John F. Ballier Papers Ms
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John F. Ballier papers Ms. Coll. 11 Finding aid prepared by Violet Lutz. Last updated on August 28, 2012. German Society of Pennsylvania, Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library 2011.01 John F. Ballier papers Table of Contents Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3 Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4 Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4 Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 5 Related Materials........................................................................................................................................... 6 Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6 Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8 Correspondence related the 21st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861. See also series VII and VIII (oversize).......................................................................................................................................... 8 Documents related to the 98th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and its veterans, 1863-1891. See also series VII and VIII (oversize)..........................................................................................................8 Personal papers of John F. Ballier, 1876-1892.......................................................................................9 Records of discharges and payments to veterans of various Civil War regiments, 1863-1869.............10 Scrapbook of John F. Ballier................................................................................................................ 12 General orders and circulars..................................................................................................................13 Oversize I (14-1/2 x 11-1/2"). Documents related to the 21st and 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers.............................................................................................................................................. 13 Oversize II (Gallery box, 36 x 24"). Documents related to the 21st and 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers........................................................................................................................13 - Page 2 - John F. Ballier papers Summary Information Repository German Society of Pennsylvania: Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library Creator Ballier, John F. (John Frederick), 1815-1893 Title John F. Ballier papers Call number Ms. Coll. 11 Date circa 1831-1892 Extent 2.5 linear feet (6 boxes) Language English Language details In English, with some German. Abstract The collection primarily includes records related to the Civil War service of John F. Ballier, including correspondence, guard reports, muster rolls, military orders, and other papers pertaining to the 21st and the 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which Ballier commanded. Other papers of Ballier include a handwritten copy of a resolution of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, Third Regiment, acknowledging Ballier's retirement in 1876; and a personal scrapbook of correspondence, memorabilia, ephemera, and clippings documenting his Civil War service as well as other events throughout his life. Many items in the scrapbook relate to German-American societies and festivities in Philadelphia. Also included are records of discharges and payments to veterans of regiments in Pennsylvania and in other states; and a volume entitled Pennsylvania Militia Legion cashbook. - Page 3 - John F. Ballier papers Cite as: John F. Ballier papers, Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library, German Society of Pennsylvania Biography/History Born in Aurich, county of Vaihingen, in what was then the Kingdom of Württemberg, John Ballier trained as a baker. In 1838 he emigrated with his wife to the United States. Upon settling in Philadelphia, he established a bakery. Later he joined the militia as a member of the Washington Light Infantry Company, with which he saw battle in Mexico in 1846-1847. After retiring from the baking business in 1852, Ballier served as Captain of the night-watch in the Philadelphia Mint from 1852 to 1861. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Ballier formed the 21st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers for three months' service, holding the rank of Colonel. When, at the expiration of that term, he was ordered to recruit a regiment for three years' service, he organized the 98th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Fighting with the 98th in the Battle of Fort Stevens, Washington, D. C., 12 July 1864, he was wounded (for the second time in the war) and was visited afterwards by President Lincoln, who conferred upon him the rank of Brevet Brigadier General. Ballier returned permanently to Philadelphia in December 1865, and purchased a hotel at 4th Street and Fairmount Avenue. Subsequently he served as Day Inspector of the Philadelphia Custom House, 1866-1867; as City Commissioner, 1867-1870; and as Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, from 1869 until his retirement in 1876. Ballier was a co-founder of the Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein in 1873. He was also a member of the German Hospital of the City of Philadelphia, and the German Society of Pennsylvania. Scope and Contents The collection comprises primarily records related to the Civil War service of John F. Ballier, including correspondence, guard reports, muster rolls, military orders, and other papers related to the 21st and the 98th Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which Ballier commanded. Muster rolls are for companies under Christoph Meyer, Henry de Crauzat, Dennis Mullen, and Frank Baker. Included are documents and - Page 4 - John F. Ballier papers a photograph pertaining to the erection of the soldiers' monument for the 98th Regiment in Battleground National Cemetery, Washington, D. C., in 1891. Other papers of Ballier include a handwritten journal that he kept in 1864, concerning the activities of his regiment; documents from 1864 to 1865 relating to the two times that he was wounded in battle, the review of his case by medical officers, and his honorable discharge; and a handwritten copy of a resolution of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, Third Regiment, acknowledging Ballier's retirement in 1876. An item of special significance is a large personal scrapbook assembled by Ballier, containing correspondence, memorabilia, ephemera, and clippings related to his Civil War service as well as to other events throughout his life. Many items reflect activities of an array of German-American societies in Philadelphia. Ballier was revered figure in the German-American community of Philadelphia, and served as chief marshal at major events such as the Humboldt anniversary celebration of 1869, and the Friedens- Fest, or Peace Celebration, commemorating the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871. As a founding member and long-time Vice President of the Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein, he was also a central figure in the activities of that society, including the annual folk festival; and, in 1861, the ceremony for the unveiling of the statue of Schiller that the society erected in Fairmount Park. Also included in the collection are records of discharges and payments to veterans of various regiments in Pennsylvania and in other states; and a volume entitled Pennsylvania Militia Legion cashbook. Some documents in the collection pertain to individual soldiers in various regiments, and convey biographical information, including a volunteer enlistment form for Louis Sterne; and discharge certificates for the following 17 soldiers: Louis Advenna, Christian Auer, Christian Damian, Christian Eberle, John Eitel, Ferdinand Ensinger, Leopold Fogle, George Grau, Frederick Leiser, John Lindner, Kasle Mai, Cornelius Roth, Henry Schmitt, Christoph Storz, John Walter, Edward Walters, and William Wannewetsch. Administrative Information German Society of Pennsylvania, Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library 2011.01 Finding aid prepared by Violet Lutz. Access Restrictions This collection is open for research. - Page 5 - John F. Ballier papers Use Restrictions Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the German Society of Pennsylvania with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material. Source of Acquisition Gift of John F. Ballier, 1892. Related Materials Related Archival Materials note Other items held at the German Society of Pennsylvania that belonged to John F. Ballier include two swords, a ceremonial sash, a pistol holster, and a wooden trunk (regimental desk). Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) • Pennsylvania. Militia. • Pennsylvania. National Guard. • United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 98th (1861-1865). • Unites States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 21st (1861). Form/Genre(s) • Agreements • Cashbooks • Circulars (fliers) • Clippings (information artifacts) • Correspondence • Discharges • Financial records - Page 6 - John F. Ballier papers • Fliers (printed