Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - James Ballard

26^th MISSOURI VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Late Summer/Fall, 1861
Mustered In: December, 1861
Mustered Out: 8/13/65

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
 

The 26^th, a three year western theater regiment, was recruited from the state "at large." Organized by the end of 1861, soon after Federal muster it joined the expedition under Union Gen. Pope against New Madrid (2/28 to 4/8/1863 at New Madrid Bend of Mississippi River, MO). It then participated in the battles of Tiptonville, TN (3/14/1862), Farmington, Marshal co. TN (10/7/1863), Corinth, MS (4/29 - 6/10/62), Luka, MS (9/12/62), Port Gibson (5/1/63), Raymond, MS (5/12/63). Jackson, MS (5/14/63), Champion's Hill (5/16/63), Big Black River Bridge, MS (5/17/63) and the siege of Vicksburg, MS.
 

Following the capture of Vicksburg (7/4/63) the 26^th fought at Missionary Ridge then joined Union Gen. W.T. Sherman as they moved to capture Atlanta, GA. It then participated in the "march to the sea" and, at the dawn of 1865 marched northward through the Carolinas.
 

In January, 1865 companies "A" through "G" were mustered out at the expiation of their enlistment terms. Re-enlisted veterans and new recruits then continued in service until 8/13. Because of the 26^th's relentless engagement history the regiment experienced an exceedingly high number of enlisted men killed or mortally wounded.
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES: 

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 6; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 2; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 112; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 183.

SOLDIER:

Residence: Inf. Not Avail.   Age:
Enlisted/Enrolled: 9/1/61 (est.)   Rank: Pvt.
Mustered In: 9/1/61 (est.)
Mustered Out: Inf. Not Avail.
Discharged: (For Medical Disability): September, 1862
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

James Ballard was born 6/26/27. His birth state was Virginia.
 

The parents of James were likely Moses (b. 1795 VA) and Nancy Ann (nee Knight b. unk. VA) Ballard. They wed on 3/14/24 in Wythe, VA. No information has been found pertaining to Ballard children other than James. Also unknown is the fate of Nancy Ann Knight Ballard.
 

In 1850 the U.S. Census found Moses and James residing together in Benton Osage Co., MO. At that time each noted his occupation as "carpenter."
 

On 1/30/55 in Osage Co., MO James married. His bride was Susan Ann Hensley (b. 5/8/1838 MO). Susan was reportedly a great granddaughter of Rebecca and Daniel Boone.
 

In the 1910 census Susan would claim to have birthed eleven children only one of whom ("Katie/Kate") was alive at the time. Names and birth years for six of the children are fairly verifiable. Although the names of others have been provided by Ballard descendants, they do not necessarily match census records. Further, when the two lists are combined there is still one name missing.
 

The documented Ballard children are: America L. (b. 10/81856 MO d. 1888), Ida V. (b. 3/23/58 MO d.1882), Walter (12/15/1859 MO d. 1866) James n Lyon (b.2/11/ 1862 MO d.1864),  Twins boy/girl 9/12/1863 MO d.1863), James Clay 2/2/1865) Charles Drake  (b. 3/29/1867 MO d. 1892) and Katherine "Katie/Kate" Geneva  (b. 4/18/1870 MO). Mary Ann (b. 4/22/1872 MO d. 1883), and Hestor (b. 2/28/1872 MO d. 1878).
 

We don't know of Daniel's whereabouts in 1860. Most likely, however he was in Osage Co., MO as that was where he had been identified in 1850 and where he would be in 1870.
 

Civil War wept across America in April, 1861. That fall Daniel answered his country's call to arms and joined the U.S. Army on 9/17/1861 and noted he was a grocery keeper living in Benton, Osage Co. MO. Exactly how long he served is not known because we do not have access to his military service records. Although he may have suffered some injury or ailment which forced his early discharge, we know that he survived the conflagration, returned home and resumed farming.
 

Sometime after 1870 the Ballards removed from Missouri and resettled in Pine Keya Paha Co., NB. What had drawn them there and exactly when they arrived are not known. James was farming there in 1885.
 

The Ballards next moved from Nebraska to Seattle King County, WA. Again, what drew them to the Pacific Northwest and, specifically the Puget Sound region is not known. In 1892 James, Susan and son James Clay were residing in Seattle's Ward 2. This may have been near the western end of Yesler Way as a 2/20/93 Seattle Post-Intelligencer article noting James's death previous day indicated he live there "for a number of years, (but) within a few weeks he took up his residence with his son-in-law James Ransom (Katie's husband)  at Sammamish."
 

On 2/13/1889 James requested a pension from his civil war soldiering days while residing in the state of Oregon and it was granted on Certificate Number 576-658.
 

James Milton Ballard dropped dead of a heart attack on 7/18/93. This occurred in Monohan, King Co. (east side of Lake Sammamish).*
 

Funeral services were held the following day at Seattle’s Bonney & Stewart funeral parlor after which Mr. Ballard's remains were interred under the auspices of members of Seattle's Isaac Stevens Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Post #1 of which Daniel was a member. 

According to a 7/21/93 article in the Seattle Daily Telegraph, the burial was in Lakeview Cemetery on Seattle's Capitol Hill. Records of the nearby G.A.R. Cemetery indicate he was/is buried within the grounds of that burial yard.
 

After James's death Susan remained in Seattle and on 8/9/1893 applied for a portion of her husband’s Civil War pension which was granted on Certificate # 412-789. According to the Seattle Post - Intelligencer, "she died at the family residence, 5133 Orcas Street April 23, 1918. This was likely a home she shared with daughter Katie - now Morgan - and Katie's children. Funeral services were held at the residence after which she was interred at Lakeview Cemetery.
 

* NOTE: At the time of James's death James Clay Ballard, who may have been employed in  a Seattle shipyard or dry dock facility was reportedly under the care of his mother in a local hospital because of  a spinal injury suffered when "some time ago by the steamer Vixen falling on him." (d. 10/3/1897 Seattle WA buried in Lake View Cemetery)

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Seattle

Denise Ottoson
Seattle, WA