Her Book

SILAS W. HARLAN
son of Barton Stone Harlan

Silas W. Harlan   1847-1934 -- Farmer

1847 - Born Feb. 20, 1847 in Randolph Co., Indiana

Silas' early years were spent in different locations in Iowa with his family. When his father died he was left in complete charge of the family farm at the age of 22. This was near Gifford in Hardin Co., Iowa. When he married, however, he moved onto his own farm.

1872 - Aug. 25, 1872, he married Susan Whitney.

Several years later due to Susan's illnesses which used up most of their income for medical expenses, they moved back to his mother's home.

1881 - In the spring of 1881, Silas, in company of other families emigrated to Furnas Co., NE where he obtained a quarter section of good land. With renewed vigor and zeal, he improved his land and prospered well for a year or more.

1885 - In the autumn of 1885, Silas was afflicted with a "disease of the throat, and for a time his life was disappaired of." Caring for her husband took its toll on Susan and she took quite ill and died suddenly on Sept. 3, 1885. Here remains were taken to Iowa for burial in the family cemetery.

1887 - Silas remained there until the spring of 1887 when he returned to Furnas Co., and made his home with his brother for a while.

1889 - In 1889 he married again and they lived on the homestead until 1918 when he retired and bought a home in Holbrook, NE where they lived until their deaths.

1934 - Silas died in Holbrook, Nebraska.


        Issue of Silas and Susan Harlan: 1 child

        Dorothy B.   1873-1950;   m. W. Maurice Ball 1895 in Arapahoe, NE
        Maurice Ball b. 1873 in Beloit, KS to Rev. J.W. and Mary Ball.
Artist, photographer, employed by Burlington R.R. as a telegrapher. They had a portrait and art studio in Beaver City, NE, but in 1912 they moved to Corvallis, Oregon where they established the Ball (Photo) Studios.
        This business was still going strong in the late 1980s. I found an
        advertisement in a national newspaper and wrote to check it out.
        The operations are in the hands of third and fourth generations.

        Issue of Dorothy and Maurice Ball 6 sons

(Each child was born in a different town in Kansas or Nebraska, due to the job that Mr. Ball held as a telegrapher. The RR company moved him every two years).
        Waldo, 1896-x; a physician in Corvallis many years; m. Mabel Derrikman
        Ted, 1897-x; a prominent rancher in eastern Oregon
        Robert, 1900-1972; head of Ball Studios at one time; Presbyterians;
                m. Esther Cecil Hayes, daughter of John Hayes and Eliza Smith of
                Corvallis. In 1988 Esther owns the farms established by her
                grandfather, Greenbury Smith.
                        Issue : one daughter, Elizabeth Ann "Mickey", 1927-x;
                          m. 1947 to Keith William Peterson
                                Issue of Mickey and Keith Peterson, 2 children;
                                  Holly, 1936-x; m. Holst; runs the Studios w/ parents
                                  Heather, 1950-x;
        Richard, 1901-x; has Ball Studios in Astoria, OR
        Roger, 1906-x; works for RR in Pendleton, OR
        Wendell, 1911-1948; a doctor; died in car crash

Silas m.2 in 1889 to Jessie Scott
        Issue of Silas and Jessie Harlan, 2 girls
        Gladys Irene, 1891-1935; m. Ben Parish, lived in North Platte, NE
        Nellie, x-x; m. Robert Roepke; two daughters, Darlene, m. Carlson