James was the son of George Albert Balsey and Caroline Frye, who married on 4 May 1873 in Marshall County, Indiana. They had eleven children together. I was able to find ten of them --Minnie (b.circa 1872), Mary lizabeth (1874-1888), Elnora (b.circa 1875), James Harvey (1877-1940), Clemens (1879-1959), Walter S. (1881-1961), Harmon (1883-1964), Cora Alice (1886-1969), Leroy (1889-1972), and Ada (b.circa 1892).
James first appeared with his parents and siblings on the 1880 Census. The family was living in German Township, Marshall County, where German-born Caroline would have felt right at home, as there were many Germans living in the area. George Balsley, aged 40, was farming for a living. Caroline, aged 30, was home with their five children--Minnie, aged 8, Mary, aged 6, Elnora, aged 5, James, aged 3, and Clemens, aged 1.
With no 1890 Census available, the next record that emerged for James was his marriage to Bertha Ellen Wade on 22 Apr 1898 in Bremen, Marshall County. The couple appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Polk Township, Marshall County, where James, aged 23, was farming as his father had. Bertha, aged 20, reported that she had not had any children.
By the 1910 Census, the couple was living in Plymouth's North Township. James, aged 33, indicated that he was working his own farm. Bertha, aged 30, again reported that she had not had any children.
On his 12 Sep 1918 WWI registration card, James, aged 41, reported his address as 1105 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. He was doing carpentry work for Sam Riddle. He described himself as of medium height and build, with brown eyes and light brown hair.
They were still at the N. Michigan St. address in 1920. James, aged 42, again reported that he was working as a carpenter. Bertha, aged 39, was keeping house.
Two years after that census, Bertha died in 1922 at age 42.
James mourned Bertha's loss for five years before he married for a second time, exchanging vows with Gail O. Caslow on 3 Nov 1927 in Kankakee, Illinois.
I found them together on the 1930 Census, living at the N. Michigan St. address. James, aged 52, was still doing carpentry work. Gail, aged 32, was at home. Two years after that census, James and Gail welcomed daughter Bona on 9 Oct 1932.
The three of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still living on N. Michigan Street. James, aged 62, had not yet retired from carpentry work. Gail, aged 42, was home with 7-year-old daughter Bona.
That 1940 Census was enumerated in Plymouth on 9 Apr 1940. Three months later, James died on 19 Jul 1940 at age 63. He would miss seeing his daughter Bona wed Richard C. Wenino on 9 Dec 1950.
Gail had James laid to rest next to first-wife Bertha. When Gail died in 1985, she too took her place at James' side.
James first appeared with his parents and siblings on the 1880 Census. The family was living in German Township, Marshall County, where German-born Caroline would have felt right at home, as there were many Germans living in the area. George Balsley, aged 40, was farming for a living. Caroline, aged 30, was home with their five children--Minnie, aged 8, Mary, aged 6, Elnora, aged 5, James, aged 3, and Clemens, aged 1.
With no 1890 Census available, the next record that emerged for James was his marriage to Bertha Ellen Wade on 22 Apr 1898 in Bremen, Marshall County. The couple appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Polk Township, Marshall County, where James, aged 23, was farming as his father had. Bertha, aged 20, reported that she had not had any children.
By the 1910 Census, the couple was living in Plymouth's North Township. James, aged 33, indicated that he was working his own farm. Bertha, aged 30, again reported that she had not had any children.
On his 12 Sep 1918 WWI registration card, James, aged 41, reported his address as 1105 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. He was doing carpentry work for Sam Riddle. He described himself as of medium height and build, with brown eyes and light brown hair.
They were still at the N. Michigan St. address in 1920. James, aged 42, again reported that he was working as a carpenter. Bertha, aged 39, was keeping house.
Two years after that census, Bertha died in 1922 at age 42.
James mourned Bertha's loss for five years before he married for a second time, exchanging vows with Gail O. Caslow on 3 Nov 1927 in Kankakee, Illinois.
I found them together on the 1930 Census, living at the N. Michigan St. address. James, aged 52, was still doing carpentry work. Gail, aged 32, was at home. Two years after that census, James and Gail welcomed daughter Bona on 9 Oct 1932.
The three of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still living on N. Michigan Street. James, aged 62, had not yet retired from carpentry work. Gail, aged 42, was home with 7-year-old daughter Bona.
That 1940 Census was enumerated in Plymouth on 9 Apr 1940. Three months later, James died on 19 Jul 1940 at age 63. He would miss seeing his daughter Bona wed Richard C. Wenino on 9 Dec 1950.
Gail had James laid to rest next to first-wife Bertha. When Gail died in 1985, she too took her place at James' side.
James was the son of George Albert Balsey and Caroline Frye, who married on 4 May 1873 in Marshall County, Indiana. They had eleven children together. I was able to find ten of them --Minnie (b.circa 1872), Mary lizabeth (1874-1888), Elnora (b.circa 1875), James Harvey (1877-1940), Clemens (1879-1959), Walter S. (1881-1961), Harmon (1883-1964), Cora Alice (1886-1969), Leroy (1889-1972), and Ada (b.circa 1892).
James first appeared with his parents and siblings on the 1880 Census. The family was living in German Township, Marshall County, where German-born Caroline would have felt right at home, as there were many Germans living in the area. George Balsley, aged 40, was farming for a living. Caroline, aged 30, was home with their five children--Minnie, aged 8, Mary, aged 6, Elnora, aged 5, James, aged 3, and Clemens, aged 1.
With no 1890 Census available, the next record that emerged for James was his marriage to Bertha Ellen Wade on 22 Apr 1898 in Bremen, Marshall County. The couple appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Polk Township, Marshall County, where James, aged 23, was farming as his father had. Bertha, aged 20, reported that she had not had any children.
By the 1910 Census, the couple was living in Plymouth's North Township. James, aged 33, indicated that he was working his own farm. Bertha, aged 30, again reported that she had not had any children.
On his 12 Sep 1918 WWI registration card, James, aged 41, reported his address as 1105 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. He was doing carpentry work for Sam Riddle. He described himself as of medium height and build, with brown eyes and light brown hair.
They were still at the N. Michigan St. address in 1920. James, aged 42, again reported that he was working as a carpenter. Bertha, aged 39, was keeping house.
Two years after that census, Bertha died in 1922 at age 42.
James mourned Bertha's loss for five years before he married for a second time, exchanging vows with Gail O. Caslow on 3 Nov 1927 in Kankakee, Illinois.
I found them together on the 1930 Census, living at the N. Michigan St. address. James, aged 52, was still doing carpentry work. Gail, aged 32, was at home. Two years after that census, James and Gail welcomed daughter Bona on 9 Oct 1932.
The three of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still living on N. Michigan Street. James, aged 62, had not yet retired from carpentry work. Gail, aged 42, was home with 7-year-old daughter Bona.
That 1940 Census was enumerated in Plymouth on 9 Apr 1940. Three months later, James died on 19 Jul 1940 at age 63. He would miss seeing his daughter Bona wed Richard C. Wenino on 9 Dec 1950.
Gail had James laid to rest next to first-wife Bertha. When Gail died in 1985, she too took her place at James' side.
James first appeared with his parents and siblings on the 1880 Census. The family was living in German Township, Marshall County, where German-born Caroline would have felt right at home, as there were many Germans living in the area. George Balsley, aged 40, was farming for a living. Caroline, aged 30, was home with their five children--Minnie, aged 8, Mary, aged 6, Elnora, aged 5, James, aged 3, and Clemens, aged 1.
With no 1890 Census available, the next record that emerged for James was his marriage to Bertha Ellen Wade on 22 Apr 1898 in Bremen, Marshall County. The couple appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Polk Township, Marshall County, where James, aged 23, was farming as his father had. Bertha, aged 20, reported that she had not had any children.
By the 1910 Census, the couple was living in Plymouth's North Township. James, aged 33, indicated that he was working his own farm. Bertha, aged 30, again reported that she had not had any children.
On his 12 Sep 1918 WWI registration card, James, aged 41, reported his address as 1105 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. He was doing carpentry work for Sam Riddle. He described himself as of medium height and build, with brown eyes and light brown hair.
They were still at the N. Michigan St. address in 1920. James, aged 42, again reported that he was working as a carpenter. Bertha, aged 39, was keeping house.
Two years after that census, Bertha died in 1922 at age 42.
James mourned Bertha's loss for five years before he married for a second time, exchanging vows with Gail O. Caslow on 3 Nov 1927 in Kankakee, Illinois.
I found them together on the 1930 Census, living at the N. Michigan St. address. James, aged 52, was still doing carpentry work. Gail, aged 32, was at home. Two years after that census, James and Gail welcomed daughter Bona on 9 Oct 1932.
The three of them appeared together on the 1940 Census, still living on N. Michigan Street. James, aged 62, had not yet retired from carpentry work. Gail, aged 42, was home with 7-year-old daughter Bona.
That 1940 Census was enumerated in Plymouth on 9 Apr 1940. Three months later, James died on 19 Jul 1940 at age 63. He would miss seeing his daughter Bona wed Richard C. Wenino on 9 Dec 1950.
Gail had James laid to rest next to first-wife Bertha. When Gail died in 1985, she too took her place at James' side.
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