The second child of Henry and Rachel McMullen Ballengee was born 1807 in Monroe County,
Virginia. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of John H. Rollyson, in June of 1826. Isaac
Garten helped post bond. (4)
In 1827 they moved to Michigan where their eldest child was born. They did not remain there
long but went back down to Wayne County, Indiana until about 1835. There was some
construction going on in the county at the time which may have attracted the family. A canal
was being built.
Early Missouri land records show that Evi purchased land in what became Miller County in
1830. This was about the time that his father, Henry, brought his family to Missouri.
Perhaps Evi helped the family in this move and then brought his own out about five years
later.
Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County, Missouri (p.131) reads:
"In 1850 something happened to the men of Miller county, a strange malady, called Gold fever,
touched the adult inhabitants, making them very restless. Nuggets of gold were reported on
and under the ground in the western foothills of the Sierras, giving poorer men the greatest
opportunities ever known. Miller countians joined the fierce rush over the plains to
California. Rachel Berry was at the house of James Z, W. Witten, and wife, Parallee, lived
on the Osage river, southeast from present day Mary's Home; James having resided on the place
since 1838 . . . He mortgaged this fine farm to raise money for the overland trip to
California. The night before leaving, Wilburn Robbins and Evi Ballengee were there. Rachel
Berry said: 'The nite befor James started fur calaforney, I hurd the parties taulk about
renting fur to years, that he wud cum back a weithy man.' Her husband told her that she
should do the best she could for herself while he was gone and that he had rented the farm
to Evi Ballengee, 'provided Evi does not go to California, he is to take the whole farm, sow
one field to wheat, and plant the balance in corn or oats. He is to give the corn three good
plowings, with three furrows in each row, and one good hoeing, and deliver one third of all
the grain raised on the farm in the crib where directed by me,' Parallee concluded."
One group of these 49ers returned to Miller County about 1853. Perhaps it was then that Evi
decided to go west, or perhaps much later. At any rate, he also caught the gold fever and
left with an ox train. It took the caravan two years to reach their destination. There were
bridges to build and many reverses. While in California he sent money home three times. He
finally headed for home by boat around South America through the Straits of Magellan, to
Galveston, thence on to Sherman, Texas, to the home of Thomas and Virginia Samuel, his
daughter and son-in-law.
Evi and Elizabeth had eight children, Loretta Elizabeth, James A., Esther, Martha, Henry,
John H., Emily and Virginia. It is family tradition that two Sons went south to join the
Civil War and never returned. These would probably be John and Henry.
When James Isaac Ballengee began this research project, he searched for Evi's records and
family. He said that three boys joined the Southern army, one was later killed in a railroad
well cave-in, in old Mexico. One of the girls died by swallowing a common pin off a clothes
line, while living in Kansas. One girl and her mother, Elizabeth, died when Evi was away in
California. This was all he could learn about Evi's family.
In 1860 Evi's family was living in Equality township in Miller Co., MO. Elizabeth was 58
and with her was John H., Emily and Virginia age 12.
I wrote to you today to let you know that I am in reasonably good health with exception of
a bad cold and I trust this may find you enjoying the same. I would of wrote you sooner, I
have been so nervous that I could not write, that you could make any sense of it and not
better yet.
We have had a very hard winter so far the coldest winter ever known since Texas has been
settled. Stock in general looks bad and great many cattle will die for want of food. Our
cattle look bad and we have been feeding for three months. We raised four hundred Busels
corn from eight acres of land and four bales of cotton off six acres of land which we sold
for eleven cents per pound at home.
Let me know whether you are married or not and where Tommy is living and if you intend
makeing your home in Missouri. I never would advise you to Texas without coming to see the
country. Thomas has done verry well since he came here by helping. I have all that I can do
at present. I am still stopping with him. I expect as soon as the spring opens to go to the
railroad as I am skilled in making rails. The road will run within seven miles of where we
are liveing. I have some eight months as a foreman.
Now Pat, tell us whether you are married or not, and if you are, what your prospects are
for futer and how Tommy and your Sister is getting along. Patrick I cannot boast much on
Texas, only that it is good graising country. Give my respects to your brother and sister,
all inquiring friens and accept to your self my best wishes.
Thomas and Virginia sends best respects to you. Write soon and direct your letters to Texas
in the care of Colonel Reaves.
N.B. I would advise you as any boddy else wishing to move here to come and see before
moving.
Evi died shortly after writing this letter. He was buried in the Ballengee cemetery near
Sherman at the age of 65. His coffin was made in the Samuel Furniture factory near Sherman,
Texas. We do not know that he ever returned to Missouri and his family there.
1. This is recorded in a small book known as Minister's Returns. The bond is filed in
File No. 1, Jacket No. 339.
2. Olivia Farley Anderson, 7300 Burdette Court, Bethesda, MD
3. Monroe Co. Court Marriage Records. File #4, Jacket No. 2503.
4. Ibid, File #4-B, Jacket No. 2648.
5. Ibid, Bk F-4, Jacket No. 2752.
6. Monroe County Deed Book.
7. Miller County, Missouri Will Book A, p.1, See App. C.
8. Monroe County Marriage Book F-4, Jacket No. 2503
9. Berrien Van Buren County History. 1880. P. 281.
10. Ibid., p. 134.
11. Berrien County Directory and History. 1871, p.252-3.
12. Census Records of Berrien County, Michigan.