The late James G. Ballinger, who was born and reared on a farm,
devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until his death on the
26th of May, 1909. He was born in Kentucky on the 29th of October, 1852,
a son of John Herondon and Elizabeth (Tuggle) Ballinger, also natives of
the Blue Grass state. During the childhood of our subject the parents
came to Illinois settling in Macoupin county. The father, who was a
Christian minister, bought a farm in Nilwood township, that he improved
and cultivated until 1879, at the same time continuing to preach the
gospel. During the latter years of their lives both the father and
mother made their home with their son James G., and there they passed
away. Mr. Ballinger was eighty-three years, nine months and nine days at
the time of his demise, which occurred on the 20th of November, 1895,
while his wife was seventy-eight years, nine months and twenty-seven
days old when she died on the 16th of January, 1894.
As James G.
Ballinger was a very small lad when his parents brought him to Macoupin
county he spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth on his
father’s farm, his educational advantages being confined to such as were
afforded by the district schools of that period. He had a very good
voice and for many years during his early manhood conducted singing
schools in the country, although his main energies were devoted to the
work of the farm. In 1883 with his wife and family he removed to Morgan
county, Illinois, where he bought a farm that he improved and cultivated
for twelve years. Disposing of it at the expiration of that period he
returned to Macoupin county and for five years thereafter cultivated a
rented farm in Nilwood township. In 1903 he bought ninety acres of land
in Shaws Point township, whereto he removed his family, continuing to
make that his home until he died. He subsequently extended his holdings
by the addition of a ten-acre timber tract, making his realty aggregate
one hundred acres. Mr. Ballinger was still in his prime at the time he
passed away being but fifty-six years, six months and twenty-seven days
old.
On the 6th of November, 1879, was celebrated the marriage
of Mr. Ballinger and Miss Eliza Sharp, a daughter of Benjamin and
Emeline (Fite) Sharp, natives of Tennessee. The father came to Macoupin
county at an early day with his parents, who entered some government
land that they operated until their death. When old enough to begin to
work for himself Mr. Sharp devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits
for which he had been trained from his earliest boyhood. He remained
with his parents until their death, following which he cultivated the
old homestead for himself until his demise on the 14th of May, 1907, at
the age of seventy years, six months and twenty-two days. Mrs. Sharp was
fifty years three months and nine days when she passed away on the 3d of
December, 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger have been born five children:
Oliver, aged thirty-one, who is operating a farm in Shaws Point township
that belongs to his mother; Elbert Lester, who is twenty-nine, living at
home; Lizzie E., now twenty-seven, the wife of Fred Arter, a farmer of
Shaws Point township, Bessie Belle, who is twenty-five, the wife of Oren
Crabtree, a mral mail earner at Atwater; and Josephine Justina, who is
twenty-three and living at home, with her mother.
Mr. Ballinger
attended the Christian church, with which his wife and family are
affiliated, and he was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He was a strong adherent of the principles of the democratic party, for
whose candidates he cast his ballot. The political activities of the
township always engaged his interest and he served as township
commissioner and school director for many years. He belonged to that
class of men who do not become so self-centered in the development of
their personal matters as to exclude all interest in public affairs, but
was always conscientious in the discharge of his duties as a citizen of
the community.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 502-503.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022