I've enjoyed researching our line for the last eight years and think it's time to share the information with all who are interested.

Elisha Ballew was born 1792 in North Carolina or Kentucky. Various documents have listed both states as his place of birth. On June 9, 1816 in Wayne County Kentucky, he married Elizabeth Meadows, the daughter of James Meadows of Virginia and Jane Hereford of North Carolina. Elizabeth was born on July 29, 1789 in North Carolina.

There were several Ballew's in Wayne County, Kentucky back then who were old enough to be the father to Elisha. Showing up in records by 1805 was JOHN BALLEW who received a land grant in Wayne County in November 1805 for 120 acres of land on the Otter Creek watercourse. Also listed was a LINSEY BALLEW Sr. who appears to have been in Tennessee prior to Wayne County, Kentucky. There was also GEORGE BALLEW and it wasn't until my recent trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah that I felt sure that this George was going to eventually prove to be the father of Elisha. Yes, I'm lacking that little thing called PROOF on that relationship but circumstancial evidence certainly backs this claim up at this point. I believe this Ballew line will prove back to Burke County, North Carolina and then back into Virginia, possibly back to a WILLIAM BALLEW who came from England to Virginia in the 1600's.)

In the early 1800's, listed in tax, census and marriage records for Wayne County, Kentucky, are several Ballew's including our Elisha Ballew but by the 1820's most of the Ballew men had received land grants for military service and moved to other counties in Kentucky. Elisha received his land grant in March of 1820 in Warren County, Kentucky for 14 acres on the Dripping Spring watercourse and was listed living there in the 1820 census. SHELTON BALLEW, who I believe is a brother of Elisha's, received a land grant in 1825 for Adair County, Kentucky. By 1830 Elisha and Elizabeth and their family were settled in Gill Township, Sullivan County, Indiana and living close by is Shelton Ballew and his family. Both families moving from Kentucky to the same small town in Sullivan County, Indiana.

Elisha and Elizabeth stayed in Gill Township- farming for many years where I located them in the 1830, 1840 and 1850 census'. Their children were: JAMES, HENRY M, GEORGE E. AND SARA ANN. (There may have been more children born before James).

By 1860, Elizabeth is listed as living with her daughter, Sarah (Ballew) Vanosdoll in Sullivan County. Elizabeth is listed as age 72 with no mention of Elisha living with them. I have hunted through the death records for both Sullivan and the neighboring county of Vigo, with no luck in finding when or where Elisha died but I feel he was likely deceased by 1860.

Our line comes down from their son JAMES BALLEW who was born in 1820 in Kentucky. James met and married MARGARET FRENCH around 1840 in Sullivan County and they had two sons, HARRISON and SHELBY BALLEW. Margaret had two brothers one named Harrison and one named Shelby French so it's very likely that's where the names came from. Harrison and Shelby Ballew appear to have been close their entire lives. They joined the Civil War together. They both went to Indianapolis and enrolled together on May 4, 1864 and both were mustered into service together on May 17, 1864. Harrison's muster card lists him as having blue eyes, dark hair, standing 5 feet 6 inches and having fair complextion. He was listed as a cooper by trade. Both men were mustered in as Privates in Company E. 133rd Regiment for the state of Indiana. After the war, both men got on with their lives and their families. Our line comes down through Harrison.

On December 24, 1862, in the city of Terre Haute Indiana, HARRISON BALLEW married ALCESTA AMY LEWIS, the daughter of AVINANT T. LEWIS and AMY WYETH. ( I've done extensive research on our WYETH line and it does connect with the famous Wyeth artists, N.C., Andrew and James, not to mention some wonderful Revolutionary War soldiers.) Harrison and Alcesta had four children: JAMES A., LEWIS E. ARTHUR F. and FLORENCE.

In 1881, Harrison and Alcesta divorced and both remarried the same year. In the divorce papers, Alcesta asked for two of her children, James A. Ballew then age 17 and Flora age 4. It's difficult to tell exactly what happened with that family during that time. In the 1880 census, the family had all been listed together and since there is no census available for 1890, we're missing a crutial piece of the puzzle. Luckily, I was able to track them all down from 1900 on. Harrison eventually moved away to Kansas. As an older man he received pension benefits for his time spent in the Civil War. I was surprised when I tracked him down in 1920. By then he was 78 years old and blind. I located him in Illinois, living with his brother Shelby in the National Home for Disabled Soldiers, where he and Shelby, both widowers by then, later died.

Alcesta, Lewis E. and Arthur were located in Aberdeen, South Dakota by 1900. Alcesta was widowed and living alone and by 1910 was remarried again. She died two years later of pneumonia, on March 19, 1912 and is buried in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Flora married Mr. E.G. Atwood and moved to Chicago. Lewis and Arthur both married and stayed in Aberdeen. Lewis worked in advertising and Arthur was the stage manager for the Theatre.Whether Flora or Lewis ever had children is still uncertain. It does appear that Arthur had two children but they have not yet been located. Our line comes down from James A. Ballew.

JAMES. A. BALLEW was born September 19, 1865 in Terre Haute Indiana. Around 1893, he married Catherine McGovern, born September 16, 1865 in Orillia, Canada, the daughter of John McGovern and Catherine Cassidy, both from Ireland. James and Katherine were located in the 1900 census in Park River, North Dakota. In 1900, James, Katherine and their children moved to the city of Everett, in Snohomish county, Washington. By the 1910 and 1920 census' they were well established there. There are many Ballew descendants still living in Snohomish county today and many more within the state of Washington. The children of James A. Ballew and Katherine (McGovern) Ballew were:ALBERT FRANCIS , JOHN ALEXANDER, JAMES HARRISON, and EDWARD AMBROSE BALLEW.

Our Ballew family ancestors were clearly some brave souls. As land and opportunity presented itself, they moved their families further and further West at a time when life in the West was risky and uncertain....

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Descendants of Elisha Ballew and Elizabeth Meadows
 

Generation No. 1

1.  ELISHA(1) BALLEW was born Abt. 1792 in North Carolina or Kentucky, and died Aft. 1850.  He married ELIZABETH MEADOWS June 09, 1816 in Wayne County, KY, daughter of JAMES MEADOWS and JANE HEREFORD.
 
Children of ELISHA BALLEW and ELIZABETH MEADOWS are:
  2. i. JAMES(2) BALLEW, b. Abt. 1820, Kentucky; d. April 22, 1879, Terre Haute, Indiana.
  3. ii. HENRY M BALLEW, b. Abt. 1827, Indiana; d. February 27, 1888, Terre Haute, Indiana.
  4. iii. GEORGE E. BALLEW, b. March 23, 1822, Kentucky; d. January 14, 1913.
  5. iv. SARAH ANN BALLEW, b. Abt. 1833, Indiana.
 
 
Generation No. 2

2.  JAMES(2) BALLEW (ELISHA(1)) was born Abt. 1820 in Kentucky, and died April 22, 1879 in Terre Haute, Indiana.  He married MARGARET FRENCH.
 
Children of JAMES BALLEW and MARGARET FRENCH are:
  6. i. HARRISON(3) BALLEW, b. May 13, 1841, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. January 10, 1923, National Home for Disabled Solldiers, ( Civil War) Danville, Illinois.
  7. ii. SHELBY BALLEW, b. November 1843, Indiana.
 
3.  HENRY M2 BALLEW (ELISHA(1)) was born Abt. 1827 in Indiana, and died February 27, 1888 in Terre Haute, Indiana.  He married HILINDA FRENCH January 12, 1851 in Terre Haute , Indiana.
 
Child of HENRY BALLEW and HILINDA FRENCH is:
   i. GEORGE W.3 BALLEW, b. Abt. 1852, Indiana; m. CARRIE MEEH, February 10, 1881, Vigo County  Indiana.
 
4.  GEORGE E.2 BALLEW (ELISHA(1)) was born March 23, 1822 in Kentucky, and died January 14, 1913.  He married KATHERINE E..
 
Children of GEORGE E. BALLEW and KATHERINE E. are:
   i. MARY A.3 BALLEW, b. Abt. 1855, Indiana.
   ii. SARAH J. BALLEW, b. Abt. 1856, Indiana.
   iii. ELLA P. BALLEW, b. 1859, Illinois.
   iv. ALBERT A. BALLEW, b. Abt. 1862.
   v. EDWARD E. BALLEW, b. 1864.
   vi. INFANT BALLEW, b. 1860, Indiana.
 
5.  SARAH ANN(2) BALLEW (ELISHA(1)) was born Abt. 1833 in Indiana.  She married JEREMIAH VANOSDALL April 1854 in Vigo County,  Indiana.
 
Children of SARAH BALLEW and JEREMIAH VANOSDALL are:
   i. JOHN(3) VANOSDALL, b. Abt. 1855, Indiana.
   ii. GEORGE VANOSDALL, b. Abt. 1858, Indiana.
   iii. HENRY VANOSDALL, b. Abt. 1861, Indiana.
   iv. JAMES VANOSDALL, b. Abt. 1866, Indiana
   v. AUGUSTUS VANOSDALL, b. 1870, Indiana.
   vi. CHANCEY VANOSDALL, b. 1874, Indiana.
 
 
Generation No. 3

6.  HARRISON(3) BALLEW (JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born May 13, 1841 in Sullivan County, Indiana, and died January 10, 1923 in the National Home for Disabled Soldiers, Danville, Illinois.  He married (1) ALCESTA AMY LEWIS December 24, 1862 in Vigo county, Terre Haute, Indiana, daughter of AVINANT LEWIS and AMY WYETH.( Yes....related to the famous family of WYETH artists, NC, ANDREW and JAMES )  He married (2) ARRENA GRADER 1881 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
 
Children of HARRISON BALLEW and ALCESTA LEWIS are:
  8. i. JAMES A.(4) BALLEW, b. September 19, 1865, Terre Haute, Ind.; d. January 29, 1929, Everett, Wa..
   ii. LEWIS E. BALLEW, b. 1867, Indiana; d. September 19, 1936, Aberdeen, S. Dakota.
   iii. ARTHUR F. BALLEW, b. Abt. 1872, Indiana; m. MARY.
   iv. FLORENCE BALLEW, b. Abt. 1877, Indiana; m. EDWISS G. ATWOOD, Abt. 1903.
 
7.  SHELBY(3) BALLEW (JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born November 1843 in Indiana.  He married (1) MARY THOMPSON 1866.  He married (2) SALLIE E. SLAVINS April 22, 1884 in Vigo Co., Indiana, daughter of WILLIS SLAVINS and MARANDA BURK.
 
Child of SHELBY BALLEW and MARY THOMPSON is:
   i. ALICE(4) BALLEW, b. Abt. 1868, Indiana.
 
 
Generation No. 4

8.  JAMES A.(4) BALLEW (HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born September 19, 1865 in Terre Haute, Ind., and died January 29, 1929 in Everett, WA.  He married KATHERINE MCGOVERN, daughter of JOHN MCGOVERN and CATHERINE CASSIDY.
 
Children of JAMES BALLEW and KATHERINE MCGOVERN are:
   i. ALBERT FRANCIS(5) BALLEW, b. February 20, 1894, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
  9. ii. JOHN ALEXANDER BALLEW, b. October 12, 1896, Campbell County, South Dakota.
  10. iii. JAMES HARRISON BALLEW, b. August 31, 1899, Park River, N. Dakota; d. September 01, 1965, Everett, Washington.
   iv. EDWARD AMBROSE BALLEW, b. April 16, 1902, Everett, WA; d. Abt. 1991, WA
 
 
Generation No. 5

9.  JOHN ALEXANDER(5) BALLEW (JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born October 12, 1896 in Campbell County, South Dakota.  He married ESTELLE.
 
Children of JOHN BALLEW and ESTELLE are:
  11. i. WARREN JAMES(6) BALLEW, b. April 19, 1926, Everett, WA
  ii. SUSANNE BALLEW


10.  JAMES HARRISON(5) BALLEW (JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born August 31, 1899 in Park River, North Dakota, and died September 01, 1965 in Everett, Washington.  He married ELEANOR MARGARITE TOOLE June 30, 1925 in Everett, Snohomish Co., WA, daughter of HERBERT TOOLE and MARY SHEEHAN.
 
Children of JAMES BALLEW and ELEANOR TOOLE are:
   i. DONALD HARRISON BALLEW, b. July 31, 1927, Everett, WA.
   ii. JOSEPH WAYNE BALLEW, b. February 02, 1929, Everett, WA.
  12. iii. MARY BETH(6) BALLEW, b. after 1929 Everett, WA.
 
 
Generation No. 6

11.  WARREN JAMES(6) BALLEW (JOHN ALEXANDER(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born April 19, 1926 in Everett, WA  He married ROSALIE DARCY.
 
Children of WARREN BALLEW and ROSALIE DARCY are:
   i. JOHN RAYMOND(7) BALLEW, b. July 20, 1953, Olympia, WA
  13. ii. DAVID PATRICK BALLEW, b. April 11, 1955, Olympia, WA
   iii. DARCY ANNE BALLEW, b. March 12, 1957, Olympia, WA
  14. iv. CHRISTOPHER WARREN BALLEW, b. December 06, 1958, Olympia, WA
 
12.  JOSEPH WAYNE(6) BALLEW (JAMES HARRISON(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born February 02, 1929 in Everett, WA.  He married AUDREY JEAN KILEY September 05, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of JAMES KILEY and ANNA NOLAN.
 
Children of JOSEPH BALLEW and AUDREY KILEY are:
  15. i. JAMES CLETUS(7) BALLEW, b. December 01, 1954, Everett, WA
   ii. THOMAS DAMIAN BALLEW, b. June 04, 1956, Salt Lake City, Utah; m. CATHERINE ROSE PETERSEN, August 12, 1989, LaConner, WA.
  16. iii. DAVID WILLIAM BALLEW, b. February 08, 1959, San Mateo Co., Redwood City, CA.
  17. iv. JENNY CATHLIN BALLEW, b. August 15, 1967, Redwood City, CA..
 
 
Generation No. 7

13.  DAVID PATRICK(7) BALLEW (WARREN JAMES(6), JOHN ALEXANDER(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born April 11, 1955 in Olympia, WA  He married JANET GITTLEN.
 
Children of DAVID BALLEW and JANET GITTLEN are:
   i. ALEXIS KATHERINE(8) BALLEW, b. September 17, 1992, Tacoma, WA
   ii. MARIAH HANORA BALLEW, b. July 12, 1996.
 
14.  CHRISTOPHER WARREN(7) BALLEW (WARREN JAMES(6), JOHN ALEXANDER(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born December 06, 1958 in Olympia, WA  He married LOU HILKEN.
 
Child of CHRISTOPHER BALLEW and LOU HILKEN is:
   i. REGINA SKYE(8) BALLEW, b. March 15, 1997.
 
15.  JAMES CLETUS(7) BALLEW (JOSEPH WAYNE(6), JAMES HARRISON(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born December 01, 1954 in Everett, WA  He married MARY ANN WESTOVER August 12, 1978 in Anchorage, Alaska, daughter of RALPH WESTOVER and BEATRICE WALSH.
 
Children of JAMES BALLEW and MARY WESTOVER are:
   i. BENJAMIN RYAN(8) BALLEW, b. January 10, 1984, Anchorage, AK..
   ii. JEFFREY WESTOVER BALLEW, b. June 20, 1985, Anchorage, AK..
   iii. BRADY JAMES BALLEW, b. July 03, 1992, Everett Hospital, Everett, WA
 
16.  DAVID WILLIAM(7) BALLEW (JOSEPH WAYNE(6), JAMES HARRISON(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born February 08, 1959 in San Mateo Co., Redwood City, CA.  He married DIANA LYNN TRACEY SCHINDLER June 23, 1984 in Fairfax, Va., daughter of JAMES SCHINDLER TRACEY and PAULA CRAIG.
 
Children of DAVID BALLEW and DIANA SCHINDLER TRACEY  are:
   i. JASON CRAIG(8) BALLEW, b. March 30, 1986, Seattle, WA.
   ii. SEAN JOSEPH BALLEW, b. May 10, 1989, Seattle, WA.
   iii. CONNER KILEY BALLEW, b. February 25, 1993, Everett, WA.
 
17.  JENNY CATHLIN(7) BALLEW (JOSEPH WAYNE(6), JAMES HARRISON(5), JAMES A.(4), HARRISON(3), JAMES(2), ELISHA(1)) was born August 15, 1967 in Redwood City, CA.  She married ROSS WILTSE July 20, 1991 in Seattle Washington.
 
Child of JENNY BALLEW and ROSS WILTSE is:
   i. JOSEPH LEE(8) WILTSE, b. December 23, 1993, Seattle.