Advertisement

Joseph Henry Ballew

Advertisement

Joseph Henry Ballew

Birth
Lyon County, Nevada, USA
Death
14 Aug 1952 (aged 73)
Butte County, California, USA
Burial
Chico, Butte County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Hall of Faith, East wall
Memorial ID
View Source
"Joseph Henry Ballew. The city of Chico is the abode of a large number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early age and whose natural abilities were strengthened by contact with the world, thus gaining for them the esteem of their associates. Such a man is 'Harry' Ballew, as he is familiarly known to the citizens of Chico. He was born in Sweetwater, NV, November 11, 1878, a son of Richard Jackson Ballew of whom more extended mention is made in this work. Grandfather Ballew was killed by Indians on the Humboldt road while en route to Nevada.

"The oldest of five children born to his parents, Harry Ballew was reared in Butte County and attended the public schools at Magalia, Lovelock and Centerville. His father was taken sick when Harry was seventeen and he had to leave school to assist with the work in the saw-mill, remaining with his father for the following seven years. He then started out for himself and worked at different occupations until coming to Chico. He secured employment with the Northern Electric Railway, in the electrical department of their shops at Sacramento, installing motor generators. This he continued to do until he engaged in the transfer business in 1908, when he purchased the business from John Taber. The equipment consisted of a one-horse wagon. He had to begin at the bottom, but he devoted his entire time to his calling and soon had a paying business, having two teams and wagons busy all the time. As motor trucks came into use, he realized that he would have to keep up with the times and at once bought a truck. This was in 1913, and he has increased his efficiency, now being owner of a three-and-one-half-ton truck and doing heavy hauling all over Butte County, and into Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama Counties. He is making a decided success of his venture and is increasing his scope of operations month by month. When it is remembered that he began with a small wagon and one horse, less than ten years ago, and is now owner of a fine Garford truck, with business calling him to all parts of this section of country, it will be seen that his close application to business has been the secret of his success.

"Harry Ballew married on August 21, 1910, in Chico, to Miss Easley Lillian Blasingame. She was born at Dawsonville, GA, a daughter of John Stevens Blasingame, who had come to California, via Cape Horn when he was a lad of sixteen. Here he engaged in mining, and here me met and married Rose Sullivan, a native of New York State. She came with her parents to California, via Panama, first settling in Nevada County, where her father was engaged in the butcher business, obtaining his stock in various parts of the Sacramento Valley. Mr. Blasingame returned to Georgia where he lived for twenty years. He had become a mining expert and was employed as superintendent of mines for a number of years, when, on account of failing health, he came to California and located in Gilroy. Later he was mining at Georgetown, but again on account of ill health, he went back to Gilroy, where he died. His widow lived in Butte County. Of their ten children, nine are living namely: Clara, Mrs. J. A. Peck, of Chico; Easley Lillian, Mrs. Ballew; Ida, Mrs. Mathias, of Chico; Willette, Mrs. M. Enos, of Sacramento; Roberta, of Chico; Minnie, wife of D. A. Honodel, of Chico, with the ammunition train at Camp Fremont; Paul, who died in Sacramento, March 17, 1918; Ralph, First Lieutenant in One Hundred-twentieth Field Artillery in Franch; and Harris, in the ammunition train division at Camp Fremont. The oldest child, Lottie, Mrs. Sheriff, died in Oklahoma.

"Mrs. Ballew was educated in the public schools and for a time was a teacher, then she came to Chico and was employed in a store, later, for twelve years she was a bookkeeper in Hannah's store. She is a splendid business woman and not a little of her husband's success is due to her efficient management and cooperation. Mr. Ballew is a member of the Odd Fellows at Stirling City, and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs. He is truly a self-made man, and he has the respect and good will of all who know him. He is square in all his dealings with the public and a bright future is predicted for him." History of Butte County, CA 1918 by George C. Mansfield, pgs 828 & 831.

Paradise Post, Paradise, Butte County, CA, August 1952: "Harry Ballew Succumbs to Heart Attack. Harry Ballew died suddenly of a heart attack at his home early yesterday afternoon. Member of a pioneer family in this area, he had operated the Paradise Frozen Locker from 1946 until a few weeks ago. He was a member of the fire commission.

"Joseph Henry Ballew, who was more generally known as 'Harry' Ballew, was born November 11, 1878, in Sweetwater, Nev. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ballew, had been residents of California, however, and when he was 2 years old they returned to Butte county.

"Most of Harry Ballew's childhood was spent on the Ridge and nearby areas. He attended school in Magalia and Centerville. He was noted for his knowledge of the countryside, with which he had lifelong familiarity.

"For many years he was in the drayage and transfer business and the coal business in Chico. He built and opened the frozen locker in 1946 when he moved to Paradise. It was sold on July 1 to Fred Perkins, and Ballew planned to travel and enjoy his retirement.

"His wife, the former Mattie Smith, is a native of Butte county. They were married in 1933.

"Death came very suddenly. A number of persons had talked to him during the morning. He had gone home for lunch, planning to go down to Chico afterward, when the end came.

"Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the Brusie Funeral Home in Chico. Burial will be in the Chico cemetery.

"Survivors, in addition to his wife, are a brother, W. F. Ballew of Alameda, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Lee of Roseville.

"Ballew was a member of the Elks Club and the Odd Fellows in Chico, and the Paradise Rotary Club. He was appointed a commissioner of the Paradise Fire Protection District last June."

Chico Enterprise-Record, Saturday, August 16, 1952: "Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 11 o'clock in the chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home for Joseph Henry (Harry) Ballew, member of a local pioneer family who died unexpectedly at his home Thursday afternoon.

"Rev. William MacInnes, pastor of the Bidwell Memorial Presbyterian Church, will officiate at the services at the chapel and committal services will be offered by Chico Lodge No. 423, BPOE, at the Chico Mausoleum where entombment will take place."

IBID, Monday, August 18, 1952: "Harry Ballew Committal Services Held by Elks. Final rites were held this morning in the flower-banked chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home for Joseph Henry (Harry) Ballew who died in his home in Paradise on Thursday.

"Rev. William Macinnes officiated at the Chapel services during which Helen Butler sang 'Crossing the Bar,' and 'City-Four-square' accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Velma Poston.

"Committal services were held in the Chico Mausoleum by Chico Lodge No. 423 BPOE. Friends acting as active pallbearers were Glen Abbey, Tom Wray, Henry Jory, Arthur Layton, Ellsworth Garrison and Arthur Day. Honorary bearers were Robert Brown, Warren Williams, John Bille, Dr. N. T. Enloe, J. W. Finchley and O. E. Tracy."
"Joseph Henry Ballew. The city of Chico is the abode of a large number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early age and whose natural abilities were strengthened by contact with the world, thus gaining for them the esteem of their associates. Such a man is 'Harry' Ballew, as he is familiarly known to the citizens of Chico. He was born in Sweetwater, NV, November 11, 1878, a son of Richard Jackson Ballew of whom more extended mention is made in this work. Grandfather Ballew was killed by Indians on the Humboldt road while en route to Nevada.

"The oldest of five children born to his parents, Harry Ballew was reared in Butte County and attended the public schools at Magalia, Lovelock and Centerville. His father was taken sick when Harry was seventeen and he had to leave school to assist with the work in the saw-mill, remaining with his father for the following seven years. He then started out for himself and worked at different occupations until coming to Chico. He secured employment with the Northern Electric Railway, in the electrical department of their shops at Sacramento, installing motor generators. This he continued to do until he engaged in the transfer business in 1908, when he purchased the business from John Taber. The equipment consisted of a one-horse wagon. He had to begin at the bottom, but he devoted his entire time to his calling and soon had a paying business, having two teams and wagons busy all the time. As motor trucks came into use, he realized that he would have to keep up with the times and at once bought a truck. This was in 1913, and he has increased his efficiency, now being owner of a three-and-one-half-ton truck and doing heavy hauling all over Butte County, and into Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama Counties. He is making a decided success of his venture and is increasing his scope of operations month by month. When it is remembered that he began with a small wagon and one horse, less than ten years ago, and is now owner of a fine Garford truck, with business calling him to all parts of this section of country, it will be seen that his close application to business has been the secret of his success.

"Harry Ballew married on August 21, 1910, in Chico, to Miss Easley Lillian Blasingame. She was born at Dawsonville, GA, a daughter of John Stevens Blasingame, who had come to California, via Cape Horn when he was a lad of sixteen. Here he engaged in mining, and here me met and married Rose Sullivan, a native of New York State. She came with her parents to California, via Panama, first settling in Nevada County, where her father was engaged in the butcher business, obtaining his stock in various parts of the Sacramento Valley. Mr. Blasingame returned to Georgia where he lived for twenty years. He had become a mining expert and was employed as superintendent of mines for a number of years, when, on account of failing health, he came to California and located in Gilroy. Later he was mining at Georgetown, but again on account of ill health, he went back to Gilroy, where he died. His widow lived in Butte County. Of their ten children, nine are living namely: Clara, Mrs. J. A. Peck, of Chico; Easley Lillian, Mrs. Ballew; Ida, Mrs. Mathias, of Chico; Willette, Mrs. M. Enos, of Sacramento; Roberta, of Chico; Minnie, wife of D. A. Honodel, of Chico, with the ammunition train at Camp Fremont; Paul, who died in Sacramento, March 17, 1918; Ralph, First Lieutenant in One Hundred-twentieth Field Artillery in Franch; and Harris, in the ammunition train division at Camp Fremont. The oldest child, Lottie, Mrs. Sheriff, died in Oklahoma.

"Mrs. Ballew was educated in the public schools and for a time was a teacher, then she came to Chico and was employed in a store, later, for twelve years she was a bookkeeper in Hannah's store. She is a splendid business woman and not a little of her husband's success is due to her efficient management and cooperation. Mr. Ballew is a member of the Odd Fellows at Stirling City, and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs. He is truly a self-made man, and he has the respect and good will of all who know him. He is square in all his dealings with the public and a bright future is predicted for him." History of Butte County, CA 1918 by George C. Mansfield, pgs 828 & 831.

Paradise Post, Paradise, Butte County, CA, August 1952: "Harry Ballew Succumbs to Heart Attack. Harry Ballew died suddenly of a heart attack at his home early yesterday afternoon. Member of a pioneer family in this area, he had operated the Paradise Frozen Locker from 1946 until a few weeks ago. He was a member of the fire commission.

"Joseph Henry Ballew, who was more generally known as 'Harry' Ballew, was born November 11, 1878, in Sweetwater, Nev. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ballew, had been residents of California, however, and when he was 2 years old they returned to Butte county.

"Most of Harry Ballew's childhood was spent on the Ridge and nearby areas. He attended school in Magalia and Centerville. He was noted for his knowledge of the countryside, with which he had lifelong familiarity.

"For many years he was in the drayage and transfer business and the coal business in Chico. He built and opened the frozen locker in 1946 when he moved to Paradise. It was sold on July 1 to Fred Perkins, and Ballew planned to travel and enjoy his retirement.

"His wife, the former Mattie Smith, is a native of Butte county. They were married in 1933.

"Death came very suddenly. A number of persons had talked to him during the morning. He had gone home for lunch, planning to go down to Chico afterward, when the end came.

"Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the Brusie Funeral Home in Chico. Burial will be in the Chico cemetery.

"Survivors, in addition to his wife, are a brother, W. F. Ballew of Alameda, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Lee of Roseville.

"Ballew was a member of the Elks Club and the Odd Fellows in Chico, and the Paradise Rotary Club. He was appointed a commissioner of the Paradise Fire Protection District last June."

Chico Enterprise-Record, Saturday, August 16, 1952: "Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 11 o'clock in the chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home for Joseph Henry (Harry) Ballew, member of a local pioneer family who died unexpectedly at his home Thursday afternoon.

"Rev. William MacInnes, pastor of the Bidwell Memorial Presbyterian Church, will officiate at the services at the chapel and committal services will be offered by Chico Lodge No. 423, BPOE, at the Chico Mausoleum where entombment will take place."

IBID, Monday, August 18, 1952: "Harry Ballew Committal Services Held by Elks. Final rites were held this morning in the flower-banked chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home for Joseph Henry (Harry) Ballew who died in his home in Paradise on Thursday.

"Rev. William Macinnes officiated at the Chapel services during which Helen Butler sang 'Crossing the Bar,' and 'City-Four-square' accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Velma Poston.

"Committal services were held in the Chico Mausoleum by Chico Lodge No. 423 BPOE. Friends acting as active pallbearers were Glen Abbey, Tom Wray, Henry Jory, Arthur Layton, Ellsworth Garrison and Arthur Day. Honorary bearers were Robert Brown, Warren Williams, John Bille, Dr. N. T. Enloe, J. W. Finchley and O. E. Tracy."


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

  • Created by: Adriana
  • Added: Jul 12, 2012
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93491960/joseph_henry-ballew: accessed ), memorial page for Joseph Henry Ballew (11 Nov 1878–14 Aug 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 93491960, citing Chico Memorial Mausoleum and Crematory, Chico, Butte County, California, USA; Maintained by Adriana (contributor 47328225).