Ballard, Edward 1878-1940 & Elizabeth Smith Family

BALLARD, SMITH, VOSS

Posted By: Sarah Theis (email)
Date: 9/20/2024 at 09:53:13

Ballard, Edward 1878-1940 & Elizabeth Smith Family

This story was taken from page 60 of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Book 1886-1996. It was transcribed by Sarah Theis for the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes have been added.

Edward Ballard was born on August 30, 1878 at St. Louis, Missouri. He married Elizabeth Smith of Brighton, New York. She was born on February 29, 1882. They were married on May 8, 1906 at Granville, Iowa by Fr. Gerlemann. Edward died on June 22, 1940 and Elizabeth died on April 30, 1968. Edward worked with carpenters and helped build St. Joseph’s Church. They later farmed. Their children are: Andrew (deceased), Bert (deceased), Grayce Auernheimer and Hazel Westhusing.

(end of the story in the St. Joseph’s Church Book)

RESEARCH Notes – from a family history report on ancestry.com submitted by other than this submitter. Also from this website and findagrave.com

Edward John Ballard born 30 August 1878 (the birth date listed on his draft card is 31 August 1878 and in an obituary on this website) in St. Louis, Missouri died 22 June 1940 in Granville, IA. His parents are unknown, he was listed as an orphan in St. Louis in the 1880 census. Both parents are listed as being born in Missouri, his father’s name starting with an N. Edward married Elizabeth Smith on 8 May 1906 in Sioux County, IA. All submitter found on Edward’s parents is that his father was N. Ballard and both parents born in MO.

Elizabeth Smith born 28 February 1882 in New York died 28 April 1968 in Granville, IA. Her parents were Frederick John Smith born 15 July 1845 in Germany died 11 April 1921 in O’Brien County, IA and Elizabeth Louise Voss born 1853 died 1900 in Germantown, O’Brien County, IA. Edward and Elizabeth had four children.

CHILDREN of Edward Ballard and Elizabeth Smith

1. Andrew Ballard born 12 January 1907 in IA died 5 April 1979 in Cherokee, IA. He married Celestine Alesch 26 January 1932 in Granville, IA. Celestine born 21 July 1912 in Marcus, Cherokee, IA died 16 January 1980 in Marcus, Cherokee, IA. They had one son, Gerald.

2. Bert Edward Ballard born 3 April 1909 in Granville, IA died 17 July 1974, buried in Granville, IA. Bert married Charlotte Mae Graff on 26 April 1939 in Sioux City, IA. Charlotte born 8 February 1919 in Granville, IA died 28 June 1989 in a Tyndall nursing home. They had six sons and two daughters. See obituary on this website.

3. Grayce Violet Ballard born 8 March, 1913 in Caledonia Twp, O’Brien County, IA died 27 April 2005 in Hillsboro, Oregon. Grace married Harold Carl Auernheimer 3 December 1976 in Los Angeles, CA. Harold born 23 September 1914 in Burrton, KS died 18 August 2007 in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon. In the obit of her mother in 1968 she was Grace Ballard living in Ingelwood, California. 1950 Grayce V. Ballard age 37 born 1913 Iowa, was living in Centinela, L A. CA. She was a Telephone Operator.

4. Hazel Elizabeth Ballard born 15 November 1914 in Granville, IA died 27 August 2004 in Woodbury County, IA. Hazel married David Westhusting 3 June 1948 in Marcus, IA. David was born 9 September 1908 in Germantown, Missouri, the son of Louis and Theresa (Teeman) Westhusing died 22 February 2004 in rural Moville, IA. Hazel and David had two daughters, Marsha and Sherry.

OBITUARY of Edward J Ballard 1878-1940

From the Alton Democrat, July 5, 1940, Granville news:
Edd Ballard, 61, passed away very suddenly Saturday, June 22, at his farm home southeast of Granville. Although he had not been well for about a year he was able to be up and around most every day. Five weeks ago he went to Rochester, Minn., where he spent five days at the Mayo clinic. The family was aware that Mr. Ballard had an incurable ailment but were unprepared for the shock of so sudden a death.
Mr. Ballard had made many friends during the last forty-five years of his life spent near Granville as was evidenced by the large number of floral offerings and the hundreds in attendance at the funeral.
Edd Ballard was born Aug. 31, 1879, at St. Louis, Mo. He was enrolled in the St. Louis orphanage at a very early age. While still a child he was fortunately given a home with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wilpers of Wein, Mo. Due to the death of Mrs. Wilpers, it was thought best that Edd be given a home by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Denkof where he remained until he came to Granville at the age of 16. He farmed out in this community and learned something of the carpenter trade which he followed exclusively the first 3 years after his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Smith on May 8, 1906. Then Mr. and Mrs. Ballard moved to the home place which he had farmed for 31 years previous to his passing.
Mr. Ballard was the father of four children, Andrew of Marcus, Bert and Grace of Granville and Hazel of Marcus. The family also raised a niece of Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. John Poldervaaret (Blanche) who spent 17 years in the Ballard home. Besides the widow and four children, he leaves to mourn two grandchildren, Gerald and Joyce Ann Ballard.
Funeral services were held at St. Joseph’s church Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock with Rev. Zeno Reising officiating. Pallbearers were the following neighbors: Henry and John Ahlers, Carl Kuehn, Joe Kestel, Harry Peckinscheider and Earl Miller. Interment was made in St. Jos. Cemetery.
Immediate relatives and close friends from out of town in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Will Smith of New Hampton, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Pringhar; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith, Paullina; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smith, Cherokee; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smith, Granville; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Voss, Worthington, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Voss, Sr., Paullina; Mr. and Mrs. John Engelhart and Josephine Glessner of Sheldon.
OBITUARY of Grace Mrs. Edward Ballard 1882-1968
Source: Le Mars Daily Sentenial of May 1, 1968 Mrs. Edward Ballard, 86, Marcus died Tuesday at a Cherokee hospital after a long illness. Elizabeth Schmidt was born Fe. 22, 1882, at Brighton, N.Y. and moved to Granville as an infant with her parents. She was married to Mr. Ballard, May 8, 1906. He died June 1940. Funeral services will be at 10 am. Thursday at Holy Name Catholic church, Marcus, with Rev. Robert O’Reilly officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph cemetery under direction of the Nelson funeral home.
Survivors are two sons, Andrew of Marcus, Bert of Granville; two daughters, Mrs. David Westhusing of Granville, and Grace Ballard of Inglewood CA., a brother, William Schmidt, New Hampton, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Picture of Edward and Elizabeth Ballard from page 60 of St. Joseph’s church book.