M. R. BALLENGER

The following bio was taken from page 99 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Marcus (Bart) Roland was the son of Tinsley Ballenger, whose father came from Ireland and settled in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, as he was called to Texas when he was about eighteen years of age, after an older brother of his had been in Texas for several years. Bart settled in the Oak Hill Community where he farmed some and also did carpenter work.

He met a very attractive lady, Mollie Edward Livsey, who loved to dance and this pleasure caused a little trouble, because Bart was not a very good dancer. By this time he had moved to Henderson and had gone to work for Mr. H. E. Soape, whose daughter-in-law, Mrs. Frank Soape, was a citizen of this county. Mr. Soape had a saddle shop and Bart Ballenger made the saddles and worked the harness. At this time he and Mollie had their dancing differences worked out and were married April 27, 1893, at the Center Presbyterian Church at Elderville, Texas, by James A. Livsey, a brother of the bride. They made their home in Henderson in an apartment across the street from the Howard-Dickson House.

At this time Bart was working for E. C. Oberthier, who was also in the saddle and harness business. Mr. Ballenger worked for Mr. Oberthier until the First Methodist Church was under construction. He started doing the finishing work on the church. He did carpenter work for the rest of his life.

Bart’s wife, Mollie kept roomers and boarders to help supplement the income to help raise and educate the children that were born to this union. She came from a family that believed in education. She came in contact with people from all walks of life, one in particular, Dad Joiner, who wanted to pay her with a lease on land around the Daisy Bradford Well. At that time, however, the people had lost confidence in Joiner. She came in contact with school teachers, clerks and others from almost every profession. From some she learned many lessons.

Bart and Mollie had the following children: an infant son, March 24, 1894, who died May 17, 1894; Pauline Gibson, born September 3, 1895, who died October 10, 1981; Lois Ballenger Marwil, born August 3, 1897; an infant son born August 25, 1900; Angus L. Ballenger, born March 7, 1903, who died April 25, 1978; Mary Alice B. Mills, born February 4, 1905; Marcus Tinsley Ballenger, born February 10, 1908. The couple also have seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Marcus Roland (Bart) departed this life January 3, 1955 at the age of nine-one, and Mary (Mollie) passed away July 22, 1965 at the age of ninety.

Submitted by Alice B. Mills