Ball Saga #3 – Meet Abigail

Meet Abigail Ball born 28 September 1812 and although she was not in a census that we would know where she was born (died 30 Sept 1846 before the 1850 census) it would be logical she was born where several of her brothers and sisters were and where parents lived and were married in Butler County, Ohio. We do know for sure that she married Edwin Quick (born 28 August 1805 in Westchester County NY son of Elijah and Sally Reynolds Quick) on November 21, 1830 right here in Montgomery County. Although she was the mother of eight children, Salona did not mature to adulthood and others were fairly young at death.

So wish there was a picture of this gal or a story or two but at least she does have a pretty stone (photo from FindAGrave – thanks to Nancy Pickel) and although Ed was married twice more, they are both buried in Liberty with those children and his father.

Their oldest son, Nathaniel rests at Liberty Chapel, as well, born May 30th in 1832 and passing 4 April 1895, Montgomery of course! Nathaniel followed in his father’s footsteps, being a farmer and he raised lots of stock, as well. I was impressed with this fellow that he had the common township school education but after he was married, he went for a year to Merom Union Christian College. He married a local gal, Catherine Groendyke who mothered their children (Flora; Jessie died age three; Clara; Thomas B. who also died age three; Abby died at six months; Nathaniel and Daisy (died a few months old as well, her mother passing two days after her birth). Nathaniel married Sweak Cook in 1877. Nathaniel was a member for decades of the New Light Christian Church. His second wife was a Campbellite Christian. Nathaniel owned 262 acres of land and in politics (rare for this area) was a Greenbacker. (Beckwith History). Nathan died within a mile of his place of birth and loved his community, country and church, passing as one of the county’s most respected folks.

Abigail Ball’s second son was Stebbins Quick born the month and day of my dad (26 August) in 1833. Quite a brilliant man, he was well loved by his neighbors and all with whom he came in contact. He was quite charitable to anyone who needed his help. Although his obituary does not mention he was in the Civil War, his brother’s 1881 Beckwith article says Stebbins was indeed in the 72nd Indiana Volunteers for six months but was discharged on account of disability. His pension papers note he was in Co E of the 73rd beginning his pension June 3, 1876 and wife Cynthia received it for just a couple of months before her death. Don’t know if that had anything to do with Stebbins’s fairly young death (lacking a few days to his 63rd birthday) which occurred after an operation. At age 20, Stebbins married Cynthia Utterback (30 Nov 1836), who was the daughter of Harmon and Anna Wilson. Evidently, she was sick at Stebbins’ death and passed away in November that year not yet 60 years old in great pain with cancer of the stomach. A member of Liberty Chapel, she and Stebbins are also buried there. They were parents of five daughters (Florence, Abigail, Rhoda, Elizabeth and Allie) three passing young with Rhoda marrying Aaron Monroe (and Miles Lewis having a daughter Maude who married William Squire Merrell and mothered four sons and two daughters) and Elizabeth marrying George Petro (Children: Harmon who died at age 18 and Bertha).

Next we have Margaret Jane (12 Jan 1848 – 12 Oct 1878 buried Liberty Chapel) who married Omer Mason – although I had a note she mothered six children I could only find Abigail; Charles; Bodie (died age 3); Dora (died in infancy); and Monroe. These children went on to Wisconsin; Illinois and Kansas except Monroe stayed right here.

Martha Ann Quick born 30 June 1836 married in MoCo April 1854 to William Jasper Teeter. They moved to Canton, Mississippi where both passed (she in Jan 1920 but is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Monticello, Ind). They had three children Abigail, Alice and Dennis (who was the first rural mail carrier from Monticello to Winamac). His obit says he began teaching at age 10 but wow is that hard to believe.

The next of Abigail’s children did not stay here but married Henry Gates Wildman (1840-1886) and they moved to Piatt County, Illinois. Sarah Ellen Quick was born 29 May 1842 and died in Piatt County also in 1886 on July 3rd from a wild man’s (Henry) horrid hands. He had sent the older children into Bement to attend a fourth of July celebration. He then picked a quarrel with Sarah and she started to leave him but he persuaded her to come back and he then took her into the kitchen, severing her head almost off. Next, he told their two little ones to go next door and tell their neighbors that he had killed his wife. He then tried to kill himself in the cornfield but the knife was dull from his earlier deed. He did leave a trail that the neighbors followed and found him. He was not expected to live but he did. It took a huge posse to stop a large mob not finishing his botched job however. Later (in October ready for trial) that deed was finished off. They were parents of four sons (Harvey, Herbert, Francis and Walter) and three daughters (Edwina, Emma and Hulda). Oddly, Henry had a wonderful wife, children and a large farm and threw it all away. How sad. Another tragedy in this family was that Harvey was a well-to-do-very loved man at Elwood, Nebraska and while his (Dec 1905) family was gathered around the fire side his 15-year-old son was holding a small rifle, cleaning it and accidentally shot and killed his father. Harvey left eight children.

Hulda Quick married 2 May 1866 to John T. Utterback. John would father ten children but only three with Hulda before her death (Nancy, Edwin and Leonettie) 28 August 1879. Nancy married Arza Sherman McClamrock and mothered three to grow to quite an age (the last almost 102) Lester, Lucile and Evelyn. Edwin went to Iowa where he passed away in Dec 1937 and Leonettie married Charles Austin Tiffany mothering at least George (died age 4) and Claudine (died age 11).

Since the last child (Albert Johnson Quick) of Abigail’s was born in September 1846 and she died then it was probably due to childbirth complications. He passed away Oct 10 in 1924 and is also buried at Liberty Chapel, he and wife Lovilla having at least one child, Earnest who had at least one child, Earnest.

Nice family but so sad about her one daughter and so many early deaths. Rest in peace, sweetie!

Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].