. Viz: the South
East Quarter of section Thirty four in Township Seventy six No

[page] 557


of Range fifteen West containing one hundred and Sixty acres
And we warrant the title to the same to the said Jeremiah J Ballinger
against all Persons whomsoever. Executed this Seventh day of March
AD 1854 in presence of
Samuel Ballinger

W H. Ballinger
Lucinda Ballinger


State of Iowa, Mahaska County ss
Before me Samuel Kirby a Justice of the Peace in and
For said County personally appeared the above named William H.
Ballinger and Lucinda Ballinger personally known to me to be the
identical persons whose names appeared in the foregoing Deed as grantors
and acknowledged the above instrument to be their voluntary act
and deed for the purposes there in expressed. Given under my
hand this 1 day of April AD 1854
Samuel Kirby
Justice of the Peace


Henry Blackburn recorder Mahaska County Iowa.

Source:

Iowa. Mahaska County. Deeds, 1853-54, Volume E.  County Recorder’s Office, Oskaloosa. FHL microfilm 972968. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.

Note: When I obtained the copy of this deed, at the Family History Library, the copy was made on an 11x17 piece of paper which is difficult to scan, especially considering the quality of the original isn't that good. So I haven't attempted to put an image in this post.


© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 5

We have been going through the Military Land Warrant File of William H. Ballenger to see what information this type of file contains and how it might help solve genealogical questions, particularly that of who are William's parents. If you would like to review or need to catch up, you can go to the Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium of William H. Ballenger for a list of links.

Today we look at the Land Warrant Certificate which is the next document in William's file. Today I'll start with what I learned from this document, then the transcription and finally an image of the original.

What I learned

• William inspected his property on or about 6 April 1849. Then on the 10th he went in to the Iowa City land office and filed this particular certificate. This puts William in Iowa the first half of April 1849.
• He requested his land patent to be sent to Oskaloosa, Iowa which is in Mahaska County where his property is located. It's probably the nearest post office.

Transcription:


LAND WARRANT CERTIFICATE, NO. 12,389


I William H Ballenger being desirous of locating
the South East quarter of Section No. fifteen West
5th Mer, in the District of lands subject to sale at the Land Office at Iowa City
Iowa with the attached Military Land Warrant Certificate, No. 12,389 issued under
the provisions of the ninth Section of the Act of Congress, approved February 11th, 1847,
do solemnly swear that from my own knowledge of the fact, after actual inspection of
the said tract of land, on or about the 6th day of April
A. D. 1849, there was not at that time, an actual settlement and cultivation upon any part
of said land, nor was there any person or persons
residing upon it; And I do
verily believe that there is no actual settlement and cultivation
or any person or persons residing upon any part of said land at this time.


Subscribed and sworn to before me, this
10th day of April A. D. 1849                     William H Ballenger [signature]


Register of the Land Office
Charles Nealley [signature]


I request my patent to be sent to Oskaloosa, Iowa
William H Ballenger [signature]




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© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium

Here is a list of posts in the series Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems in which I am going through the Military Land Warrant file of William H. Ballenger document by document to see what can be learned, particularly as it relates to my search for William's parents.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Summary

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 4

We have been going through the Military Land Warrant File of William H. Ballenger to see what information this type of file contains and how it might help solve genealogical questions, particularly that of who are William's parents. If you would like to review or need to catch up, you can go to the Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium of William H. Ballenger for a list of links.

Today we look at a receipt of sorts from the Iowa City Land Office in the case of William H. Ballenger's Military Bounty Land Warrant. The transcription is shown below. So let's take a look at the transcription and then review clues and what I learned from this document. (The image of the original is at the very bottom of this post.)


Register and Receiver's

No. [number is smudged]


                                                           10th
LAND OFFICE, Iowa City Iowa April [^] 1849
WE HEREBY CERTIFY that, the attached Military Bounty Land Warrant No. 12389 was on this day
received at this office, from William H Ballenger, of
Mahaska county, State of Iowa
Charles Nealley [signature] Register.
Enos Lowe [signature] Receiver.

I, William H Ballenger, of Mahaska county, State of
Iowa, hereby locate the South East quarter
of Section No. thirty four in Township No. Seventy Six N of Range No.
fifteen West 5th Mer in the District of Lands subject to sale at the Land Office at
Iowa City, Iowa containing 160 acres, in satis-
faction of the attached Warrant numbered 12,389
Witness my hand this 10th day of April A.D. 1849
Attest
Charles Nealley [signature] Register.
                                                              William H Ballenger [signature]
Enos Lowe [signature] Receiver.

Land Office Iowa City, Iowa May 10 1849

WE HEREBY CERTIFY that the above location is correct, being in accordance with law and instruction.
Enos Lowe Receiver.
Charles Nealley Register


Clues

1. The statement, "I, William H Ballenger, of Mahaska county, State of Iowa..." indicates that William was at living in Mahaska County by 19 April 1849, the date of this document. This is interesting and could be important because his marriage return dated 8 November 1849 was recorded in Scott County, Illinois on 8 November 1849.

What I learned

1. This particular parcel of land was 160 acres (although that could also have been inferred from the legal description of the land).
2. William himself signed this document. In this particular case, obtaining his signature was helpful because it eliminated any question as to whether this William H. Ballenger is the same man who settled on land in Boulder County, Colorado in December 1864 and August 1869. I have the Land Cash Entry File and the Homestead File for those transactions which also contain his signature and they are a match.

Part 5 is coming up...

Tip: Click on the image to view a larger version and then click on the back arrow button to return to this post. If the larger version isn't big enough try this: Windows users: hold down the Control key (Mac users hold down the Command key) and press the plus key to make it even bigger (minus key makes it smaller).

For a full list of posts in this series, go to Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium.

 
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 3

Today we begin to get into the meat and potatoes of William H. Ballenger's Iowa land file. We will be going through the file page by page, with one page per post. If you are just joining in, you can quickly catch up by reading Part 1 and Part 2.

In this post, we are going to look at the first page in the file along with a transcription. Then we will look at clues, questions raised and what was learned. Finally, we'll plot the property on Google Earth.

Here's the first page in the file, along with it's transcription. I'm really not sure what the 3 letters after "Wm H. Ballenger" are so if you have a suggestion, I would welcome it.

No 12389 //10
Christopher Rian
private in Capt Mont-
gomery's Compy 1st Reg
Illinois Vols.
Wm H. Ballenger afs[?] ass
of sd Christopher Rian
SE 1/4 34, 76N, 15W
5th P.M.
Iowa City
Iowa
the[?]
Patd. 1st June 1850
Recd. Vol 29 page 409 =
Oskaloosa Iowa

Clues

1. The patent date of 1 June 1850 could turn out to be important. That was census day and I have been unable to locate William in any federal censuses during his life.

Questions Raised

1. Who is Christopher Rian?
2. Is William associated or related to Christopher Rian somehow?
3. Why does William want property in Iowa? What's the push or pull factor?

What I learned

1. The exact location of the property.
2. The date of the patent (June 1, 1850).
3. A quick online search for Christopher Rian in the 1850 census doesn't turn up Christopher but does reveal several Rians in Scott County, Illinois. This is important because that is where William Ballenger married Lucinda Campbell in 1849.
4. Another quick online search for Christopher reveals a Christopher Rian in Scott County, Illinois in the Illinois Census of 1855. There are also a couple of Campbells on the same page. This could be important and is worth following up.

Let's put some perspective on this piece of land. Using Google Earth, you can see where William's property is located in relation to the surrounding counties. The orange box is the township and range. The pink box or dot is the section.

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Getting in a little closer, we are looking at the section. William's property is the SE 1/4 or in the lower right hand corner of the purple box.

As a side note, using MapQuest, I was able to determine that Oskaloosa, the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, where William's land was located is about 230 miles on today's roads from Winchester, the county seat of Scott County, Illinois. Scott County is where William Ballenger married Lucinda Campbell and where a Christopher Rian appeared in the 1855 Illinois Census. For now, we'll just file that little piece of information away.

Stay tuned for the next page in William Ballenger's Iowa land file.

For a full list of posts in this series, go to Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records To Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 2

In Part 1, I explained how I located and ordered a land record file for my ancestor William H. Ballenger in Mahaska County, Iowa. In the next several posts, we will go through the file page by page.

As a side note, NARA now gives the option of ordering files like this in paper form or on a CD. I opted for the CD version since I'm trying to keep get the piles of paper under control. I was pleased with how quickly I received it.

The first document explains the law under which William obtained his property. In a nutshell, William Ballenger got his Iowa land under the February 11, 1847: ScripWarrant Act of 1847 (9 Stat. 123). The portion of this act that applies here basically states those who served in the Mexican American War received a warrant or certificate for 160 acres.

You can read the entire document if you are so inclined. Click on the image to view a larger version and then click on the back arrow button to return to this post. If the larger version isn't big enough try this tip I learned from Dick Eastman's article, "Are You Still Printing Everything?" For Windows users: hold down the Control key (Mac users hold down the Command key) and press the plus key to make it even bigger (minus key makes it smaller).

In Part 3 we'll get into the meat and potatoes of William's file.

For a full list of posts in this series, go to Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium.
© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems - Part 1

A while back my search into the earlier years of William H. Ballinger's life, in the hope of eventually identifying his parents, led me to the Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office Records website. I love land records as they can be chock full of valuable and interesting information. What I discovered this time did not disappoint (although I'm still working on his parents). I thought I would share this particular land file with you as it is different from others I have used, and, well, we'll just see where this goes.

On this particular trip to the BLM website, I searched several spelling variations of Ballenger in Mahaska County, Iowa since that is where I have found William and family in several Iowa State censuses in the 1850s. Here are the results:

Using the information listed for William H. Ballenger, I was able to order this particular land file from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Next up, I'll present the contents of William's land file, lessons learned, and what questions came up. This particular file is different from others I have ordered in the past so it raises a whole new set of questions.

Later on, we will revisit this results list and see how some of these other Ballenger/Ballinger individuals might fit into the picture. One thing at a time...

For a full list of posts in this series, go to Using Land Records to Solve Genealogical Problems Compendium.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - William Ballenger Land Sale

This week I am looking at the deed of sale from William H. and Lucinda Ballinger to Jeremiah Ballinger.  You can read a transcription of the deed below but the particulars are this:

The sale is dated 7 March 1854.
It was for 160 acres in Mahaska County, Iowa.
The land was sold for $300.
Samuel Ballinger was the witness.

In my post Collateral Lines Anyone? I noted that Jeremiah and Samuel were young men and had been listed in various Iowa state censuses from the 1850s sometimes in the same house with an older John F. Ballinger.  I will definitely be taking a closer look at those 3 men.

From this document, I can plot where William's land was located and begin to fill in the other neighbor's from property maps and other land transactions.

This deed has left me with lots of questions (remember I am looking for relatives of William):

1. Who are Jeremiah and Samuel and why are they transacting business with William?
2. Why did William sell 160 acres?
3. When did he buy this property?

At least this gives me an additional data point on William's timeline!


Transcription:
[left hand margin is written “34-76-15”]


Wm H Ballenger etux
To Deed
JJ Ballinger

Filed for Record April 20th 1854 at 1
O'Clock PM & Recorded April 22nd 1854

For the consideration Three hundred dollars we hereby convey
unto Jeremiah J Ballinger the following tract of land Situated
in the County of Mahaska in the State of Iowa. Viz: the South
East Quarter of section Thirty four in Township Seventy six No

[page] 557

of Range fifteen West containing one hundred and Sixty acres
And we warrant the title to the same to the said Jeremiah J Ballinger
against all Persons whomsoever. Executed this Seventh day of March
AD 1854 in presence of
Samuel Ballinger

W H. Ballinger
Lucinda Ballinger

State of Iowa, Mahaska County ss
Before me Samuel Kirby a Justice of the Peace in and
for said County personally appeared the above named William H.
Ballinger and Lucinda Ballinger personally known to me to be the
identical persons whose names appeared in the foregoing Deed as grantors
and acknowledged the above instrument to be their voluntary act
and deed for the purposes there in expressed. Given under my
hand this 1 day of April AD 1854
Samuel Kirby
Justice of the Peace

Henry Blackburn recorder Mahaska County Iowa.

[Citation:
Mahaska County, Iowa, Land Deeds, 1853-54, Volume E, 20 April 1854; Family History Library microfilm 972968.]

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - William Ballenger -Census Mis-index

Last week I wrote about starting to look for other Ballenger families in Mahaska County, Iowa in the Iowa State Census Collection during the 1850’s. One of the names that had appeared on an 1854 special census was that of Willard Ballenger. You can see by looking at the image below that Willard is really William. I let Ancestry know and they say they have included the alternate (correct) spelling.

So, the count for this household is as follows:

line 7 William Ballenger 2 males, 2 females, 0 colored male, 0 colored female, 1 voter, 1 militia, 0 aliens, 4 Total

The William Ballenger household would have been composed of William, Lucinda (wife), John H (son), and Nancy (daughter).

This fills in another year on the family’s timeline! Of course it also raises some additional questions such as are there any voter or militia records available for the area? Who are the Samuel and JF Ballenger families? How are they associated with William? Where is their property located in relation to William’s?

 

Next week we’ll look at some more Mahaska County, Iowa records and see what we can glean from them. Stay tuned…

Note: I did check the preceding pages for additional Ballengers and there were none. What you see in the image is the last two pages for the Mahaska County listing.

Source:
1854 Iowa State Census, Mahaska County, Iowa, Adams Township, no page number, line 7. William Ballenger; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed April 2010), citing microfilm of Iowa State special censuses 1854 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.
© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - Collateral Lines Anyone?

One piece of advice often heard regarding brick wall ancestors is to research collateral lines.  In the case of my brick wall, William H. Ballenger, I haven't even been able to identify a collateral relative to research.  So in his case I thought I'd try identifying potential collateral lines.

William's last three known residences of Nye, Montana, Grand County, Colorado and Boulder, Colorado haven't turned up any potential Ballenger relatives.  However, when he was living in Mahaska County, Iowa, I noticed that surname so I decided to start looking there.

Initially I am focussing on the 1850-1859 time period, since I know that my William Ballenger was living in Mahaska County then.  In reviewing the Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1926 on Ancestry, the following Ballenger family groupings turned up:

John F. Ballinger

• Two Johns-with one being much older than the other.
• The younger John appears in the various years as Ballenger, Ballinger and Ballanger.

Landon Ballinger
Thomas Ballinger
Samuel & Jeremiah Ballenger (young men listed, at times, in the same house with the older John F. Ballinger).
William H. Ballinger (click here to read a little about William)
Willard Ballenger

The listing for Willard Ballenger was for 1854 and caught my eye right off the bat so we will be taking a look at him next week. Can you guess where this discussion is headed?


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday - John H. Ballinger

John was the oldest child of William and Lucinda Ballinger.  While he has turned out to be an immense source of information about the family, he is also a brick wall unto himself.  This week, I will discuss the dilemas surrounding John's birth.

1856 Census for Black Oak, Mahaska Co, Iowa lists the family as follows:

Given Name     Surname          Age     Est Birth Year     Years Resident in State     Birthplace

William H           Ballinger              35      Abt 1821                                  8                          Ohio
Lucinda              Ballinger              25      Abt 1831                                  8                           Ills
John H               Ballinger                8      Abt 1848                                  8                           Ills
Nancy A            Ballinger                7      Abt 1849                                  7                           Ills
Mary A              Ballinger                1      Abt 1855                                  0                           Iowa

John's discharge papers (dated 30 December 1864), for his service with the 3rd Colorady Cavalry, state he was 18 years old which puts his birth year at about 1846.

The Columbia Cemetery Burial Index (Boulder, Colorado) lists John's age when he died as 21 putting his birth year about 1850.

Complicating matters further is the fact that according to the copy of the marriage register that I have, William and Lucinda were married 29 October 1849.  You do the math.

It gets even more confusing when I start analyzing Nancy's birth year conflicts.  But that is another topic.

I have 2 pieces of information that say John was born in Illinois.  The 1856 Iowa census listed above and John's discharge papers.  Illinois appears to be a reasonable birthplace. 

As for John's birth year, my theory is that he lied about his age in order to be able to serve with the 3rd Colorado Calvary.  He was probably born in the 1848 - 1850 time period.  I suppose he could have been born before his parents were married.  I'm still looking for a chink in the brick wall.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Madness Monday-William Harrison Ballenger

When I first started researching William Ballenger, I thought this would be an easy project. My mom and uncle helped me put together their side of the family when I did my pedigree chart for a junior high social studies project years ago . What they found among family papers was that William was born in 1821 in Maysville, Kentucky. He married Lucinda Cambell (or Campbell) and they had 12 children. There also was a picture of William and Lucinda taken in Boulder, Colorado which is where several other branches of the family also lived at one time.

What I most wanted to learn about William was:
1. Who his parents were.
2. Verify his birthplace. As you will see in future postings there is a big question mark on his birthplace.
3. Identify William and Lucinda Ballenger’s children and verify whether they had 12 children.

This is were easy ended. The first thing I discovered was there is no consistency, even within the family, as to how his name was spelled. I have seen Ballanger, Ballenger, Ballinger and many other variations. When I add in all of the potential spelling errors, I am ready to pull out my hair! Even one person would spell Ballenger differently over a period of time.

A logical next step was to check out the US Federal Censuses. Unfortunately, I have yet to find William in one single Federal Census over the course of his life. Through other research I have been able to put together a pretty extensive timeline of William's life. So I know pretty close, if not exactly, where he was living for the various federal censuses. What happened every year when the census taker came along? Did he and the family go into hiding? Did he come out and run the census taker off? Have I somehow missed this family every ten years due to spelling errors? I really believe the man had some "privacy" issues!

The good news is that William and his family are listed in 2 state censuses and this has turned out to be a huge help.
• 1856 - Black Oak, Mahaska County, Iowa he is listed with his wife Lucinda and their three children: Mary, Nancy and John.
• 1885 - Grand County, Colorado. William and Lucinda are listed with 6 of their children Stephen, S., Wm., M., Lewis and John. There were also two boarders in the house: John Gibbons and Henry McGuffey.

I keep holding out hope that William will eventually turn up in a federal census but I am not holding my breath. In the meantime, I keep looking for alternative sources to search and try not to let it drive me to madness.

I will be writing more on this family. I started out with a single photo of William and Lucinda, taken in Boulder, Colorado and the basic information I mentioned. From there I have been working to compile an extensive outline of the family. A photograph is a good home source to illustrate how you can take an item found in the family home (or that of another relative) and tie it in to your family history and come up with a more complete and interesting story.

Copyright 2010, Michelle Goodrum