Ramsey-Farrell Family
Person Page 877

   Main Page  Master Index  Surname Index  Master Place Index  Charts

Leopold Joseph Balza1 (M)
b. 14 Nov 1833, d. 13 Sep 1913
Pop-up Pedigree
Charts Pedigree for Mary Alice Farrell
Father*30 Dec 1807Jean Baptiste Balza2,3
Mother*c 1803Marie Catherine Josephe Prevot4,3
HTML* 
Leopold Balza was born in Orbais, Brabant Province, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. In 1857, as a young adult accompanying his parents and siblings, Leopold moved to the U.S. as part of the mass Belgian Emigration to Northeast Wisconsin. There in Door County, he married, raised two daughters, and farmed over a span of almost thirty years. He fought in the American Civil War, as a private in the 18th Wisconsin Infantry, and participated in Sherman's March to the Sea. (His pension file has been a rich source of information; see below.) He was a farmer essentially all his life, and participated in yet another mass population movement, the Westward Migration to the Dakota Territory. He moved with his wife, his two daughters, and their families to what is now Cavour, South Dakota, where he lived nearly thirty years more.
Birth*14 Nov 1833Orbais, Brabant, Belgium5,6
HRR Detail14 Nov 1833Orbais, Brabant, Belgium, Birth Record, Leopold Joseph Balza

L'an mil huit cent trente-trois, le quinze du mois de novembre, à onze heure du matin, par-devant nous Auguste Guiotte Bourgmastre, Officier de l'état civil de la commune d'Orbais, province de Brabant, est comparu Balzat Jean Baptiste, ágè de vingt sept ans, profession de journalier, domiciliè au cette Commune, le quel nous a présenté un infant du sexe masculin, né en sa maison, le quatorze du présent mois, a six heure du soir, de le déclarant et de Catherine Josephe Privot, son epouse, et auquel il déclaré vouloir donnez le prénom de Leopold Joseph.

The year 1833, the fifteenth of the month of November, at eleven o'clock in the morning, before us Auguste Guiotte, Mayor, officer of the civl registry of the town of Orbais, province of Brabant, has appeared Balzat, Jean Baptiste, aged twenty-seven years, profession of day-laborer, residing in this town, who has presented to us an infant of the masculine sex, born at his home, the fourteenth of the present month, at six o'clock in the evening, to the declarer and to Catherine Josephe Privot, his spouse, and to whom he has declared that he wishes to give the first name(s) Leopold Joseph.

Witnesses: Pierre Joseph Lambilliote, Antonie Augustin Dandoy6
Immigration*Jun 1857Port of Green Bay, Brown Co., Wisconsin, USA5
Naturalization*9 Oct 1858Brown Co., Wisconsin, USA, Declaration of Intention. Signed in own hand as Leopold Balzat.5
Census27 Jul 1860Dwelling 451, Brussel, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Listed as Paul Belzer, age 13, male, born Belgium, attending school7
Marriage*4 Dec 1861Marie Catherine Delsipee; near Green Bay, Brown Co., Wisconsin, USA, Different depositions in pension file give both this date and 20 Dec 1860, and give location as 6-1/2 or 9 miles from Green Bay8,9,10
Daughter*24 Mar 1862Emerance Joseph Balza11
Daughter*30 Apr 1864Clementine Joseph Balza+12
Occupationb 4 Oct 1864Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Farmer10
Description*4 Oct 18645'1-1/2", brown eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion13
Milit-Beg*4 Oct 1864U.S. Civil War, Union Army. Drafted 4 Oct 1864 for 1 year. Reported for duty 8 Oct 1864. Private, Co. G, 18th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry.14,13
Anecdote* Participated in Sherman's March to the Sea through Georgia with the 18th Wisconsin Regiment (Union). More than 30 years after the war, he applied for a disability pension, claiming a serious foot injury including loss of a toe, a hernia, and dyspepsia, all incurred during the war. A reading of his lengthy pension file makes it clear that the claims were valid, but investigators didn't initially accept his pension request.

The delay in applying probably contributed, as did communication difficulties between the English-speaking investigators and Leopold, who still spoke little English. Indeed, the original application states that he received no medical treatment at the time, though it's clear he was taken by ambulance to Regimental Headquarters, where he remained for medical treatment for an extended period.

As a result of its controversial nature, the pension investigation contains a wealth of depositions by Leopold, friends, family members, a fellow soldier, and his company commander over a period of 24 years! It even contains a deposition by his sister, Marie-Therese Balza Counard, who apparently didn't believe he was disabled, and didn't know he was missing a toe.

Bureaucratic red tape, and a bit of cultural intolerance, are on clear display in this record. But Leopold's amazing persistence prevailed. He received a pension, apparently beginning about 1898, though investigations and depositions continued until a year before his death.10
Milit-End*18 Jul 1865Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Discharged15,14,13
Occupation*3 Aug 1870Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Farmer11
Census*3 Aug 1870Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Dwelling 38. Listed as Leopold Balza. Age 40, white male. Value of real/personal property $1000/600. Born Belgium of non-US parents. Cannot read or write, U.S. citizen.11
Residence*20 Sep 1870NW/4 NE/4 30-27N-24E (40 acres), Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Federal Land Patent16
Residence15 Sep 1875S/2 NE/4 & NW/4 SE/4 22-40N-2E (120 acres), Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, According to family tradition, first farm was too rocky, so he obtained another land grant.17
Census24 Jun 1880Dwelling 90, Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Listed as Leopold Balza, age 49, white male, married, farmer, born Belgium of Belgian parents.18
Occupation24 Jun 1880Gardner, Door Co., Wisconsin, USA, Farmer18
ResidenceMar 1885Cavour, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Visited South Dakota to look for land in summer 188419
HRR Detail*9 Jul 1888District Court, Cavour, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Pension Application File No. 663636 and Pension Certificate No. 508462:

9 Jul 1888: Declaration for Original Invalid Pension: Claims: (1) At Newburn, South Carolina about 1 Feb 1865, he contracted dyspepsia by reason of bad diet and over duty and irregular meals; (2) On or about 1 May 1865, while on march to Goldsborough, South Carolina, while on picket duty he was attacked and while retreating across a creek he cut his foot across the three last or small toes which resulted in loss of the little toe in about a month after his discharge. He was not treated for the wound of foot[sic] nor for the dyspepsia. He was a farmer both before and after his military service, and is now very lately disabled from such manual labor because of these injuries. Signed with his original signature.

Undated, presumably same date: General Affidavit by David Salmon (age 50) and Joseph Delvaux (age 64): They attest that they have been neighbors of Leopold Balza four years last March, see him about once per week, and he has been about half disabled for that entire time by an injury to his right foot and has complained of dyspepsia. Signed with their original signatures.

Undated, presumably same date: General Affidavit by Frank Baye (age 30) and Constant Engebous (age 39): They attest that they have known Leopold and been neighbors of his ever since he came out of the army in the summer of 1865, have seen him about every two weeks ever since, and that they have observed him to be about half disabled over that entire period by a foot injury and dyspepsia. Signed with original signature of Frank Baye, mark of Constant Engebous.

8 Oct 1888: Bureau of Pensions request to the War Department for relevant records of Leopold Balza.

19 Dec 1888: War Department reply, verifying details of service, but with no evidence of disability.

4 Jun 1890: Deposition by Joseph L. Cotey (age 59, now lumber inspector). He states that he entered Co. G, 18th Wisc as a private 5 Nov 1861, came out Capt 19 Jul 1865, serving with that company the entire time. He remembered Leopold Balza joining the company (drafted, he believed) at Newburn, North Carolina. He remembered him particularly because Leopold didn't speak English well and was assigned to Cotey's company because Cotey could speak French. He remembered that Leopold was very sick during the advance to Raleigh, North Carolina. Cotey remembered riding in the ambulance with Leopold, and seemed to recall that Leopold fell and injured his foot or leg, rendering him lame. He also complained of pain in his stomach the whole time, walking with his hand on his stomach. Leopold was excused from duty for awhile while he was at Reg (Hdqtrs/Hospt?). He eventually was able to return to duty and was with them until his discharge, though he was lame in one foot. The injury was in late Apr to early May 1865. More details could be obtained from Joseph Hannon, Gregoire Dupout, Julian Dechlet, Desire Leglise (all of Green Bay), men of the same nationality with whom Leopold spent his time while in the company. Signed with his original signature.

11 Jul 1890: Deposition by Frank Baye, age 30, farmer. He states that he was born in the neighborhood in which Leopold lived in 1860, and remembers him about as early as he can remember anything. He worked for Leopold in 1881, and first became aware of mild lameness. Leopold came to Frank's father's house once in a while. He has always lived within 5 or 6 miles of Leopold, is his son-in-law, and they moved together to South Dakota in 1885. Previously, they had lived only in Door Co., Wisconsin. He knows that Leopold has always indicated he had stomach pain, though he wasn't a complaining sort. He remembers mild lameness in one foot, but was unaware there was a toe missing until about 1886. He has no personal knowledge of the cause.

18 Dec 1894: General Affidavit by Leopold Balza. Claims that he sustained a left inguinal hernia at Samsville Kentucky about June 1865, but was too modest to report it, did not understand its disabling nature, and can produce no witness, but has been disabled to a gradually increasing degree by this injury. Signed with his original signature.

13 Oct 1897: Response by Leopold Balza to specific questions from the Bureau of Pensions. Indicates: (1) His wife is Mary Catherine Delcipa; (2) They were married 4 Dec 1861 in a church about 6-1/2 miles from Green Bay by a minister named Dom; (3) They signed a book in the church, but apparently have no record of their own; (4) Neither was ever married before; (5) Their children are two daughters, Amaras b c 24 Mar 1862 and Clemoiter b c 15 Apr 1864. Signed by his original signature.

8 Dec 1897: General Affidavit by Frank Baye (age 36) and Constant Engebos (age 47). They attest that they been well acquainted with Leopold ever since 1867 (underlined) and that he is a man of good moral habits. Signed with original signature of Frank Baye and mark of Constant Engbos.

8 Dec 1897: General Affidavit by Leopold Balza (age 66). He states that he has tried, with the assistance of a lawyer, to find someone to attest to his habits prior to the claimed injury, but has not been able to contact anyone who has known him that long. Signed with his original signature.

3 May 1898: Replies by Leopold Balza to questions presented to him by the Bureau of Pensions along with a quarterly pension payment. He states: (1) His wife's name is Mary Catharine Delsipee; (2) He was married 20 Dec 1860 at Bay St. Lima (surely Bay Settlement), 9 miles from Green Bay; (3) A copy of the church record of the wedding is enclosed (but not in the pension file); (4) He was never previously married; (5) His children are two daughters: Amaris b 24 Mar 1862, Clemanton b 12 Apr 1864. Signed with his original signature. (HRR: Note the implication that he was already receiving pension payments by this time.)

28 May 1912: Declaration for Pension by Leopold Balza. He identifies himself as pensioner 508462, gives details of service, and states that: (1) He was born 15 Nov 1845 at Orbay, Belgium; (2) He is unable to provide complete details as to enlistment and discharge, because he sent those papers to this department several years ago and they were not returned. Signed with his original signature.

(Some original material misplaced, but reconstructed here from detailed HRR notes, 1976)

(from notes) William Simpson, of Sevastopol, Door Co., Wisconsin, married a niece of Leopold. John B. Kounard, of Gardiner, Door Co., Wisconsin, married a sister of Leopold. Kounard age 58 on 11 Oct 1890, farmer. Simpson age 48 on 10 Oct 1890 (carpenter)

(from notes) Marie Teresa Kounard was sister of Leopold, age 52 on 11 Oct 1890, says Leopold sometimes drank a little too much, but not drunkard. Didn't think he had any disability, and didn't know he'd ever lost a toe.

(from notes) Constant Engebous, 11 July 1890: First knew Leopold about 1870 or 1872, when living in Door Co., Wisconsin. Married his daughter in the year 1881, and has lived a close neighbor ever since. Came with Leopold to South Dakota in 1885, and was located in the same neighborhood, and have lived there ever since.

(from notes) 18th Wisconsin:
1 Feb 1865 Baltimore, Maryland
11 Feb 1865 New Burn, North Carolina
31 Mar 1865 Goldsboro, North Carolina
30 Apr 1865 Raleigh, North Carolina
Day-to-day activities in record of 93rd Illinois Infantry, to whom they were attached.

(from notes) Examiner says (July 1890) that Balza's English was very poor. Unable to fully comprehend. "His wife could not speak a word of English though she had lived in this country since before the war, and was married in this country, about five years before claimant enlisted." Constant Engebous, David Salmon "could not speak English, though they too had lived in this country for over a quarter of a century and under America's greatest progress." Frank Baye spoke both French and English well, and acted as interpreter.

(from notes) Gregoire Dupout affidavit corroborates Leopold story on foot.

(from notes) Statement of Joseph Delvaux: Leopold was in South Dakota looking for land in summer 1884. Moved there in March 1885.

(from notes) Letter from Frank J. Baye: Leopold died 13 Sep 1913 at 7PM in Login(?) township, Beadle Co., South Dakota.

(from notes) 20 Oct 1913: Dropped from pension rolls because of death.10
Census1 Jun 1900Cavour, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Dwelling 14. Listed as Bilza Leobola. Head of household. White male born Nov 1830, age 69. Married 40 years. Immigrated 1861, in US 39 years, naturalized. Born Belgium of Belgian parents. Occupation R.R. trackman last 5 months. Read, write, speak English. Owned free house.20
Occupation1 Jun 1900Cavour, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Railroad trackman.

Family tradition also states that either Frank Baye or Leopold Balza was foreman on railroad to Cavour. The tracks only went that far; there was no bridge to Huron yet.20
Census1905Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Listed as Leopold Balza. Age 67, born Birib, Belgium of Belgian parents. Years in South Dakota 20, years in U.S. 40.21
Census9 May 1910Logan, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Dwelling 129, household of Frank J. Baye, as father-in-law. Listed as Leopold Balza. Age 72, white male, widowed. Born Belg-French of Belg-French parents. Emigrated 1853, naturalized. Speaks English, has own income. Can read, not write. Union army.22
Death*13 Sep 1913Logan Township, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Date of 13 Sep 1914, on tombstone and burial record, is clearly wrong. Obituary (with incorrect reference to Leopold as "Grandpa" Baye) appeared 16 Sep 1913, and pension was terminated 20 Oct 1913 due to death on 13 Sep 1913.23,24,25
Burial*a 13 Sep 1913Section 1, Lot 8, Grave 4 or 5, St. Patrick's Cemetary, Cavour, Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA26
Probate15 Oct 1913Beadle Co., South Dakota, USA, Probate record shows cash estate of $182.23, distributed to the following heirs: Emi(sene?) (presumably Emerence) Engebos, Frank J. Baye, Joseph H. Baye, Sylvan J. Baye, Agnes M. Farrel, Jennie M. Baye, August M. Baye, Emil Baye, Emily R. Baye.27
Last Edited17 Feb 2006 

Citations
  1. Listed as Leopold in most sources, Leopold Joseph on Clementine's birth certificate, Paul in 1860 census, and known as "Uncle Paul" to some family members.
  2. [S74] Pension File, Leopold Balza, Application No. 663,636 and Certificate No. 508462, Bureau of Pensions, U.S. Department of the Interior, File spans period from 9 Jul 1888 to 20 Oct 1913, photocopy in possession of the writer, Deponent in pension claim was his sister, Marie Theresa Kounard. Her marriage certificate names her parents.
  3. [S88] Civil Registry (Births), Orbais, Brabant, Belgium, Jean Baptiste Balzat Family, Film No. 1080260, abstracted 1813-1870, as read by Mary Ann Defnet (film on order).
  4. [S74] U.S. Pension File 663,636 and Cerficate No. 508462, photocopy in possession of the writer, Deponent in pension claim was his sister, Marie Theresa Kounard..
  5. [S72] Declaration of Intention, Leopold Balza, Circuit Court of Brown Co., Wisconsin, 9 Oct 1858, Brown Series 28, Box 4, Folder 2, Area Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
  6. [S153] Registres de l'État Civil, Orbais, Brabant Province, Belgium, Birth Record of Leopold Joseph Balza, 14 May 1833 (filed 15 May 1833), (FHS microfilm 1080260), Herschel Rudolph Ramsey.
  7. [S89] 1860 U.S. Census (Free Inhabitants), Brussel, Door Co., Wisconsin, Household of Jean Baptiste Balza, p. 55 (roll 1402, book 1, p. 944), lines 21-28, family 452, dwelling 451, accessed online at www.genealogy.com.
  8. [S49] Unknown author, Pre-1907 Marriage Records, Door County, Wisconsin, Civil Registry, Certificate 509 in unknown series (n.p.: Peninsula Genealogical Society, unknown publish date).
  9. [S50] Charles I. Martin, History of Door County (Wisconsin) in unknown series (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin: Espositor Job Print, 1881).
  10. [S74] U.S. Pension File 663,636 and Cerficate No. 508462, photocopy in possession of the writer.
  11. [S46] 1870 U.S. Census (Inhabitants), Gardner Township, Door County, Wisconsin, household of Leopold Balza, p. 6 (roll 1712, book 1, p. 26b), lines 16-19, family 38, dwelling 38, accessed online at www.genealogy.com.
  12. [S53] Birth Certificate of Clementine Joseph Balza, Gardner, Door, Wisconsin, 30 Apr 1864, 16 dec 1867.
  13. [S90] Muster Roll, 18th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, Leopold Balza, 14 Nov 1864 to July 18 1865, unknown publish date, Herschel Rudolph Ramsey.
  14. [S45] John Henry Mertens, The Second Battle: A Story of Our Belgian Ancestors in the American Civil War 1861-1865 in unknown series (n.p.: n.pub., 1986), cited on PenBelGen website; original not consulted.
  15. [S57] Certificate of Service Issued by State Historical Society of Wisconsin, unknown publish date.
  16. [S61] Land Patent, NW/4 NE/4 30-27N-24E, (Door Co.), Wisconsin (40 acres), 20 Sep 1870, Homestead Certificate 127, Application 82, Land Office at Menasha, Wisconsin., unknown publish date.
  17. [S62] Land Patent, S/2 NE/4 & NW/4 SE/4 22-40N-2E, (Door Co.), Wisconsin (120 acres), 15 Sep 1875, Homestead Certificate 414, Application 2090, Land Office at Wausau, Wisconsin, unknown publish date.
  18. [S47] 1880 U.S. Census (Inhabitants), Gardner Township, Door County, Wisconsin, Household of Leopold Balza, p. 23 (roll 1424, book 1, p. 60b), lines 23-26, family 96, dwelling 90, accessed online at www.genealogy.com.
  19. [S74] U.S. Pension File 663,636 and Cerficate No. 508462, photocopy in possession of the writer, Joseph Delvaux deposition in pension file.
  20. [S52] 1900 U.S. Census (Population), Cavour Township, Beadle County, South Dakota, household of Leopold Balza, p. 67a, lines 69-70, family 14, dwelling 14, accessed online at www.genealogy.com.
  21. [S60] 1905 South Dakota State Census, Beadle Co., Leopold Balza.
  22. [S55] 1910 U.S. Census, Logan, Beadle Co., South Dakota, Household of Frank J. Baye, dwelling 129.
  23. [S80] Pensioner Dropped Form, Dept. of the Interior, Leopold Balza, 20 Oct 1913, unknown publish date, Letter from Frank Baye indicates Logan (Login?) Township.
  24. [S58] Photo of Tombstone, Leopold J. Balza, St. Patrick's Cemetary, Cavour, Beadle, South Dakota, Jul 1977, Date incorrect per other evidence.
  25. [S99] Obituary, Leopold Balza, The Daily Huronite, 16 Sep 1913, (n.p.: n.pub., 16 Sep 1913), p. 4.
  26. [S58] Photo of Tombstone, Leopold J. Balza, St. Patrick's Cemetary, Cavour, Beadle, South Dakota.
  27. [S100] Probate record of Leopold Balza, Case No. 1574, Book 2, p. 15, Probate Register of Beadle Co., South Dakota, 15 Oct 1913, 15 Oct 1913.



   Main Page  Master Index  Surname Index  Master Place Index  Charts

Compiler:
Rudy Ramsey
7644 E. Lakecliff Way Parker, CO 80134-5933

This page was created by John Cardinal's Second Site v1.8.0.
Site updated on 2 May 2006 from RAMSEY; 1,869 people