Ballard Van Buren Harman (abt. 1835)

Born about 1835 in Tazewell, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rhoda Louisa (Gillespie) Harman — married 4 May 1892 in Tazewell, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Ballard Van Buren Harman (see research note re: Middle Name) was born about 1835 (see research note re: Birth Year) in Tazewell County, Virginia to Daniel Camel Harman and Margaret Gillespie^[1][2]. In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Ballard lived with his parents and several siblings in Tazewell County, Virginia^[3].

In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Ballard lived in Tazewell County, Virginia, in the household of his sister Jane, and her husband William Peery^[4].

On 29 May 1861 in Wytheville, Wythe County Virginia, Ballard enlisted into the Confederate Army, with rank of Private, in Company H, 45th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. On 1 April 1864, Ballard continued to serve with Company H, but with rank of Sergeant. In June 1864, probably in the Battle of Piedmont, Ballard lost a portion of one leg^[5][6].

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Ballard lived in Tazewell County, Virginia. He lived with his brother John, and John's wife and children^[7]. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Ballard continued to live in Tazewell County, Virginia, with his brother John^[8].

On 4 May 1892 in Tazewell County, Virginia, Ballard married Rhoda Louisa Gillespie. Rhoda was born 29 August 1869 in Laurel Branch, McDowell County, West Virginia to Henry Harman Gillespie and Saluda Raines^[1][9]. Ballard and Rhoda were related to each other via at least two paths:

1. They were 2nd cousins once removed. Ballard's father's father (Daniel Camel Harman, Mathias Harman) and Rhoda's father's mother's mother (Henry Harman Gillespie, Rhoda Harman, Christina Harman) were siblings, both children of Daniel Harman Sr. and Anna Bughsen.
2. They were 3rd cousins once removed. Ballard's father's father's father (Daniel Camel Harman, Mathias Harman, Daniel Harman Sr.) and Rhoda's father's mother's father's father (Henry Harman Gillespie, Rhoda Harman, Henry Harman Jr., Henry Harman Sr.) were siblings, both children of Heinrich Adam Herrmann and Louisa Katrina Mathias.

In the 1900 U.S. Fedeal Census, Ballard and his wife, Rhoda, lived in McDowell County, West Virginia. Also in their household were five children^[10].

On 7 April 1910, Ballard signed his application for a Disabled Confederate Soldier Pension. His pension was approved on 8 June 1910^[6].

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Ballard and his wife lived in Tazewell County, Virginia. Also in their household were six children^[11].

Ballard and Rhoda had seven children together^[12] (see research note re: Children):

1. Ollie Virginia (Harman) (Wallace) Hundley b. 1892 d. 1963^[13][14][15]
2. Martha Louvenia (Harman) Munsey b. 1894 d. 1961^[16][17]
3. John Henry Harman b. 1895 d. 1982^[18][19]
4. Alice L. (Harman) Keys b. 1896 d. 1977^[20][21]
5. Rebecca May (Harman) Hunley b. 1899 d. 1973^[22]
6. Sally Jane Harman (never married) b. 1901 d. 1959^[23]
7. Mary (Harman) (Pruett) Frantz b. 1907 d. 1990^{[24][25][26][27]}

Neither Ballard nor his wife, Rhoda, have been found in the 1920 or 1930 U.S. Federal Censuses. While Rhoda lived until 1935^[9], neither a record of Ballard's death, nor evidence of a burial have yet been documented (see research note re: Death).

Research Notes

Middle Name

When records do indicate some form of middle initial or name for Ballard, it is one of three forms:

1. Initial of "V"^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][11][14][17][20][23][24]}.
2. Initials of "V B"^[7].
3. The name(s) Van Buren^[26].

Birth Year

A birth record for Ballard has not yet been located. Other records provide an estimate of his birth year, as follows:

• 1834 - The 1880 U.S. Federal Census^[8].
• 1835 - The 1850^[3], 1870^[7], and 1900^[10] U.S. Federal Censuses.
• 1836 - The 1860 U.S. Federal Census^[4].
• 1838 - His marriage record^[1].
• 1846 - The 1910 U.S. Federal Census^[11].

The 1900 Census indicated that Ballard was born in May 1835^[10]. Ballard's application for a Disabled Confederate Soldier Pension indicated he was 74 years old, and was signed in April 1910^[6]. Assuming that his birth month was May, then the age he gave on his pension application would also indicate that he was born in 1835 (he was 74 years old when he signed, and would turn 75 years old the next month in May 1910).

Children

The publication "Harman Genealogy (southern branch) with biographical sketches, 1700 - 1924" indicates that Ballard and Rhoda were the parents of eight children^[2]:

1. Ollie
2. Venia
3. Sallie
4. Rebecca
5. Alice
6. John
7. Henry
8. Mary

The 1910 U.S. Federal Census indicates that Rhoda was the mother of seven children (all still living in 1910, and only daughter Martha Louvenia was not in their household at that time)^[12]. Unfortunately the list of children published in "Harman Genealogy" probably includes an extra comma, between the names John and Henry. Instead of one son named "John Henry Harman", that publication indicates that there are two sons, one named "John Harman" and another named "Henry Harman".

Death

On 14 November 2022, the FamilySearch collaborative tree's profile for Ballard Harman, indicated that Ballard died in November 1919, but no source supporting that fact was associated with that profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR39-GPT : 29 January 2020), DGS #4284960, Image #523, Marriage Register #3, Page #100, Line #68, Ballard V. Harman, 1892.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Harman, John Newton. “Harman genealogy (southern branch) with biographical sketches, 1700-1924, Chapter XVI - Daniel Harman, Sr.” Internet Archive. W. C. Hill Printing Company, Richmond, Virginia, 1925. Page 237, Ballard V. Harman, son of Daniel Camel Harman (Mathias, Daniel, Sr., Heinrich Adam) and Margaret Gillespie.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DT-MWH : 23 December 2020), Ballard V Harmon in household of Dane C Harmon, Jeffersonville, Tazewell, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M41B-QVD : 18 February 2021), Ballard V Harman in entry for William Peery, 1860.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} National Archives, Record Group 109: War Department Collection of Confederate Records, 1825 - 1927, Series: Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Confederate Organizations , 1903 - 1927, File Unit: Confederate Soldiers from the State of Virginia - Harman, Ballard V - Forty-fifth Infantry), National Archives Identifier 98741175, Six images available online: Image 1 is an index, images 2 - 6 indicate enlistment date, presence in company, rank change to Sargeant.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Library of Virginia, "Confederate Pension Applications, Veterans and Widows", 1902, Harman, Ballard V., four images available online: Images 1 - 4 is John's pension application including various affidavits. Accessed 14 Nov 2022.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFGD-TP7 : 29 May 2021), Ballard B Harman in entry for John M Harman, 1870.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRC-NXY : 15 January 2022), Ballard Harman in household of John Harman, Clear Fork District, Tazewell, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F11W-FVV : 10 March 2018), Rhoda L. Harman, 13 May 1935; citing McDowell, West Virginia, County Records, 6982, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,953,905.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9CR-T42 : accessed 14 November 2022), Ballard Harman, Elkhorn district (Precincts 1-2), McDowell, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 71, sheet 6A, family 58, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,764.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPGY-CVN : accessed 14 November 2022), Ballard V Harman, Clear Fork, Tazewell, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 96, sheet 29A, family 498, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1650; FHL microfilm 1,375,663.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPGY-CVJ : accessed 14 November 2022), Rhoda L Harman in household of Ballard V Harman, Clear Fork, Tazewell, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 96, sheet 29A, family 498, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1650; FHL microfilm 1,375,663.
13. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR3Q-BTL : 29 January 2020), DGS #4284960, Image #657, Marriage Register #3, Page #231, Line #25, Ollie Virginia Harman in entry for William Lenny Walker, 1915.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D9T3-W2MM : 1 July 2022), Ollie V. Wallace in entry for James Nathaniel Hundley, 1 Apr 1929; citing Marriage Registration, Tazewell, Virginia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond.
15. ↑ "Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1967," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLYZ-9NN1 : 2 March 2021), Ollie Virginia Hundley, 28 Jan 1963; citing Death, Hardy, Pike, Kentucky, United States, certificate 116634312, Office of Vital Statistics, Frankfort; FHL microfilm .
16. ↑ "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTRQ-V48 : 11 February 2018), John Munsey and Martha Vena Harman, 1916; citing Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 806,435.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9H4-DY5 : 10 March 2018), Martha Louvenia Munsey, 29 Jan 1961; citing Welch, McDowell, West Virginia, County Records, v 14 p 1961, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 800,215.
18. ↑ "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTRK-GZQ : 11 February 2018), J H Harman and Ruth Jones, 1928; citing Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 806,456.
19. ↑ "Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRZ-NMRC : 16 August 2019), John Henry Harmon, 11 Jan 1982; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTRQ-Q6P : 11 February 2018), A A Keys and Alice L Harman, 1915; citing Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 806,435.
21. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMYK-1ZL : 8 January 2021), Alice Keys, Aug 1977; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
22. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMWS-BV4 : 7 December 2018), Rebecca May Hunley, 28 Apr 1973; citing Raleigh, West Virginia, County Records, 7840, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 2,114,639.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9HW-ZL9 : 10 March 2018), Sally Jane Harman, 01 Jun 1959; citing O'Toole, McDowell, West Virginia, County Records, v 13 p 1959, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 800,214.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1} "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FB6Z-B5R : 11 February 2018), Willie Pruitt and Mary Harman, 1925; citing Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 806,454.
25. ↑ "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVB1-4LQD : 20 February 2021), Richard Fred Frantz and Mary Harman Pruett, 10 Nov 1948; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing , Giles, Virginia, United States, certificate 32890, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} "Virginia, Marriage Certificates, 1936-1988," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9J-JCMW : 20 February 2021), Richard Fred Frantz and Mary Harman Pruett, 03 Feb 1951; from "Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing , Tazewell, Virginia, United States, certificate 5238, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
27. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JRZV-P5S : 8 January 2021), Mary P Frantz, 27 Dec 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).