Ballantyne, Hugh

BEGGS, GARNER, STAFFORD, DOLL, STRATTON, WALLACE, SCHUYLER, JONES, WRIGHT

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/10/2009 at 12:50:59

Hugh Ballantyne, now living retired in Janesville, has been a resident of Bremer county for almost a half century and in former years was actively identified with general agriculatural pursuits, still owning a farm of ninety acres on section 34, Jackson township. He served with the Union army throughout the entire period of the Civil war and made a splendid record as a brave and loyal soldier. His birth occurred in Ireland in 1844, his parents being Allen B. and Sarah (Beggs) Ballantyne, who were born near Belfast, in County Antrim, Ireland, and were of Scotch descent. In 1861, two years after the emigration of their son Hugh, they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, settling in New York, where Allen B. Ballantyne followed farming until 1868. In that year he came west to Iowa, settling in Jackson township, Bremer county, where he purchased land and carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-four years. His widow, who has now attained the age of eighty-eight years, makes her home at Shellrock, Butler county, Iowa. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom the following survive: Hugh, of this review; W.J., who is a resident of Bremer county; Agnes, who gave her hand in marriage to Matthew Garner, of Shellrock, Iowa; Levina, who is the wife of Edward Stafford and resides in Santa Barbara, California; Thomas, residing in Mexico; Mary, the wife of Thomas R. Doll, of Santa Barbara, California; and Elizabeth, who married R.T Stratton and who lives at Utica, New York.

Hugh Ballantyne acquired his education in the schools of his native land and there spent the first sixteen years of his life. In 1859 he emigrated to America and took up his abode in the state of New York. When the country became involved in the Civil war he volunteered for service in the Union army, enlisting in May, 1861, as a member of Company G, Sixteenth New York Infantry. Soon afterward he became ill and was sent home to die but fortunately recovered and reenlisted as a member of Company C, one Hundred and Sixth Infantry. He was made corporal of his company and subsequently won promotion to the rank of acting sergeant. In the fourteenth battle in which he participated, at Cold Harbor, Virginia, on the 1st of June, 1864, he was severely injured, receiving wounds in the right arm, right breast and left thigh. He was confined in a hospital for eleven months and after the close of the war received his honorable discharge. Mr. Ballantyne then returned to the empire state but three weeks later, in the year 1865, came west to Iowa, settling in Bremer county. Soon afterwards he purchased a tract of land near Janesville and began its cultivation, continuing the active work of the fields with good success until the time of his retirement. He now resides in a handsome home which he owns in Janesville and also has a valuable farm of ninety acres on section 34, Jackson Township.

Mr. Ballantyne has been married twice. In 1868
he wedded Miss Margaret Wallace, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States with her parents during the period of the Civil war, the family home being established in New York, where she resided until the time of her marriage. By this union there were five children, as follows: Wallace A., who is a resident of Bremer county; Bessie V., who is a teacher of English at Waterloo, Iowa; Frank, who passed away at the age of twenty-four years; and two who died in infancy. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 5th of December, 1905, and in October, 1907, Mr. Ballantyne was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Florence (Schuyler) Jones, who was born in Wisconsin and came to this state at the time of her marriage. Her parents were Elias and Lydia (Wright) Schuyler of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where they passed away. Mrs. Ballantyne's first husband, Mr. Jones, was associated with the American Express Company and died in 1905.

In politics Mr. Ballantyne is a staunch republican, loyally supporting the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He made a creditable record in the office of mayor and has also served as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife and children also belong. Mrs. Ballantype is connected with the Women's Relief Corps and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Hugh Ballantyne's life in former years was one of continuous activity, in which he was accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of Janesville, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914