WILLIAM BEATY (BILLY) BALLENGER

The following bio was taken from page 100 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

The Ballenger family history has been traced back to Ireland. They migrated from Germany to England, to Farquhuar, Virginia, to North Carolina, then to Spartanburg County and to Pickens County, South Carolina. Tinsley Ballenger, son of Joshua Ballenger and Mary Davis, lived in the old family home in Spartanburg County until 1835 when they moved into upper Greenville County. Eleven children were born to this couple: J. H. Ballenger, William Beaty, Marcus R., Lewis M., Prater S., Frances, Sarah, Eva, and Jincie. Two children died young.

William Beaty (Billy) Ballenger, born September 1, 1861, son of Tinsley Ballenger and Mary Rector, came to Rusk County in 1884. He married Abbie Turner, born September 14, 1867, daughter of A. B. Turner and Elizabeth Ballenger. They lived close to the Turner farm for two years and made a crop, then moved to Stewart Community. They lived on Lee’s creek one year and on the Ned Gray place. In 1903 he bought a farm in Oak Hill. Cotton was the big crop for many years with a gin right there in Oak Hill.

Billy and Abbie had twelve children. Fred, born in 1886, married Bonnie Cole. She lives in Henderson, is ninety-three years old, and enjoys visiting with friends and relatives. Lewis, born in 1888, married Dora Burton. They had a son, Audry and a daughter, Betty Jane. Lawrence Winn (Bob), born in 1890, married Gladys Standard and had one son, Robert Lee. Mary Elizabeth, born in 1891, married Clyde Carlisle Thrasher. They had a daughter, Ida Louise, and a son, William Langston. She then married Alton Peterson. Syd William, born in 1893, married Ronda Baughman. Nina, born in 1895, married Ernest Waller and then Carl Grambling. Randolph, born in 1897, married Martha Standard. They had one daughter, Abbie Legene, and one son, Raymond Hudson. Wren, born in 1898, married Neely Carlisle. They had two daughters, Rena Fay and Ruby Lois. A. B., born in 1900, married Rose Lee Burk. They had one son, Dan, and one daughter, Patricia Ann. Nettie, born in 1902, married Rosa Bennett. They had two sons, Edwin and Melvin, and one daughter, Drucilla. James, born in 1904, married Lillian Bailey. They had a daughter, Billy Sue, and a son, Jimmy West. Gus T., born in 1906, married Mary Ellen Waller. They had three daughters – Abielene, Billie Ruth, and Inell. Laurine, born in 1908, married Vernon Pepper. They had two sons, Boyd and Bobby. She then married Clifford Waller.

Abbie Ballenger died May 15, 1919 and is buried at Prospect Cemetery. Billy lived in Oak Hill most of his life. In 1940 he moved into Henderson to live with his daughter, Laurine, and husband, Clifford Waller. He lived there until his death January 21, 1952. He also is buried in Prospect Cemetery.

One son, Gus T., served in World War II in the Army Air Corps. Six grandsons also served. Langston Thrasher served in the 7^th Cavalry; Robert Lee Ballenger, Army; Raymond Hudson Ballenger, Army Air Corps; Boyd Pepper; Air Force; Bobby Pepper, Navy; and Terry Thrasher, Army.

Several grandchildren still live in Rusk County. Langston Thrasher married Doris Roden and lives in Henderson. Louise Thrasher married Graham Allen and also lives in Henderson. Hudson, son of Randolph, lives in Henderson. Melvin Bennett, son of Nettie and Roscoe Bennett, lives in Oak Hill. Dan and Pat, A. B.’s and Rosa Lee’s children, live in Henderson along with Rosa Lee. Abielene Claxton, daughter of Gus T., lives in Henderson.

Submitted by Ballenger family.