My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

BALLARD, W. P., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Roodhouse. During the Autumn of 1829, when glowing accounts were sent out of the fertility of the now great western State of Illinois, the Ballard family, consisting of husband, wife, and three children, set out in a covered wagon for Greene County; and on reaching the garden spot of the west, located near the present village of Berdan. The first winter was spent in a log cabin, open at one end, and usually closed during severe weather with a blanket. A large open fire-place in one end made room for large back logs that when fairly ablaze threw a ruddy glow over the inmates, and despite the keen, cutting weather that at times fairly shook the little cabin, spread a genial warmth through the one roomed dwelling. When warm weather came a more comfortable cabin was built. As Mr. Ballard, Senior, is still living, and a resident of Greene County, we now narrate a few facts in reference to the industrious gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. At a proper age he attended school during the winter, his first teacher being Abel Spencer, once circuit clerk of Carrollton. In his twentieth year he was married to Miss Pamelia Smith, a daughter of David Smith. When the war came on he enlisted in Co. I, 91st Ills. Infty., for three years, or during the war; honorably discharged in 1865. He returned to Greene County, where he has since followed farming, owning 160 acres in township 12, range 11. Like the early pioneers, the generosity of Mr. Ballard is unbounded. Of nine children born of this marriage, all are living: Martha Ann, James L., David L., Emily J., Mary F., Sarah E., Naomi E., Wm. H., and Chas. E.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.