Mrs. Catherine Ballard

OBITUARY
One of the oldest and most honorable citizens of Greene county, passed to a better world, Dec. 27, 1896, aged eighty years, eleven months and one day.

From Jack BABER's history (written over thirty years ago), and GOODSPEED's history (written more than twenty years ago), we take the following in regard to the STALCUP family, of whom Mrs. BALLARD was one.

"Among the early pioneers of Greene county none became more widely known than the STALCUPS. Isaac STALCUP, their progenitor , came to the county in 1817 located in Section Twenty-Six Township Eight North Range Four West. He was a native of North Carolina, raised a large family of whom James, so long and well known, was one. James was born in Carolina, Aug. 22, 1786; with his father's family moved to Tennessee where, in 1812, he married Margaret MARLIN, a native of Ireland. In 1818 he moved to Indiana and settled on the hill just east of where Worthington now stands and established the first blacksmith shop in the neighborhood. Afterwards moved to the east side of White river. He made the best axes and entry plows of any man in Greene county. He also built the first brick house in the county. Was the father of George, Catharine, Isaac, Elizabeth, Rebecca, William, B. H., Maria T. and Elmira J."

"Catharine was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, Jan. 26, 1816. March 26, 1835, was married to John JONES, a native of South Carolina, by whom she had two children, but one of whom, Mrs. Margaret HOWE, of Worthington, survives. Mr. JONES died Dec 8, 1838. Two years later she became the wife of Benjamin C. BALLARD. Four years later she was again left a widow with two small children by her second husband—John J. and Ellen, (Mrs. D. H. WYLIE).

"Mrs. BALLARD deserves no small amount of credit for the success she has made in life. She was widowed both times with heavy burdens to be borne, small children to care for and pecuniary embarrassments to overcome, but with courage she went to work and the result is, she has amply educated her own children, besides has extended the and of charity to other children in the same end. She and son own upwards of 900 acres of some of Greene county's best land and are considered among Highland township's best citizens.

Hers was an eminently heroic character and she led a very self-denying life. A life of sacrifices and constant struggles to uplift and better the condition of the poor and needy. A number of orphans and friendless children found her home a safe and happy refuge from the world's coldness and neglect. She took a deep interest in education, and no effort was too great for her to make in order to give advantages to those under her care.

She was a member of the Christian church, having been baptized by B. M. BLOUNT more than twenty years ago. Elder I. G. TOMLINSON conducted the funeral services. The twenty-fifth chapter of Mathew was read, in which occurs the passage so faithfully carried out in her life—"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." She would make no compromise with impurity or dishonesty, in either public or private life. She did not fear to die, but from the beginning of her sickness expressed herself not only willing but anxious to be at rest with the loved ones gone before.

"There remaineth, therefor, a rest to the people of God."

W. D. RITTER.

THE BLOOMFIELD NEWS, Bloomfield, Greene County, Indiana, Friday, January 8, 1897, Volume XXI., Number 6, Page 8

Last updated 10.11.2009