 
  Scott Co MO |
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Biographies of Scott County, 1888 William Ballentine, a prominent citizen of Scott County, Mo., was born in Scotland, in 1826. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Stoddard) Ballentine, both of whom lived and died in Scotland. His mother dying when he was a child, William was reared by his grandfather until he was ten years of age, after which he lived on sheep-farms with Mrs. Carson and others, until he was fifteen years of age. He then served as an apprentice in a blacksmith shop for five years, after which he worked at his trade until he had saved money enough to pay his way to America. In 1847 he set sail for New York, and upon his arrival went to Middleton, Conn., where he remained two years working at his trade. It was about this time that the news of the excitement over the discovery of gold in California reached him, and he accordingly started west. Reaching Winnebago County, Ill., he worked at his trade until the next March (1850), when he with ten other men started across the plains with teams for the gold fields. They lost their wagon-load of supplies in Weber River, near Salt Lake, but were provided by other emigrants with crackers to eat until they reached Salt Lake City. Arriving in California, in August, Mr. Ballentine worked at his trade in the mines until the fall of 1851, when he came to Commerce, Mo., via New Orleans. Locating in Commerce, he worked at his trade five years. In 1853, on the 4th day of April, he was married to Nancy Pierrre, a native of Humphreys County, Tenn., and resided in Commerce until the beginning of the Civil War, when he removed his family to Santa Fe, Ill. He returned to Missouri, and in 1862, under Gov. Gamble, was appointed Clerk of Scott County Court, and served until January 1, 1867. In the same year, under Gov. Fletcher, he was appointed Judge of the Common Pleas Court. Soon after his court was abolished. Meantime Mr. Ballentine had read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1866 he entered the land, which he now resides. Since entering the land he has cleared and improved over 500 acres, nearly all swamp lands. Mrs. Ballentine died in 1884, leaving one child, Charles. She left four children now dead, viz: Elizabeth, William, Nancy and Lucy. Lucy lived to be grown and was postmistress in Commerce at the time of her death. Mr. Ballentine served as postmaster of commerce for several years. He married the second time, choosing for his wife Mrs. Emily (Brooks) Sewell. Mrs. Ballentine had three sons and five daughters by her first marriage, viz: Alice, Jane and Florence at the home of our subject; Josephine and Dora, married, and Frank, living near Commerce. Of the other two boys, one is dead. This site is a AHGP Project which is a volunteer genealogical organization dedicated to the free access of genealogical information. NOTE: If you run across a site thats charges a fee to view these pages, please let me know This is a free site. There is not a charge to view these pages. Return To -B- Biographies 
 
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