Transcribed by Gary Jenkins
There were two
articles in this issue of the Times
This being the
article that began on page12.
October 22, 1953 Reprinted April 5, 1979
* CAL’S COLUMN *
Below is a copy of a letter we have recently received from our first cousin, one removed, Miss Sally Ballou, in Washington. We appreciate the information contained therein. The letter follows:
104 West Clifton Terrace
Washington, D.C.
October 10, 1953
Elder Calvin Gregory
Lafayette, Tennessee
Dear Calvin:
I am sending you two letters written by Diogenes Ballou just after
enlisting in the Confederate Army. Five
of the seven sons of Lorenzo Dow and Mary Read Kittrell Ballou were Confederate
volunteers. They were: William A. Ballou, Leonidas L. (Lon) Ballou,
Diogenes Ballou, Anthony Shelby Ballou, and Rufus C. (Ward) Ballou. The Ballous of our family were Whigs. Diogenes Ballou was seriously considering
enlisting in the Union Army but when Governor Harris issued a proclamation
calling for volunteers to come to the defense of Tennessee and of the other
Southern States in distress, he joined a company being formed by Captain Hart, of Carthage.
William A. Ballou was
discharged because of physical disability due to falling from a wagon when a
small child. He was well-read, an
interesting talker and was the father of a son, Leonard. He died March 21, 1894.
Leonidas W. (Lon) Ballou
was captured and for three years confined in Rock Island Prison, Rock Island,
Illinois. There he had smallpox,
surviving while thousands died of it and starvation. He had begun the study of medicine but never resumed it after
being released from prison at the close of the war. He was not married. He
died January 28, 1907. Diogenes Ballou
was a teacher expecting to study law.
He died July 3, 1863 in Staunton, Virginia, and was buried there in a
soldier's grave. Those remembering and
speaking of him would mention his superior intelligence. He was not married.
Anthony Shelby Ballou had
a harness and saddle store in Glascow, Kentucky. The last heard of him was a letter saying he was seriously ill in
a temporary hospital for Confederate soldiers, Nashville, Tennessee. Records of those days not being complete, it
was presumed he died about that time.
He was not married.
Grandmother Ballou's house
was said to have been the first in Smith County robbed by Union soldiers. One of them asked her for money, and when
she asnwered that she had none, he threw a burning newspaper under a bed. She grabbed a broom and swept it out,
whereupon he hit her on the head with a pistol. That night Rufus C. (Ward) Ballou, age fifteen at the time, left
home and joined the Confederate calvary, serving under General Nathan Bedford
Forrest. He was a man of great natural
ability and had he applied himself, might have had an outstanding career. He married Tenie Trousdale Bowman, daughter
of Robert and Elizabeth Moore Bowman and was the father of five children: Keturah (married Will Bowles), Elisabeth
Ward, Helen Read, Sally, and Louis Trousdale.
He died September 2, 1907.
Because of interest in
family lore, I send you these facts regarding the soldier sons of Lorenzo Dow
Ballou.
With all good wishes,
SALLY BALLOU
Nashville Fair Grounds
Nashville, Tennessee
July 3, 1861
Mr. Leonidas W. Ballou
Dear Lon:
You see from the way I
commence this letter that we are encamped at the Nashville Fair Grounds. I do not know why unless it is on account of
the sickness at Camp Trousdale as I understnad there is considrable at that
camp; or it may be due to the fact that Captain Hart and his company do not
expect to unite with other companies in forming a regiment but to be an
independent company or the bodyguard of General Anderson.
We had a good time coming
down -- salutes and cheering all the way.
Major Burford addressed us at Dixon Springs, informing us that the
citizens there had made preparations to entertain us for the night; but Sergeant
Cornwell, in the absence of Captain Hart and the lieutenants, thanked him and
we went on to Hartsville where we were divided into squads and generously
entertained by the hospitable people.
Baxter Smith addressed us
at Gallatin where I was taken sick but am now about well. Several of the boys have been sick but are
now better. It is thought by Dr.
Cornwell and other knowing men that those of us who get over this little spell
may stand a better chance to go through the summer campaign with little more
sickness.
Here come Captain Hart and
Dr. Cornwell on the upper walkway on which I sit to write, on the level with
the top seat around the fair grounds.
They ask me to remember them to the people back home which message I
pass along. Captain Hart says, and Dr.
Cornwell endorses it, that I am a right good boy. You may say to Uncle and Aunt that Billy (Wakefield) is well and
has been all the time. Ed and John
Porter have been sick but are well now you may tell their friends. Some of the boys I promised to take care of
are older and larger than I am. My mess
mates are Ed Porter, John Porter, H.W. Winkler, Jesse Beasley, and Arch
Fergusson.
I do not know how long we
may be here. It may be months, weeks,
or days. I have no idea when we may
leave or where we may go. There are
three other companies here. Two cavalry
companies have left since I came here.
Write immediately and tell me about my crops, stock, and girls.
Yours affectionately,
DIOGENES BALLOU
---------------------
Camp Anderson
July 19, 1861
Mr Leonidas W. Ballou
Dear Lon:
I received your letter per
Hiett at ten o'clock yesterday and was truly glad to hear that all is well at
home. I had hoped to learn that my
wheat was threshed as I was anxious to know how much I made, but I need not
concern myself with such matters; and taking this view of it, rely entirely on
you to manage things there for me. I
just leave everything to your management.
Yesterday when Heitt came
we were at the railroad with all our things bundled up to start, but were
delayed. We leave by ten o'clock A.M.
for East Tennessee or Virginia -- I don't know which. We are an independent company, the bodyguard of General Anderson,
and go with him. We are armed with
Mississippi rifles. They are large,
short guns of great range. We were
unable to get uniform hats and refused to wear caps. I and others having good hats will wear them and those whose hats
are worn out will be given new ones. As
to military matters, I know but little more than when I left home, but expect
to learn all I can about them. I can
now inform you that the soldier's life in the main is not a pleasant one.
You speak of joining
Doctor Haynie’s company, I would say to you that under some circumstances there
is patriotism in remaining at home.
Such circumstances might justly be said to surround you. Therefore, were I in your place, I wouldn't
leave home just now.
Ed Turner sends his
compliments. The cars will be here in a
few minutes to take us off. I will
write again when we reach another camp.
Yours affectionately,
DIOGENES BALLOU
_______________________
There were two
articles in this issue of the Times
This being the
article that began on page10.
* CAL’S COLUMN *
We recently found some
additonal information on the Hargis family, of which we gave a lengthly write-up
some weeks ago. The following will is
on file at Carthage and mentions one Herod Hargis and his wife Elizabeth Barton
Hargis. We confess that we do not
recognize Herod Hargis. If any reader
of the paper knows who Herod Hargis was, or where he lived, please write us.
SETTLEMENT WITH TAMSON BARTON, Guardian.
State of Tennessee, Smith County
Pursuant to an order from
the County Court of Smith County, we have proceeded to settle with Tamson
Barton, Guardian of the children of Benjamin Barton, deceased; and report as follows, towit:
No. 1, Elizabeth Barton's
Receipt ------------ $77.07
No. 2, Sam'l S Stockard, for his wife,
Tamson, formerly
Tamson Barton ---- $77.07
No. 3, Ann Barton-------------------------------- $77.07
No. 4, John Barton ------------------------------- $77.07
_____
$308.28
Given under our hand, this
6th day of August, 1825. May Term,
County Court, 1839. The will follows:
Tamzer Barton's will
Know all men by those presents that I, Tamzer Barton, of the county of
Smith and the State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do
make and ordain this, my last will and testament. In the name of God, Amen!
That is to say I give to
my daughter, Elizabeth Hargis, the whole remainder of my estate after my
death. My reason for doing this is that
for many years past, I have been in bad health at times, insomuch my situation
has required the particular attention of some friend. This attention has been rendered by my said daughter, Elizabeth,
while my other children have entirely neglected (me).
Having therefore lived
with my said daughter, Elizabeth, for the past years and during which time she
and her husband, Herod Hargis, have treated me with the greatest kindness and
attention; and, furthermore, my said daughter, Elizabeth, "is got"
weakly and not so well provided for as my other children are, therefore, it is
my wish that my said daughter, Elizabeth, have the whole of the estate I may
possess at the time of my death, which will not more than remunerate her for
her trouble and attention to me, my estate at this time being worth only about
four hundred dollars.
I, therefore, for the
reasons as stated above, give and bequest to her, my said daughter, Elizabeth,
all my estate and every part and parcel thereof, to herself and heirs
forever. In testamony whereof I have
hereto set my hand and seal this 25th day of November, 1831.
Tamzer Barton
In the presence of D. W. Merritt, William Martin, John Rankin, Cyrus W. Brevard, Sol. DeBow, F. Uhles, J.F. Hibbetts.
We have no information as to who Mentlow was, nor John Rankin, F. Uhles
or Solicitor DeBow. William Martin was
a resident of Dixon's Creek, and one of the county's mot prominent men. He resided at the present Cato for many
years. He also gave the ground on which
the old brick church house at Dixon's Creek is now located. It consisted of five acres of land, nearly level
but sloping very gently to Dixon's Creek.
Cyrus W. Brevard is
supposed to be a son of John Brevard, who lived 150 years ago just below the
present Hillsdale, the old house then on a hillside that is now a field. Not far from the old family burial ground in
which we find one member of the family identified as to her last resting place,
Polyxena Brevard, who died about 1840.
J.F. Hibbetts was perhaps a son of Squire Hibbetts, a member of the county Court as early as 1800, and who lived on the lower end of the present Carter Branch on the farm now occupied by Jim Burrow. He and his wife are buried in an old cemetery on the Burow farm. The present Hibbetts' Gap at the extreme upper end of Pumpkin Branch, is supposed to have received its name from the Squire Hibbetts, who lived on the waters of Big Goose Creek more than a century and a half ago.