The eldest child of Henry and Rachel McMullen Ballengee was born in 1806 in Monroe County,
West Virginia (then Virginia). He was married in Sept 1825 to Jane Lilly. She was born in
1804 (8). They moved out of the county by 1830 and are found in the Indiana census in
Wayne County. Another couple was living with them, probably a sister and her husband as they
were both born 1810-15.
After living in Indiana a short time, the family moved to Michigan. The Berrien County
history states, "About the year 1831, Thomas Love and Edward Bal1engee came from Virginia
and opened a store in a small log house which they put up on the hill near where the
Defield house stands. In 1832 the store was destroyed by fire and directly afterward they
built a frame store on the river's bank at what is now the west end of the bridge, a
previous small affair. In 1834 Love and Ballengee erected near their second store a third
one of considerable pretension to size. The firm sold out in 1836-7 to Andrew Murry
and John Wittenmire. (9)
In 1837 Edward was appointed by the county to acquire a loan to build a jail. (10) In 1842
he was living in Berrien Springs and in 1844 he purchased land for a burial ground as a
daughter, Mrs. Nichols and her infant had died. Edward also served as Justice of the Peace
while living in this community. (11)
The 1850 Federal Census of Berrien County, Michigan lists the Edward Ballengee family but
they do not appear in the 1860 census of that county. By the 1850 census, two sons and one
daughter are no longer living in the household. One of these would be Henderson, who was
born in 1829. By the 1860 census the family had moved.
A descendant, William Bilmire writes of Edward Ballengee:
'In 1831 Ed Ballangee and Thomas Love came from VA and opened a mercantile business in a
log house, later built a large frame store building on the bank of the St. Joe River at
the foot of Main Street (Berrien Springs). In 1837 Ed Ballengee was elected first supervisor
of Oranko Twp. In 1843 they moved to Buchanan, a distance of 10 miles away. In 1844 he was
elected supervisor of Buchanan Twp. In 1850 Ed moved to New Buffalo. In 1855 he went to
California to join brothers John and Judge Ballengee. He returned to Michigan in 1866 living
in Buchanan. He was buried in New Troy Cemetery in 1891.
In 1853 six men: John, Judge Ballengee, Julius Catheart, Charles Graves, Evree Dragoo
and Dr. Dragoo left Michigan by ox team on 20th of March and arrived in Placerville,
California (Diamond Springs) 7th of Sept, 1853. I believe John and Judge Ballengee are
brothers of Edward but have no record at this time.'
The children of Edward and Jane Lilly Ballengee are matched to census records:
(1) son b. 1825-30
(2) son b. 1825-30 Henderson b. 1829
(3) dau b. 1825-30
(4) dau.b. 1832 Mary Jane, b in Indiana
(5) dau.b. 1834 Harriat E. born in Michigan
(6) son b. 1837 Erastus
(7) dau.b. 1839 Rachel F.
(8) dau.b. 1843 Henrietta
(9) dau.b. 1847 Esther
There is an interesting letter in our collection written in 1939 to Veva Ballengee by Ruth
Sorenson, a Bellangee researcher. Ruth states, "some one did write to a member of our family
exactly one hundred years ago! in 1839, and I quote:
'A man who signed himself EDWARD BELLANGEE, writing from
Michigan to Aaron Bellangee, of Bordentown, New Jersey, in 1839
says: 'I have no doubt but that we are of the same family, for I
very well recollect hearing my father say that his grandfather's
name was Evi, so that it appears to be quite a favorite name in the family . . . There are
five of us and all are living; our names are as follows: Evi, Edward, Isaac, Sarah Jane and
James the youngest who is 24 years old. All are married but James and most of them live in
Missouri.'" (See Appendix C)
The first child of Edward and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born 1825-30according to census
records. This is all we know at this time.
(2) HENDERSON BALLENGEE
The second child of Edward and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born in 1829 in Wayne Co., Indiana.
He married Minerva in Michigan. He resided in Barrien County until the 1860s. He was a
merchant in Buffalo Township. (12)
William Bilmire, a great-grandson writes: Henderson Ballengee (1829-1900) married Minerva
Hill of Ohio. Their children were Edward D (1858-1912), Warren (my grandfather), Henderson,
Mary Ann.
"Henderson Ballengee was township clerk in New Buffalo Twp; Justice of the Peace in 1864,
near Buffalo. In 1873 he was township clerk in Weesaw Township (New Troy, Mich), township
treasurer in 1876 for Weesaw Twp. He is buried with Edward, Jane and Minerva (wife- 1832-
1906). Julia (1826-1844) wife of O'Nichols is buried in the same plot.
{1} EDWARD A. BALLENGEE
The first child of Henderson and Minerva Hill Ballengee was born ca 1851 in Michigan.
{2} WARREN BALLENGEE
The second child of Henderson and Minerva Ballengee Hill Ballengee was born 1854 in Berrien
Co., Mich. He married Alice Martin (1865-1944). They had five children: Jane, Mary,
John, Irene, and Agnes. All this family were buried in New Troy Cemetery but Agnes.
In 1887 E. S. Curran and Warren Ballengee built the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor Railway.
It was a street car between the cities. 4
The third child of Henderson and Minerva Hill Ballengee was born 1859 in Michigan.
The third child of Edward M. and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born 1825-30 probably in Wayne Co.,
Indiana.
(4) MARY JANE BALLENGEE
The fourth child of Edward M. and Jane Lilly Ba1lengee was born in 1832 in Indiana.
The sixth child of Edward M. and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born in 1837 in Michigan. He may
be the Judge Ballengee who went to California about 1855.
(7) RACHEL F. BALLENGEE
The seventh child of Edward M. and Jane L111y Ballengee was born 1839 in Michigan.
The eighth child of Edward M. and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born in 1843 in Michigan.
The ninth child of Edward N. and Jane Lilly Ballengee was born in 1847 in Michigan.