Mystery #2:
On a picture postcard found in Joseph Chester
Ballew's family photos: ca. early 1900s. Front: Picture of a white
building with the words "BIG WELLS MERCANTILE-Co." In front of the
building is a horse and wagon, the wagon has the words "BIG WELLS MERC.
CO." on the side. Standing on the porch of the Big Wells
Mercantile are four men and one female. JC Ballew lived in Big Wells,
TX, for a short time around 1912. I doubt that
he would have moved from Sabinal to Big Wells
unless he knew someone there. These
two postcards lead me to believe there were
other BALLEWs in Big Wells at the time.
Submitted by: Gwen Edmonds
gedmonds@bigplanet.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #3:
Obituary found in Joseph Chester Ballew's
photo album: From the Elk City, Oklahoma newspaper, February, 1979
(Date and name of newspaper torn off. That info hand written on the
side.) "Bud Ballew Dies Friday - Funeral services for L.M. (Bud) Ballew,
60, of Canute will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the First United Methodist Church
in Canute with Burial....Canute Cemetery. Mr. Ballew died....Clinton
Regional Hospital. He was born in Stillwater and moved at an
early age....to Gilbert, Ariz....Graduated from Cameron College in Lawton...Married
to Minnie Ruth Wilson May 13, 1941....Survivors, Minnie Ruth, Sons Gene
Ballew of Karney, Mo. & Tom Ballew of Arlington, Tex; Sister Mrs Richard
Doan of Fresno, Calif...."
Submitted by: Gwen Edmonds
gedmonds@bigplanet.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #4:
1860 Census: Sullivan County, IN - Frances
Ballew, 30y/o, b. KY
Enumerated w/Henry Wilson & Family.
She is listed as a servant.
Submitted by: Diana Ballew
deemail@aol.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #5:
1860 Census: Sullivan County, IN - William
Ballew, 32y/o, Head of Household, Sadler, b. IN, living w/ Susan F. Ballew
28y/o, b. KY and Sally F. Ballew 2y/o, b. IN
Submitted by: Diana Ballew
deemail@aol.com
Follow-up: 10/27/98 DB
Found in History of Sullivan County, Indiana
by Wolfe, "....Sarah F. Ballow, b. Aug 11, 1868 was the daughter of William
D. and Susan F. Meyers....William D. Ballow, sadler
by trade, was born in Davies County, Indiana
and came to Sullivan County before
the Civil War....Susan F. (Meyers) Ballow
died in 1897....their daughter Sarah F. Ballow
married George LOVE, Nov 15, 1883....they
had two children: Edna H. Love (who m.
Claud C. COLLINS) and Hazel May BALLOW, unmarried...."
-AND-
Found in Davies County Indiana Abstracts
of Probate Records:
Mason BALLOW 1830
William BALLOW, administrator
Heirs: William D. and Mason BALLOW (both under
14)
Guardian: William McCORMICK
(William D. BALLEW in Sullivan County was
born ca1828, so this could be him.)
-AND-
Will of William BALLOW, dated March 31, 1841,
filed March 1847.
Witness: John & Emanuel VAN TREES
Executor: Fleming & Squire BALLOW
Heirs: Fleming, Squire, Thomas, and George
D. BALLOW
(William's wife and other children were mentioned,
but not by name.)
Follow-Up: 11/5/98 DB
1850 Census: Davies County, IN
William (22y/o) & Mason (20y/o) BALLOW
living in the William McCORMICK
household.
Note: William D. & Mason BALLOW are sons
of Mason BALLOW who died in 1830.
(See above Probate Records.)
deemail@aol.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #6:
From - Early Times in Clinton County, Kentucky,
Vol. I, Jack Ferguson,
pg. 363: "Thomas Ballew joined Freedom Church
of United Baptists (Missionary) in
December, 1867 - in the Seventy-Six area of
Clinton County.
(This group had been members of Seventy-Six
Baptist Church but split off to form their
own church.) Note: The Seventy-Six Falls
area is near the Russell County line. (rj) 1*
*I received this from a friend in Russell
County, KY gve gedmonds@bigplanet.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #7:
Sinia BALLEW - Daughter of Thomas & Sarah
(???) BALLEW. Sinia m. John ENGLISH.
They were in Ouachita Parish, LA and
Hempstead County, AR. Sinia's sister Agnes m. 1st, Anthony HADEN
in Cape Girardeau County, MO, 1805 - 2nd, m. Henry CASSIDY in
Hempstead County, AR, 1819(?). BALLEW
& ENGLISH families were in Cape Girardeau County,
MO by 1804 or before. welmore@dexter.net
Submitted by: Pat Shively Elmore
Mystery Index
Mystery
#8:
Most of the following information taken from
a hand written note with a death folder in contributor's possession.
Pierre Hyacinth Antoine Udon de BEAULIEU of
Canada m. Augusta CARLSON of Sweden, ca.1850(?). Their children:
Minnie BEAULIEU b. ca1876 in New Orleans,
LA m. ?? WHITNEY
Edwin Albert BEAULIEU b. ca1877 in New Orleans,
LA d. 5 Mar 1955 in New Orleans
Nora C. BEAULIEU b. ca1883 in New Orleans,
LA
Stella BEAULIEU b. ca1888 in New Orleans,
LA
1920 Census: Minnie WHITNEY was listed as
Head of Household. Living w/her were her two children, Stephen WHITNEY
& Theodora WHITNEY, her brother Edwin BEAULIEU, her two sisters, Nora
& Stella BEAULIEU. Donnahull@aol.com
Submitted by: Donna Hull
Mystery Index
Mystery #9:
In 1818, Hiram & Dorcus BALLEW name their
newborn son Cyrus Walker BALLEW. In 1819, they grant Power of Attorney
to a Cyrus WALKER. Who is this man? He must have been very
close for them to name a son after him, plus grant him PofA....perhaps
a family member? deemail@aol.com
Submitted by: Diana Ballew
Mystery Index
Mystery #10:
William Carrel BELIEU/BELLEW b ca1818 in TN
(from census records), m. Sarah Ann Jane NEELLEY 16 Apr 1846
in Hardeman County, TN. They had moved to Dallas County, AR by the
1850 Census.
Children:
1) Phillipa Henrietta Ellen b. 1 Apr 1847
in Hardeman County, TN m. Reuben Anderson NIX 23 Nov 1870 d.
19 Feb 1917
2) Susan Mary Elizabeth b. 10 Jun 1848 in
Dallas County, AR m. Simeon GILES d. 22 May 1916
3) Alice A. b. 1850 in Dallas County,
AR
4) James Franklin b. 1854 in Dallas
County, AR
5) Margaret b. 1859 in Dallas County,
AR
6) Ann b. 1868 in Grant County, AR
William Carrel's granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth
NIX DAVIS, daughter of Phillipa Henrietta Ellen BELIEU, applied for insurance
to Royal Neighbors of America on 1 Jul 1910. In the application,
she stated that William Carrel died at age 50 of pneumonia in 1875.
Who are William Carrel's parents?/siblings?
tfl9379@montana.com
Submitted by: Beth Earls
Mystery Index
Mystery #11:
Duncan BALEW. Duncan first appears in
Amelia County, VA in 1744 living between Deep and Cellar Creeks (Amelia
County Tax List 1736-64). On 1 Feb 1744/5, 228 acres on the lower
side of Sandy River were surveyed for him (Amelia County 1750 Surveys,
Reel 56). In 1748, he was living above Flatt Creek. In 1756,
he sold the 228 acres to Henry LESTER for L8 as Duncond BLEW (Prince Edward
DB 1, 1754-59, pg 78), and in 1759, his name is spelled Duncan BLUE (Prince
Edward DB 1, pg 162b). On 12 Mar 1753, Duncomb BLEW made oath that
he came to the country from Great Britain to dwell in 1740 with Ann, his
wife and Eleanor, Mary and Katherine, his children. He was certified
to take up 250 acres (CO Book 1, Amelia County, VA, 1735-1746 by GJM; pg
264a). (He is probably progenitor of the Duncan BLUEs who appear in the
NC census of 1787. jh) jhamlin@unitech1.com
Submitted by: Jim Hamlin
Mystery Index
Mystery #12:
Mary Rebecca (or Catherine) BLUE/BELUE
b. ca1872 d. 1885-1891 m. Isaac Jackson HOLLEY, a Primitive
Baptist Minister. The family is found on the 1880 census living in
Itawamba County, MS. Known children:
Elige Thomas Holley b. 1873 in mMS
Sarah Isabell Holley b. 1875 in MS
James Marion Holley b. 1878 in MS
John Holley b. 1880 in MS
Martha Della Holley b. 1887
It is thought that Mary died shortly after
Martha's birth - or at least while she was a young girl, near Hot Springs
or Cotter, AR, and may have been 1/2 Indian, born in AL. mothermurphy@hotmail.com
Submitted by: Polly Murphy
Mystery Index
Mystery #13:
A genealogy friend found this while researching
Surry County, VA DB 3, Page 107:
Richard Jordan of ye Upper pish (parish?)
of Surry Co. in Virga. to Robert Caulfield of the County aforesaid for
43 lbs. of Tobc. and caske conveys land scittuated on the south west side
of a branch of ye blackwater in the lower pish of Surry County being part
of a Pattent for 600 acres formerly Granted to George BLOW late of aforesd.
Co. decd. & being all ye sd. BLOW held on ye side the branch aforesaid
was by him sold to John Bynham and by ye sd. Bineham sold and conveyed
to my ffather Richard Jordan ye 28th Obr 1679 decended to me as heire to
my sd ffather. Dated 6 Nov 1688.
(Signed)
Richard Jordan, Eliza_X_Jordan. Recorded
May 7th 1689.
Is this George BLOW a BALLEW, perhaps?
(Some more creative spelling??) Does anyone know of BALLEWs
in Surry County, VA in the 1600s? gedmonds@bigplanet.com
Submitted by: Gwen Edmonds
Follow-up: 01/06/99 GE
The spelling of this name was BLOW in all
records found on them:
1663 Dec 6: Indenture between Geo. Blow and
John Bynam of ye upper parish, Geo. Blow moving, sells land on SW branch
of Blackwater Swamp - land on that side of swamp belonging to Blow, part
of divident of 600 acres. Signed: Geo. Blow, Margary Blow, Richard
Smith, Wm. Marriott
1664: (No date, but between 20 Jan & 6
Sep) George Blow, he moving, sells to Rowland Hudson William Handcocke
land on E and SE side of Blackwater Swamp being at John Brison's marked
trees to a bridge to Mr. Thos. Warren's sert path. Wit: George Carter.
Signed: Geor. Blow, Margritt Blow
1667 Apr 27: William Lyle of Southwarko(?)
Par. married Juday, only dau of Rowland Hudson of Lownes Crk P. R., dec'd
and now sells to John Smith and his heirs, land purchased by Rowland Hudson
and Wm. Hancocke, of George Blow and Margaret his wife, deed dated May
7, 1664 and sd Hancock to the heirs etc. of Rowland Hudson deed Apr 27,
1667 and now sold to John Smith.
1685 Nov 2: Richard Blow and wife Elizabeth
Blow to his brother George for love and affection - 100 a adj said Blow
and the Piggion Swamp.
1685 Oct 28: George Blow gives his sister
Elizabeth Smith one black heyfer.
1686 Mar 1: George Blow of Southwarke Parish
to John Byneham of the same. 100 a being land "my brother Richard Blow
died seized" Elizabeth Blow, wife of George rel her right of dower.
Wit: George Williams and John Clarke. 7
Mystery Index
Mystery #14:
James BALLEW left Jackson, GA, 1847-1850.
He settled in Montgomery County, TX and died before 1867. His parents
may have been Francis and Nancy BALLEW whose graves are in Banks County,
GA, as is the grave of his wife, Mariah, and her parents. The inscription
on Mariah's tombstone says "Wife of J.C. BALLOU". He signed
"J. C. BALLEU" to a letter written to his daughter, Amanda, in 1850.
In 1870, when Amanda sold the TX land her father left to her, the deed
book entry refers to him as J.T. BALLEW. Does anyone know of James'
GA ancestry? bsdaniel@mindspring.com
Mystery Index
Mystery
#15:
Looking for Elizabeth Belew* m. J.B. George
ca1838. They had three children:
Lucy Jane b. 1839; Thomas O. b. 1846; Jessee
B. b. 1848.
1850 Yell County, AR census, Elizabeth is
listed as Head of Household, 28y/o, BP: AL In the household is listed
her three children, plus the following brother and sisters:
1. Nicy (Belew) Walker**, Age 25, BP: AL
2. John Belew, Age 26, BP: AL
3. Delilah Belew, Age 20, BP: AL
*Elizabeth Belew George m. second to John
R. Menasco abt 1852 in Yell County, AR. In 1860 they are still found
in Yell County, but her brother and sisters are not. By 1870, the
Menasco family is found in Bates County, MO. Elizabeth died in MO
and her children married there, then most of the children moved their families
to Wise County, TX
**Nicy m. second to Hardin Hill, then third
to a Mr. Humphrey. She had a son, John Jarrett "Jack" Walker who
was born 24 Oct 1844 in Crittendon County, AR. He and Nicy
ended up in Wise County, TX. I have a picture of Nicy's
tombstone in Crafton Cemetery, Wise County, TX: "Nicy Humphrey born Nov.
15, 1824 Died Sept. 6, 1901"
Who are the parents of Elizabeth, Nicy, John,
& Delilah Belew? What happened to John? (See Mystery #16
for more on Delilah.) jcneen@sr66.com
Submitted by: Elaine Newkirk
Mystery Index
Mystery #16: (This
mystery connected to #15)
Paige (Page) Ballew is listed in 1810 Census
for LA.
16 Jan 1819, Paige Ballew gives consent for
his daughter, Delilah Ballew to marry William Shaw in St. Mary Parish,
LA Consent
& Marriage Document
06 Feb 1819, Page Ballew & William Buford
release Page's daughter, Nicy Ballew, from an employment contract.
TX 1820 Census Index, Page Ballew - no further
mention of him in LA
Note: In above Mystery #15, we have siblings
Elizabeth, Nicy, John & Delilah who were all born in AL, moved to AR,
then some moved on to TX. Circumstantial evidence points to Paige/Page
Ballew as the father of this group....
Looking for a connection between our Paige/Page
Ballew and the Morgan County, AL Ballew's. sshaw@gatecom.net
Submitted by: Sharon Shaw
Mystery Index
Mystery #17a:
Frances "Fanny" Lucinda Ballew was born in
Burke County, NC abt 1786, died in Buncombe County, NC, in 1862 (buried
at Newton Academy Cemetery). She married (1)William Foster abt 1805
in Buncombe County, NC, (2) John Jarrett.
Who were Frances's parents? Frances'
Will SForte6905@aol.com
Submitted by: Suzanne Forte
Mystery #17b:
Another looking for parents of Frances Lucinda
Ballew.....
Frances Lucinda Ballew was born in Burke County,
NC, 1786. Married William Forrester, II. First child
born abt 1816, five other children followed - five girls and one boy (Newton
Monroe Foster - Note the spelling of the surname has been changed.)
Second marriage was to John Jarrett. William, John and Frances are
buried in Newton Academy Cemetery, Asheville, NC. Have been trying
to find the parents of Frances Lucinda Ballew for many years. She
died 10 Apr 1862, leaving a will. (See will above - gve)
REverly@aol.com
Submitted by: R. Everly
Mystery Index
Mystery #18:
Surname BIRLEW....there are a few of us with
that spelling....said to be French and originally spelled Balleau/Balou,
but I have most often found it in early records as Ballew/Bellew.
Sarah Birlew, b. abt 1844 in IL, is found
in the 1860 Carter County, MO census living in the C. Lafferty household.
Does anyone know of a Ballew/Lafferty connection or know who Sarah's parents
might be? Ghursey2@aol.com
Submitted by: Gloria (Birlew) Hursey
Mystery Index
Mystery #19:
John Birlew b. 1810-1818 in NC d. 1872
in Shannon County, MO m. Milbrey Robinson/ Robertson abt 1838 in
Smith County, TN Children:
1. Unknown b. abt 1839 d. abt 1839 Smith
County, TN
2. Stephen b. 1 Jan 1841 Smith County,
TN m. Nancy Jane Taylor
3. James b. 1845 Smith County, TN
died young
4. Susan b. 1849 Christian County, KY
m. James Despain
5. John, Jr. b. 1851 Christian County,
KY died young
6. William b. 1853 Christian County,
KY died young
7. Mary Nancy b. 1855 Shannon County,
MO m. Thomas M. Hasty
8. Robert S. b. 1858 Shannon County,
MO m. (i) Margaret Yurth Baird (ii) Sarah E. Anderson Yearwood
John & Milbrey (Robinson/Roberson)
Birlew & family are found in the 1850 Christian County, KY census.
Living in the household with them is John's mother, Jane Everett, age 60,
b. KY. Who is her first spouse (Mr. Birlew/Balew/Bilyeu)....also,
who is Mr. Everett?
Jane was b. abt. 1790 KY. She was widowed
from Mr. BIRLEW about 1830 in TN or KY.
The children that she & Mr. BALEW/BIRLEW
had together, that I know of so far, were John b. 1810-1818, Elizabeth
b. 1821, Joseph b. 1820-1825 & Robert b. 1822.
Jane remarried to Mr. EVERETT by 1834 or before.
She and Mr. EVERETT had 2
daughters together, that I know of.......One
married Creighton ROACH and the other married Thomas DOYEL.
This Birlew/Ballew family was in Smith County,
TN 1835-1845, in Christian County, KY 1845-1853, then settled in Shannon
County, MO in December of 1853. Jane is not listed with them on the
1860 Shannon County, MO census.
Does this Birlew family connect with anyone's
BALLEWs in NC/TN/KY/MO?? John was born in NC - who are his parents?
siblings? Ghursey2@aol.com
Submitted by: Gloria (Birlew) Hursey
Mystery Index
Mystery
#20:
I am trying to connect Joseph Birlew to my
John Birlew (see #19). Joseph's family appears on the 1880 Red River
County, TX census with his widow Catherine listed as head of household.
She is listed as b. 1825 TN. I have no birthdate/birth place for
Joseph. The children are listed as all having been born in TN, with
the possible exception of the two youngest whose birth places are difficult
to read - could be TN or IN. I located marriage information
for some of the children of the family:
~Adiline Birlew b. 1855 TN m.
Robert Wilson 1891 Red River County, TX
~Stephen Birlew b. 1859 TN m.
(i) Betsey James (ii) Rebecca Holder
d. Golden, McCurtain County, OK Oct
1927. Listed on Dawes rolls due to Choctaw
blood of first wife, Betsey James.
~Caroline Birlew b. 1862 TN*
~Emma Birlew b. 1867 TN or IN*
*One of these sisters was possibly known
as "Rena" and possibly m. J. G. Whitley 1898
Red River County, TX
~David Birlew b. 1864 TN m. Effie
Gentry 1882 Red River County, TX
~William Birlew b. 1866 TN or IN
Ghursey2@aol.com
Submitted by: Gloria (Birlew) Hursey
Mystery Index
Mystery
#21:
Looking for my HUGHES/BALLEW connection:
Four Ballews who went to MO: Jane and Priscilla Ballew Hughes, who with
their husbands, John and William Hughes, went to MO 1810-1820. These
ladies were probably born in Burke County, NC in the late 1700's.
In addition, Reuben Ballew who married his first wife in Burke County,
NC in 1830 and moved to MO by 1840, where he remarried....and William Ballew,
who reputedly married Mary Hughes, a relation of John and William Hughes.
I found William for the first time on the
1860 Maries County, MO census. He is 55y/o, a shoemaker, born in
NC ca 1805. Wife, Mary b. in KY. His children, James and Monroe
are adults who bought land in Maries County in 1859, but I cannot find
them on the 1860 census. His daughter, Ruth Ann, 17y/o, b. KY, has
married John Swim and is living next door to William. Supposedly,
John Swim, James & Monroe Ballew fought for the Confederacy and left
MO. I find no trace of William before or after this 1860 census...indications
are that he is probably related to the Burke County, NC group. I
have searched the KY census records but have not found a William who matches
this data.
Submitted by: Ruth Hughes Gartell
BearToot@aol.com
Mystery Index
Mystery #22:
My great-grandmother, Mary A. Ballew was born
23 Aug 1861 and died 10 Aug 1883. She is buried in Shady Grove Cemetery,
Culberson, NC, next to her husband, James Burton, Arp. "Burt", as he was
known, married 2nd Harriet Anne Watson and 3rd Lillie Eliza Ballew, daughter
of Stephen Dekalb and Rosanna Robertson Ballew.
In the 1870 Fannin County, GA census I found
a listing for David "Dave" Ballew, his wife Esther "Easter" and one of
their sons, Archibald "Arch" Ballew. Listed with them are two children,
Mary b. 1861 and Easter Louisa b 1868. Other BALLEW researchers have stated
that Easter Louisa was an only child....if that is so, whose child is Mary
and why is she living with Arch and his parents? Arch's wife has been reported
to be Arrena 'Rena" Morrow Page. She was the widow of an unknown Page.
In the 1870 census, Rena is
enumerated with her mother, Harriet Morrow,
in Culberson, and was listed as "Rena Page". I was told she was already
married to Arch by then, so should have been "Rena Ballew". This fact makes
me wonder if she really is Mary Ballew's mother....
Now I have found that Arch Ballew married a
Mira A. Green in Catoosa Co. GA on 1 March 1860. I believe
she may be the mother of Mary A. Ballew. What happened to her?
I have also received information that Mira Green married a guy named Samuel
Anderson. Did she divorce Arch and marry Samuel?
kjunfm@aol.com
Submitted by: Brian Lord
Mysteries Index
Mystery #23:
My Great-Grandfather is Needham Ballew.
I have been searching for his parents who were supposed to have been born
in IL.
Needham was b. 1840, m. Mary Jane Parson in
Butler County, MO 12 Apr 1875. He purchased property in Madison County,
MO and raised his family there. Children: William Jesse Bellew*
b. 1876
Angeline Ballew b. 1878
James Daniel Ballew b. 1881
Eddie Monroe Ballew b. 1883
Charles Elijah Ballew b. 1886
Catherine Ballew b. 1890
*This is the only one that used BEllew instead
of BAllew of all of Needham's children.
Does anyone know who Needham's parents are?
rjballew@leadbelt.com
Submitted by: Roy Ballew
Mysteries Index
Has anyone any proof connecting David &
Easther Ballew to their above mentioned parents (& great grandfather,
Robert)? Thank You, G. Ballew Ballgeoa@aol.com
Mystery Index