Died at the age of 35y 10m 17d.

Oratia Nelson "Oratio or Horatio" Ballenger was the son of Rev. Asa Ballenger (1791-1869) who was born in Virginia; and Amanda Swaar (1795-1867) who was born in New York. Oratio's father was in a Kentucky Regiment which fought in the War of 1812. Oratio's parents were married in Scioto County, Ohio in 1815 and continued to live there through the birth of their first 7 children. They were in Stephenson County, Illinois, when their youngest son was born in about 1837. Oratio had the following known siblings:

Sarah Jane Ballenger 1819-
Burrough Ballenger 1823-
Anna Eliza Ballenger 1825-1901
Mary Ballenger 1825-
Winey Ann Ballenger 1829-
Asa A. Ballanger 1831-1866
John Foxx Ballenger 1834-1921
Josiah C. Ballenger 1837-

In the 1850 census, the family was in Green County, Wisconsin, but by 1860 had returned to Stephenson County, Illinois.

Oratio married Hannah Womeldorf in 1844 in Stephenson County, Illinois. They had the following known children:

Aaron Hiram Ballenger 1846-1902
Aquilla Nelson Ballenger 1847-1930
Amanda B. Ballenger 1849-
Millard Fillmore Ballenger 1851-1927

In the 1850 census of Clarno, Green County, Wisconsin, Oratio Ballenger and his family were living next door to his parents:

Oratio N. Ballenger 33, farmer, born Ohio
Hannah Ballenger 31, born Pennsylvania
Hiram Ballenger 4, born Illinois
Aquilla Ballenger 2, born Illinois
Amanda B. Ballenger 1, born Illinois

Since Amanda was born in Illinois and was only 1 year of age in this census, the Ballengers had apparently just come to Wisconsin in about 1850.

The family apparently did not stay in Wisconsin for long as Oratio reportedly died two years later in 1852 back in Illinois; at least this is where he is buried. Hannah remarried in 1859 to Seba White. In the 1870 census, Hannah and Seba White were living with Hannah and Oratio's son Aquilla Ballenger in Salt River Township of Schuyler County, Missouri, Post Office Lancaster. Two of Hannah and Oratio's sons, Aquilla and Millard, had married sisters in Schuyler County, Missouri, Lucinda and Hannah Dykes. All were living together in this census, as well as Hannah and Oratio's son Aaron:

Aquilla Ballinger 21, farmer, born Illinois
Lucinda Ballinger 17, born Missouri
Aaron Ballinger 24, born Illinois
Millard F. Ballinger 19, farmer, born Illinois
Hannah J. Ballinger 20, born Missouri
Hannah White 52, born Pennsylvania
Seba White 70, born New York

Seba White is believed to have died in 1870 in Schuyler County, Missouri. His burial location is presently unknown.

At some point, Hannah apparently returned to Stephenson County, Illinois, as she is reported to have died there in 1900.

- Information gathered by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis