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My grandmother was Inez Ballard. I don’t know her maiden name. She was married to Furman Eugene Ballard, they lived in South Carolina and had 5 children. My grandmother was Cherokee. She passed away when my dad was 5, my dad and his siblings were adopted out to a white family (Barnes)and used as farm hands. My dad passed away in May, and his other siblings have passed as well. According to my dad, my grandmother passed away in 1948 or 49…he was 5. Can you please help us? I want to know everything I can about my grandmother.

Comments

  1. Sure, happy to help.

    First thing to know is that Inez Ballard was not a Cherokee. She was from standard Euro-American background. Her parents are found here:

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118672948/charles-singleton-cheshire

    And here is her obit:

    “Mrs. Inez Cheshire Ballard, 38, died suddenly this afternoon at 6:15’o’clock at her home in the Holiday Dam section of Anderson county. Surviving are her husband, Furman Eugene Ballard; two daughters, Josie and Elizabeth Ballard, all of Honea Path, Route 3; four sons, Charles, Furman, Jr., Jerry and Ray Ballard, all of Honea Path; her mother, Mrs. Allle Jones Cheshire: four sisters. Mrs. Ray ford Ashley. Belton. Mrs. Bill Ashley. Honea Path, Mr. Sylvester Alewine, Williamston, and Mrs. Otto Kelley, Anderson; and three brothers, Pears Cheshire. Turens, Lee Che shire, Ware Shoals, and Ruben Cheshire” Belton

    October 3, 1947
    The Greenville News
    Greenville, South Carolina · Page 10

    Inez’s father was Charles S. Cheshire. Here is his obit:

    “Charles S. Cheshire. 72, died at his home in the Mount Bethel community this afternoon at 5:45 o clock alter an illness of several weeks. He was born and reared in the Shady Grove community of Ander son county, but had made his home here for several years. He was the son of the late Dr. R. L. Cheshire and Sue Arthur Cheshire. surviving nun are three sons, Reuben, and Lewyn Cheshire, five daughters, Mrs. Rayford Ashley, Mrs. Otto Kelly, Mrs. J. F. Alewine, Mrs. Furman Ballard, and Miss Victorline Cheshire; one brother, Allen Cheshire; two sisters, Mrs. J. H. McKlnney and Mrs. Lola Dugan; and eight grandchildren.”

    October 12, 1941
    The Greenville News
    Greenville, South Carolina · Page 17

    Charles father was a Dr.,. His parents are found here:
    https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=60525&h=42854468&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=60901

    Inez’s mother was Allie Jones. Her parents can be found here:

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89450115/andrew-dunn-jones

    All of these lines trace back to old colonial European stock. There is no Cherokee connection whatsoever.

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