I. N. BALLOW

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

Our father Ike Newton Ballow (January, 1874-1935) and mother Jessie Gibson (June, 1888-1964) were married in 1909. In a few years the two became a beloved dozen. These additions were: Charles Ernest, Grace Pauline, Hazel Martha, Herman Newton, Marion Edward. Annie Laurie, Ben Joe (deceased, 1979), Margaret Louise, Betty Joyce, and Billy Ralph.

When our father and mother were married, they settled at Joinerville. Other places of residence were New Prospect and Jacobs, always in Rusk County. Eventually as the family grew, they moved to a farm on Bellview Drive at Millville. There were added the last two children. There was never a happier atmosphere for a family of ten children than the one our parents afforded us on the farms where we grew up and learned that work was honorable. We lacked for nothing because we loved and were loved by our parents and one another. We seemed to function within the American spirit based on the premise "united we stand."

The first shadow of sorrow hovered over us in 1935 when our father died, leaving a widow and ten children. The beloved dozen was broken. Lost to us was our example of a man of strength, courage, and principle. If we were united before, we became even closer in the years to follow. Our mother proved to be "the tie that binds" as she guided us children who had been taught independence and dependence. She had a will, a faith, and a determination to go on. Once she said, "I can take my boys and whip Hitler." (W. W. II days). She guided, supervised, and directed the flock to further maturity.

Our mother whose principles we uphold departed this life in 1964, leaving a family of ten with preparation for life. Bereft of a mother, we were still blessed with a second mother, Aunt Grace Carlisle.

Our father was the son of Thomas and Martha Russell Ballow, residents of Panola County. His brothers were Oscar and Bascom. They had one sister Emmy Halton, whose husband and children eventually moved to California.

Our mother was the daughter of James Monroe Gibson and Texanna Lawless Gibson. Other children of that family were Fanny English, Willie Bassett, Lola Smith, Allen Gibson, Maude Price, Grace Carlisle, Joe Gibson, Sr., Jim Gibson, Bernice Gibson, and Mary Heath, the only survivor.

We are a family of varied occupations. We are farmers and ranchers, car and insurance salesmen, nurses, contractors, horticulturists, homemakers, and teachers. Marion and Billy served our country in the military; Marion in World War II and Billy in the Korean Conflict. As time passed, each of us became members of the Millville Baptist Church, where most of us still worship.

Most of our nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews live in Rusk County. These are Charles Ramon Ballow (oldest son of Charles and his wife Mozelle) and his wife Sue and their children, Roger, Lynn, and Susan; Jerry Ballow and his wife, Sylvia, and their children, Jim, a student at A & M and Kim; Bruce, Dave, and Keith Ballow, sons of Billy Ballow and his wife Adelle; and Jo and Mary Ballow ( a student at East Texas Baptist College), daughters of the late Ben Joe Ballow and his wife, Frances, now of Houston. Marion and his wife Thelma live in Henderson.

Those who live away are: Barbara and her husband, Gilbert Baker, and their children, Tony (a student at Tyler Junior College), Tabatha, and Payton, of Jacksonville; Tim Adcock, of Pretoria, South Africa; and Kathy and her husband, Royce Smith of Dallas, children of Louise and her husband Leroy Adcock, of Decatur. Children of Ann and J. O. Tompkins are Gayla Ann, of Dallas, and Joe Ikey, of Los Angeles, California.

Our beloved original dozen has dwindled by three, but today we are a sizable family, united by love for dependence on each other. With the heritage that is ours we face the challenges of the future undaunted.

Submitted by Hazel Ballow