Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeBios/30 Surname: Ballinger, Adams, Fazio ------------------------- Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887 Pages 578-579 Frank M. Ballinger, a highly esteemed citizen of Montrose Township, occupies a fine farm, located on section 36. The history of his family has been an interesting and varied one. His father, Judge Frank Ballinger, Sr., was a native of Knox County, Ky., who devoted himself to the profession of law, and during his early years practiced in the courts of his native State and became eminent as a jurist. He was a friend of and a co-worker with Cassius M. Clay, who sought to bring about the gradual emancipation of slavery. The life of Judge Ballinger was frequently threatened by the pro-slavery men, because he was fearless in his advocacy of human freedom. Believing that the institution of slavery was wrong within itself, and desiring to educate his children in a locality not subject to or under the influence of slavery, he decided to remove with his family to the State of Iowa. He proceeded westward, crossed the Mississippi, and located in Lee County, Iowa. He possessed large means for that time, and here purchased 2,000 acres of land, situated directly on the banks of the Mississippi, between Keokuk and Montrose. Here, in 1856, he erected a fine mansion at a cost of $13,000, which he occupied with his family the remainder of his life. Judge Ballinger, when but a lad, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, as a drummer boy. He was bright and ambitious, and even in his earliest years gave promise of the position in life to which he afterward attained. In early manhood he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Adams, a Kentucky lady, who was born in 1813, and was the sympathizer of her husband in all the various pursuits and difficulties of life, and departed this life Nov 23, 1865. Judge Ballinger survived her but five years, his death occuring Sept 15, 1870. They were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom died in infancy. The remainder grew to years of maturity, and the record is as follows: John died in infancy; Randolph A. died at the age of twenty-three years; Clay and Jennings died in childhood; Susan lived until about the age of twenty-two, and died at her parents' home in Montrose Township, in 1855 or 1856. The others were Frank M., Webster, Sally, William, Jenny, Madison, Lucy and Adams. Sally became the wife of Isaac Hollingsworth, and is now deceased. For many years Judge Ballinger enjoyed an income of $10,000 per year from his professional duties. He presided over the Circuit Court for eight years, in Kentucky, and was prominently known as a lawyer of more than ordinary merit throughout that section of the country. Frank M. Ballinger, the subject of this sketch, was born in Knox County, Ky., June 13, 1839. He remained with his parents until early manhood, receiving careful home training and a good education in select schools, and after coming to this county his father employed a private teacher. He was married, Oct. 5, 1865, to Miss Florence A. Fazio, a lady of Spanish, French and English ancestry, who was born in Washington City, D.C., April 13, 1842. Her parents were Lewis and America (Burch) Fazio, the former a native of Philadelphia, and the latter of Washington City, D.C. The parents of Mrs. B. attended carefully to her education, which was completed in the schools of Washington City, D.C. Their household consisted of three daughters - Florence; Ida, now deceased, was the wife of Maj. J.H. Butler, of the 6th Artillery, U.S. army; the third was Marion Francis. They were highly cultured people. Mrs. B. is connected with the Episcopal Church, and is highly esteemed in the social circles of the community. At the age of twenty-two years Frank M. Ballinger, Jr., entered the service of the Government as clerk in the Treasury Department, and occupied this position for the following six years, or until July, 1867. He finally became wearied with the confinement necessitated by his duties, and resolved to seek an occupation which would secure to him more outdoor exercise, and accordingly, following in the footsteps of his father, sought the Western banks of the Father of Waters and made his first location in Jefferson Township. He has been successful in his agricultural pursuits, and in addition to general farming, is giving much attention to the culture of the small fruits and berries, which yields him a fine income. He has always been a prominent man in his community. His possessions consist of 665 acres of land, besides the fine mansion which was erected by his lamented father. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger has been blest by the birth of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. The living are Frank, Miriam, Ida, Webster, America and John.