Ithema Ballard Black
Ithema Ballard was born in Kentucky, or possibly Tennessee, on November 11, 1835, a daughter of
John Ballard and
Hannah Clarke. During her childhood, her family moved from Kentucky to Illinois, then to Iowa, then Missouri, then Iowa again. She married
William Black in 1855.
Ithema was listed as Ithemia in the 1860 census, and Ithena in the 1870 census, but other records indicate that her name was actually Ithema. Her eldest child, William F., was born in Iowa ca. 1857, Sarah was born in Illinois ca. 1859, Mary in Iowa in 1861, Cyrus W. in 1863,
Melvina in 1865, and Irene in 1867.
From
http://genforum.genealogy.com/collins/messages/9795.html, Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties,
Iowa, 1887:
"WILLIAM T. BLACK is one of the pioneers of Decatur County....was
married in 1855, to Miss Ithema Ballard, who was born in Tennessee,
November 11, 1835, a daughter of John Ballard, who was among the early
settlers of Lucas County, Iowa. He died in Kansas several years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Black settled on their farm, on section 6, Fayette
Township, in the spring of 1856. In 1858 they rented their farm and
moved to Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois, where they resided
till the spring of 1862, when they returned to their farm in Fayette
Township, where they have since made their home. They are the parents
of eight children -- William F., living in Nebraska; Mrs. Sarah J.
Collins, of Lamoni; Mrs. Mary E. Stingley, of Nebraska; Cyrus W., in
Colorado; Melvina I., Irene E. I., Clara T. and Minnie R., living at
home."
Here is a link to an image of
an 1860 census page for McDonough County, Illinois, showing William Black, age 28, laborer, personal property worth $60, born in Ohio, his wife Ithemia (not Ithema, as elsewhere), age 24, birthplace illegible (Kty? not Ten.), William F., age 3, born in Iowa, and Sarah,m age 1, born Ill (?).
Here is a link to a copy of a
page from the 1870 census, in which he is clearly listed as William F. Black, not William T. Black! He is listed as being age 38, male, white, farmer, real estate valued at $2400, personal property at $1200, born in Ohio. This time his wife is entered as Ithena, age 34, keeps house, born in Kentucky. Their children are William F., 13, Sarah J., 11, Mary E., 9, Cyrus W., 7, Melvina I., 5, and Irene E.J., 3. Of the children, Mary was born in Illinois, and the rest in Iowa.
Last updated: April 2005
