SAMUEL E. BALLINGER.
Adjoining Atchison, to the westward there are many beautiful and well kept suburban homes. Along the road which borders Forest park on the west are some especially fine homes with well kept grounds, dotted with flowers and shrubbery, in striking contrast to the unkempt condition of the park upon which these suburban estates front. These homes make ideal places for people who have spent the greater part of their lives in farming pursuits, and, while wishing to be near the city, yet wish to have a larger space for a home setting than the thickly settled parts of the town would afford. In one of the beautiful homes fronting the highway resides Samuel E. Ballinger and his faithful wife and helpmeet, who have been residents of Atchison county for many years and are both descendants of old eastern families.
Samuel E. Ballinger was born September 7, 1843, in Salem county, New Jersey, a son of John G. and Sarah Ann (Reeves) Ballinger. His paternal grandfather was also named John G., who married a Quaker lady. His maternal grandfather was Stephen Reeves, a scion of an old eastern family, and in his day a leading ship builder of New Jersey. The father of Samuel E. was born in 1827 and died in 1906. During his life he was a miller and farmer and prominent in the affairs of Salem county, New Jersey. He was twice married, his first wife, Sarah Ann, dying in 1850, leaving three children: Stephen R., a retired miller of New Jersey, now deceased; Samuel E., and Thomas E., residing in Atchison. John G. Ballinger’s second wife was Sarah Austin, who bore him the following children: John, Charles, Walter, Ella, Gertrude, Emma, and Minnie.
S. E. Ballinger.
Mrs. S. E. Ballinger.
Samuel E. received his education in the public schools of his native county and State and early learned to perform his share of the work required in the operation of his father’s gristmill and farm. He hauled grist from the mill to town and to the patrons of his father’s mill and assisted in cultivating his father’s farm when yet a boy in years. When he attained young manhood he was associated with his father in the livery and feed business at Camden, N. J., for a period of three years. He and his brother, Stephen, then bought the gristmill which they operated in partnership until 1871, following which he farmed for one year and then disposed of all of his holdings with the intention of migrating to Kansas. He came to Atchison, Kan., with a capital of $350 which he invested in eighty acres of improved land, costing him $2,400. This land was but partly improved, with a modest home of two rooms and a lean-to at the rear. He and his good wife by dint of economy and perseverance soon managed to pay off their indebtedness and to erect a rather pretentious dwelling, at the same time increasing their land holdings. Their first purchase was an eighty acre tract near the home farm, and they later bought a tract of 160 acres near Huron in Lancaster township, which they later traded for eighty acres near Shannon. Mr. Ballinger was the possessor at one time of 240 acres of well improved land. As age crept upon this worthy couple they gradually disposed of their land holdings until they retained but forty acres of the home place, and they moved to Atchison in September of 1907, where they invested in a beautiful suburban estate of five acres. Later, when they disposed of the forty acre farm they added ten acres to the suburban tract which has since become very valuable on account of its nearness to the city.
Mr. Ballinger was married September 7, 1870, to Janie Louise Paxson, and to this union have been born children, as follows: Mrs. Evelina Lancaster, of Severance, Kan., who is the mother of six children, namely: Samuel E., Sarah Catharine, William Andrew, Fred, Harry and Leonard: Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Yaple, of Atchison, mother of children as follows: Albert, Louise, Ruth, Esther (deceased), John, Edwin, Austin, Raymond, and Ernest, and twin boys, Harold Paxson and Herbert Ballinger. The mother of these children, Jane Louise (Paxson) Ballinger, was born December 2, 1844, in the city of Philadelphia, daughter of Samuel W. and Catharine (Speer) Paxson. Her father was the son of Irish parents and her mother was born of German parentage. Samuel W. was a carpenter by trade who was married in Camden, N. J., and plied his trade in that vicinity for many years. He served in behalf of the Union during the Civil war in a Pennsylvania regiment of volunteers. A brother, Henry, served in the Tenth regiment of New Jersey volunteer infantry.
Mr. Ballinger has always been a Republican in politics, but has never taken an active part in political matters. He is a member of the Central Protective Association. He is essentially a home man and takes a pride in keeping his attractive home in excellent condition, and can be seen most any day working about the grounds surrounding the Ballinger home. Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger are a worthy couple, kind and indulgent with their children whom they have endeavored to rear so that they might lead upright and worthy lives in the community.