Balliet Family Letters

BALLIET

Posted By: Shelley Cardiel (email)
Date: 10/3/2007 at 08:15:45

I've "rescued" a group of old family letters which belong to the BALLIET Family of Illinois and Iowa. The letters included in this group are as follows:

BALLIET Family Letters etc.

.. Paper folded - to Abdon - Ab - my poor "BB" R. Ded - Joe - Jane Lorry - no more honey

.. Letter to Master Jos R. BALLIET of Riley, Illinois from Nevada Iowa dated July 24th 1868 "Dear Brother, yours of 19th duly recd contents noted your sale is all right it is too cheap but better that than to holdover. Send money by Express as soon as convenient. Let me hear with reference to those notes and as soon as possible as it may be necessary to look them up. I am glad to hear of the prospect for crops; they are good here, never better. Weather has been extremely warm for these weeks but quite cool now. Love to all, and specially Father & Mother. Your brother in haste S. F. BALLIET" and "PS do you hear from Moses SINTZ? I wrote him a long time since but have not heard from him yet. To wrote to Daton Indiana"

.. Letter to J. R. BALLIET Esq. from Nevada Iowa, dated Aug 31 1870 "Dear Brother, Yours of 28th inst received and noted. Glad to hear you are doing so well. Hope you will continue. Don't send your gun until you hear from me again. Perhaps I will not want it at all event I don't want you to "rob yourself" in this respect. I thought perhaps it was not in use and I might as well have a little fun as not. My health is improving quite perceptabley, but it will taken some time to recuperate entirely. Can't sing or make long windy speeches. Your bro in haste, S. F. BALLIET"

.. Letter to J. R. BALLIET Esq. from Nevada, Iowa dated Oct 25th 1870 "Dear Brother, Yours of 13th wust recd and noted. The photo has a "Scab on the Nose" "Who hit you" eh. Will send you mine as soon as I can get some taken. The $200.00 will come very acceptable just about these times if I can get it. And will be a great accommodation. All well but me and I am still improving. Let me hear what the prospect is for money soon and oblige, Your Brother, S. F. BALLIET, Nevada, Iowa" Envelope includes reference to S. F. BALLIETT attorney at law and real estate agent in Nevada, Story Co., Iowa"

.. Letter to J. R. BALLIET Esq. of Riley, McHenry Co., Illinois from Nevada, Iowa, dated Nov 7th 1870 "Dear Brother, Yours of 31st ? recd and noted. Hope you will have success in collecting the $200.00 I need it so bad. Can pay you in 4 months but would like 6 months or a year if possible. Health still improving. Weather fine, money scarce. Let me hear from you as to prospects soon. If you can't spare $200.00 send me $100.00. Small favors thankfully recd and $100.00 is no small favor here just now I tell you. Your Brother in haste, S. F. BALLIET"

.. Letter to J. R. BALLIET at Belvidere, Illinois dated Jan 6th 1873 "I thought I would pen you a few lines to inform you that we are still living and well. Joe if you will I would like to have you see Frank MCQUARY about that note and if he don't come to time within about two weeks after you see him sue the note and get to judgement note and then lay still till spring then levy on his grain as soon as it comes up if you don't I never will get it Charles says h says I treated him mean about the note he said I agreed to have him ran on the machine to pay it this was after the note was given I told him that would do me just as well if he was ready to run when the machine was and when I started up he was sick and said the doctor said it wouldn't do for him to run and more I and he talked it over and he said if I would let it stored till fall I should have it and now I have it on a judgement note and if he pays it go to sycamore and pay of that note of ? dollars George BROWN has got the note till him it must come. Our folks are all well as far as I no I haven't been feeling very good for some time but hope to recover soon. Yours truly, Write Soon, George BALLIET"

Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information regarding this family:

Josiah Roscoe BALLIET b. 1880's in Des Moines, IA to father Stephan BALLIET who was a lawyer and a judge. Josiah's siblings included Stephanna, Christina, Imogene, and Letson BALLIET. I believe that his father was Stephen F. BALLIET who was the son of John & Hannah BALLIET of Nevada, IA whose children included, Monroe; Stephen F.; James M.; George; Charles H.; Samuel Abdon; and Nicholas BALLIET. Stephen F. BALLIET attended University Chicago Law School as did his brother Charles BALLIET.

Census information provides the following information on the family:

1880 census of Belvidere, IL:

J. R. BALLIET, age 32, a Music Dealer, born IL, parents born PA Mary BALLIET, wife, age 25, Keeping House, born IL, parents born PA Margaret DETRICK, mother-in-law, age 64, born PA, parents born PA

1880 census of Nevada, IA:

Stephen F. BALLIET, age 42, Attorney at Law, born PA, parents born PA Helen W. BALLIET, wife, age 31, Keeping House, born OH, parents born NJ/OH Letson BALLIET, son, age 7, born IA Stephanna BALLIET, dau, age 5, born IA

1900 census of Belvidere, IL:

J. R. BALLIET, age 52, born Feb 1848, married 25 years, born IL, parents born PA, Dealer in Musical Instruments Mary L. BALLIET, wife, age 45, born Apr 1855, married 25 years, no children, born IL, parents born PA Christina ANDERSON, servant, age 20, born June 1879, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, to USA 1896, a Servant

1910 census of Belvidere, IL:

Josiah R. BALLIET, age 62, married 33 years, born IL, parents born PA Mary L. BALLIET, wife, age 54, married 33 years, no children, born IL, parents born PA Gertie BERGMAN, servant, age 26, born Sweden, parents born Sweden, to USA 1890

1920 census of Belvidere, IL:

Joseph R. BALLIET, age 71, born IL, parents born PA, a Music Dealer Mary L. BALLIET, wife, age 62, born IL, parents born PA

I am hoping to be able to return these letters to their rightful place with family. If you are a member of this family, or know someone who might be, please contact me.

Thanks, Shelley