Spartanburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 29: The Ballenger Family, 1900

Chapter 29: The Ballenger Family

From the best information obtainable, two brothers, Edward and James Ballenger, migrated to the present of Spartanburg before the outbreak of the Revolution. During that struggle for x-lmerican Liberty they sided with the patriots, were noted Whigs and objects of hatred by the Tory element, so much so that one of these brothers came very near being murdered by " Bloody Bill " Cunningham and his following during his notorious raid to the up-country of South Carolina in November, 1781.*

In the " Genealogy of the Lewis Family of America, " by Wm. Terrell Lewis, page 205, it is stated that Edward (Neddie) Ballenger was a Revolutionary soldier and did good service for his country. He was wounded at the siege of Augusta, was in the battle of Cowpens and many others. He is described as being six feet in stature, was kind and hospitable to his friends, brave and fearless, in battle and uncompromising wuth the Tories. He married Pleasant, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Lockart) Lewis. They had seven children, viz. : Margaret; James, married Mahala Foster; Pressley, married Nancy Dodd ; Larkin, married Elizabeth, daughter of John (Jackey) Wood ; Rebecca Lavina mar Tied Henry Cothran ; Edward J. ; and Elizabeth, married Wm. White. t

Dodson in Virginia, and had sons, John, James (Wagoner Jimmie) , William, Edward (Neddie), Elijah, and daughters, Frances (Frankee), Margaret (Peggy) and Tabitha. Of these sons, John married Alsie Leachman and had children as follows : Joshua, James, Cornier, John, William and two daughters, Sarah and Alice. Joshua, the eldest, married Mary Davis; James married Margaret (Peggy) Turner; John married Rachel Garrett, and William Tabitha Garrett (sisters); Sarah married Benj. Farmer; and Alice married Thomson Davis.

The children of Joshua and Mary (Davis) Ballenger were eight in number, viz. : Elizabeth, Tinsley, Elijah, M argaret, James, Alberry, David and John. Of these, Elizabeth, aged 86, Tinsley, aged 84, Elijah, aged 80, Margaret, aged 76, and John, aged 66, are all living and residing in Greenville county, S. C. The children of J ames C. and Margaret (Turner) Ballenger were, Jinsey, who married John Wheeler; Turner, who never married; Dillingham, who married Saphrona Ponder; Margaret Ann, who married Adolphus Turner; and Peyton, who will receive further notice.

James (Wagoner Jimmie), second son of James Ballenger, born June nth, 1780, married twice : first to Judith Foster, and had five children as follows : Richard, who married Mrs. Elizabeth (Betsey) Snoddy (relict of Isaac Snoddy) ; William, who married first Mary Goodlett, and afterwards to Virginia Owens ; Joel, who married jVIary Murph ; Edward (Neddie), who married Catharine Montgom ery ; Thomas, who married first Mary Wingo, and second Mary Landrum ; and Sarah, who married Nathaniel Dodd. Mrs. J. P. Jackson, of Independence, Mo., is a surviving heir of Nathaniel Dodd. His second marriage was to Susan Davis - no children.

Wingo. The latter surviving, married a second time to Reuben Gramling. By the first marriage there were two sons and one daughter, viz. : Edward (Blacksmith Neddie), Madison and Phateme. The latter married first to Wm. Gentry, and second to Zera Alverson. She had one son by each marriag,e, viz. : Wm. Gentry of Georgia, and Rev. Edward Alverson.

Edward and Elijah, the other sons of the elder James Ballenger, migrated to Missouri, where they died. Of the daughters, Frankie married Isaac Bishop, * Peggie married David Lewis and Tabitha married a Foster.

The entire families of Ballenger have always been honest, upright and true to their country, both in times of peace and in war. Among those who fell in the civil war between the States were four sons of John (son of Joshua) Ballenger, viz. : Jasper, Lewis, Hamilton and John ; Dillingham, son of James C. Ballenger ; one son of Benjamin and Sallie (Ballenger) Farmer, and one son (Thomas) of Thomson and Halie (Ballenger) Davis. To this list might be appropriately added the name of J. Smiley Wheeler, son of Capt. John Wheeler and grandson of James C. Ballenger who was a lieutenant in Company B, 22d Regiment, S. C. V., and who was killed in battle at Jackson, Miss.

Captain Peyton Ballenger

son of James C. and Margaret (Turner) Ballenger, was born near Holly Spring, S- C, December 9th, 1831. He was raised on his father's farm, was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, and has been all his life a progressive citizen and successful farmer.

*This was the Isaac Bishop who, in 1776, was stolen by the Indians after his father had been murdered by them near Shiloh church. ( See Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper S. C, p. 91.)

He entered the Confederate service as a lientenant in Company B, aad Regiment, S. C. V., was in several of the battles in which said regiment was engaged, and was in command of his company for fifteen months. Subsequently he resigned and entered the cavalry branch of the service. He was captured December ist, '64, at Stony Creek, Va., and was carried to Point Lookout, where he was kept until the 23d of June, '65, when he was released. He then returned to his home.

He connected himself with the Baptist Church in early life and has been a deacon in the same for a number of years. No man stands higher in the community in which he lives than Captain

Some time in the fifties he married Carrie, daughter of Colonel Spartan Goodlett of Greenville District, S. C, with whom he lived about twelve years, when she died, leaving six children, viz. : Maggie, who married K. G. Wingo; Carrie, who married P. H. Wheeler; Lula, who married John O. Wingo ; Jas. Smiley, who married Alice Ballenger ; Mary Emily, single, and Spartan Goodlett, dead.

Captain Adam Washington Ballenger

son of Edward B. and Cassia Ann (Hempley) Ballenger, was born near the present town of Inman, S. C, January 17th, 1844. He was raised on his father's farm, and soon after the beginning of hostilities of the civil war between the States he enlisted in Company C, 13th Regiment, S. C. v., and was a sergeant in said company until some time in 1863, when, by order of General R. E. Lee, he was promoted for distinguished gallantry on the battle-field. At the second battle of Cold Harbor, in a charge against the e n e m v when the latter w^ere thrown into confusion and were in the act of retreating, young Ballenger, separating himself from his command and alone, rushed forward and mounted one of the guns of the enemy's artillery. This bold daring caused the driver of the horses conveying the piece to jump off on the tongue between the horses and make his escape out at the end of the tongue. B:dlenger immediately, in order to secure the capture of the gun, jumped off the piece, cut loose the traces and unfastened the off-horse, which he mounted. In returning to his command he met his captain (J. W. Carlisle), who informed him that his brother Joseph was wounded and had been left in the rear. Balleno-er then went in quest of his brother. But in the meanwhile a party of the enemy had whipped around one wing of the Confederate forces, but finding they were liable to be cut off retreated, but carried Joseph Ballenger away with them, who was imprisoned at Point Lookout, and soon died. Lieutenant Ballenger never saw his brother again after he left him before the beginning of the charge.

This gallant conduct on the part of young Ballenger had been witnessed by General McGowen, who sent for him in a day or two afterwards to report to his headquarters. Young Ballenger obeyed orders and reported, having no idea for what purpose he was wanted. On arriving at the headquarters of General McGowen, he was congratulated by the general, who informed him that he had recommended that he be commissioned a first lieutenant. Receiving his commission, he was assigned to Company H of the 13th Regiment, but in a few months thereafter he was appointed to one of the companies of Dunlop's Battalion of Lee's Sharpshooters, three companies of which were made up out of McGowen's Brigade. Here he remained in command of the first company of this organization, rendering distinguished service, until the 27th of March, 1865, when he was severely wounded in the arm and hip on the picket line in front of Pet ersburg. He was conveyed to Richmond, and was there when the surrender at Appomattox took place a few days afterwards. While in the Jackson Hospital at Richmo nd still suffering from his wounds, he was taken with typhoid fever, from which he came very near losing his life. During this time he was visited and administered to by three daughters of General R. E. Lee, a daughter of General Ewell, and Miss Rosa Lee Powers. After some four months of suffering he recovered sufficiently to return home. He was ordered to the State capitol building to take the oath of allegiance. Not relishing this,..

however, he slipped away, bringing with him his army sword, and after walking several miles out of the city he boarded the train, and after many trying difficnlties reached his home in safety.

In 1866 Lieutenant Ballenger married Miss Emma Victoria Wingo. They have had fourteen children, twelve of whom are living, viz. : Melton, married Miss Mattie Morgan; Joel M. ; Mamie, married John Poole, Esq.; Minnie, married Rev. W. F. Sorrels (deceased); Alfred,

Lieut. James Spartan

Among those who served their country with conspicuous gallantry during the civil war between the States was Lieutenant James S. Ballenger, son of "William and Mary (Goodlett) Ballenger, who was born December 13th, 1835. He was raised, for the moetpart, on his father's farm, near Wellford, S. C, and was educated in the schools of his neighborhood.

At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in the service of his native State, and was a sergeant in the Morgan Light Infantry, which was mustered into the service April 13th, 1861, as a part of the 5th Regiment, S. C. V. Six weeks later, however, this company reorganized on Sullivan's Island, S. C, for the Confederate -service, electing Alfred H. Foster, captain ; John M. Ben- son, first lieutenant; and Robert A. Snoddy and Jas, S. Ballenger, senior and junior second lieutenants. The company was known as F, 5th Regiment, S. C. V. Ai the end of twelve months' enlistment the company again reorganized in Virginia, re-electing A. H. Foster captain. Lieutenant Benson was promoted in another service. Lieutenant Snoddy was made first lieutenant, and James S. and Richard D. Ballenger, senior and junior second lieutenants. The company, known afterwards as Company D, formed a part of Colonel Jenkins's regiment of Palmetto Sharpshooters. In 1863 Lieutenant Snoddy died of wounds at Campbell's Station, Tenn., and James S. Ballenger rose by promotion to first lieutenant of his company, which position he held to the end of the war. He was never wounded, but participated in nearly or quite all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. Limited space will not allow here a detailed account of the horoic service he rendered his country in her time of greatest peril.

Returning home from the army he settled down, and has lived the quiet life of a farmer, never having aspired to political life. He is, however, an honest, upright and progressive citizen and exemplary deacon of the Baptist Church.

In 1863 ^^ married Mary Amaryllis, daughter of Rev. J. G. Landrum. They have four living children, viz. : Minnie (Mrs. Hester), Carrie (Mrs. Smiley Ballenger), Broadus, and Lida (Mrs. John Jones).

son of William and Mary Ballenger and brother 6f James S. Ballenger, was numbered among the long and countless list of gallant heroes that gave up their lives in defense of the "Lost Cause." He was -born in 1837, and . had reached the best years of his manhood when he en- listed in the service of his country, being among the very first to vohmteer. He was elected second lieutenant of Company D, Palmetto Sharpshooters, upon the reorganization of the Southern army in Virginia in 1862,. and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, including the great battle of the Wilderness, where he was mortally wounded ]\Iay 6th, 1864..

He died from his wounds at Orange Court-house a iew days afterwards. No braver spirit ever offered up his life to his country. Let not his memory be forgotten in the annals of his country's history.

Silas Benson

trict. He was educated in the best schools that could be afforded in his day and time, but possessed by nature an ingenious turn of mind, and was by occupation a machinist and millwright. He was a model citizen, honest, industrious and progressive, and well-informed on all the current topics of the day.

He married Nancy Miller, daughter of John Miller, and granddaughter of Michael IMiller, a woman of domestic accomplishments and exemplary piety ; both she and her husband were consistent members of the Baptist Church.

Not many years after this marriage Mr. Benson removed to Spartanburg District settling on North Tyger River, about three miles east of Wellford, where he erected a merchant flouring-mill, and in connection therewith he conducted the business of sawmilling and wool-carding. The latter proved a great convenience to the surrounding country during tlie civil war, and especially to many of the soldiers in the army, who were dependent for clothing and blankets made at home.

By the marriage of Silas and Nancy (Miller) Benson a family of the highest respectability was reared, the eldest of whom was Rosa, who married Colonel S. AI. Snoddy (see sketch) ; the second, Narcissa, who never married ; the third. Captain W. A. Benson, who will receive further notice ; the fourth, Frances, who married Wm. G. High; the fifth, Harriet, who married a Mr. Roe of Greenville county, S. C; the sixth, Captain John M. Benson of Wellford, S. C, who married Aliss Fannie Bernard of Richmond, Va.; the seventh, Nancy Marinda, who married Wm. B. Bennett, a lieutenant in Co. G, loth Arkansas Volunteers, during the civil war, who was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, necessitating the amputation of a part of one foot ; the eighth, Margaret, who married Isaac Nesbitt; the ninth, Robert, who died referred to as the son of Silas and Nancy Benson, was born May 24th, 1831. He was bronght up on his father's homestead and attended the schools of his neighborhood. He was very industrious in his business habits, and possessing an active mind and a vigorous constitution, he bid fair to have a long and useful life before him. Some time in the fifties he united in marriage with Martha, eldest daughter of William and Mary ( Goodlett ) Ballenger. By this marriage three children were born, viz. : INIary, present wife of James D. Norman, master in equity, Spartanburg, S. C ; Alexander Benson of Greers, S. C, and John Benson of Wellford, S. C. Soon after the outbreak of the civil war between the States Captain Benson volunteered in Co. B, 2 2d Regiment, S. C. V. This company, of which John Wheeler was its first captain, was made up, for the most part, of material from Spartanburg District, with a few volunteers from Greenville District. Captain Benson in course of time was elected as one of its lieutenants, and upon the resignation or discharge of Captain Robert G. Fleming, who was severelv wounded in a fight between Richmond and Petersburg, May 2 2d, 1864, he became captain of his company, which position he held at the time of his death, which occurred in the trenches near Petersburg, June 1 8th, 1864, caused by the explosion of a shell from the enemy's batteries in his front.

His immediate successor in office was Captain Geo. B. Lake (see sketch), who, with thirty-three men in said company, was covered up in the crater caused by mine explosion near the same place the following month (July 30th), from which Captain Lake and two other men were dug out alive.

The writer was born and reared within one and a fourth miles of the home of Captain Benson. He attended the same school with him, and is perfectly familiar with the excellent traits that belonged to his character. A purer patriot or a more gallant hero never drew his sword in defence of his country than Willis Alexander Benson, whom his descendants and the generations that are to come after him should remember with pride.