Hannah E. Brown Ballenger, My Great-Great Aunt (52 Ancestors #22)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

The Informative Marriage License

On the 23^rd of August 1900, Hannah E. Brown of Hillsboro, Highland, Ohio married Joe Ballenger from Kentucky.   Hannah, the youngest daughter of Thomas Brown and Jane Clark, was my great-great aunt.

Marriage record for Hannah Brown and Joe Ballenger 

Hannah and Joe’s marriage record was one of the richest such documents I have in my collection. While I still plan to transcribe the document,  here's just a list of delectable data:

1. Bride’s name and age:  Hannah Brown, 24
2. Bride’s residence: Hillsboro, Highland, Ohio
3. Bride’s parents:  father’s surname - Brown, mother’s maiden name – Hill [see note below]
4. Bride: not a widow or divorced
5. Groom’s name and age: Joe Ballenger, 33 on undecipherable date
6. Groom’s occupation: painter
7. Groom’s place of birth and residence: Kentucky
8. Groom’s parents:  father - B. B. Ballenger, mother’s maiden name – Jane Collins
9. Groom: previously married once and has no wife living
10. Both: not nearer kin than second cousins and no impediments to marriage
11. Rev. J. P. Curran expected to perform the ceremony
12. Church:  As. G. [possibly Assembly of God]
13. Signed by H.P. Morrow, Deputy Clerk, and possibly bride and groom
14. Marriage license completed in Probate Court, Hillsboro, Highland, Ohio
15. Certified on 23 Aug 1900, Number 56961
16. Filed and recorded on 27 Aug 1900, signed by Probate Judge:  O. H. Hughes

Note:  After Hannah’s parents divorced, she lived with her mother’s brother and his wife Mahlon Clark and Margaret Hill Clark.  The 1880 census recorded Hannah as the adopted daughter of the Clarks.

Hannah's sister and my great grandmother Ida May Brown Kendall continues to be an elusive ancestor. By researching sideways, hopefully a cousin connection may appear through Hannah Brown Ballenger and Joe Ballenger. 

Future Research

Follow-up on people named in marriage record

Track Hannah and Joe in census records

Identify and track any children
Determine if Hannah was legally adopted

Sources

Marriage record: FamilySearch.org
Hannah's middle initial:  Thomas Brown's Civil War Pension Record