U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ballantyne, Nathaniel W. (1868-1949) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 761-762 NATHANIEL W. BALLANTYNE, secretary and treasurer of the West Virginia Fire Clay Manufacturing Company, at New Cumberland, Hancock County, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1868, and is a son of Alex, and Irene (Freeman) Ballantyne. The Ballantyne family was established in Pennsylvania by the grandparents of our subject, who were Nathaniel and Sarah (Wallace) Ballantyne, who were born and married in Scotland and came to America in 1836, on their wedding tour. They lived and died at Pittsburg, after rearing a family of 10 children. The old family home in Scotland was located near Paisley, and the grandmother was a descendant of the family of which the noted chieftain, William Wallace, was a member. Alex. Ballantyne, the father of our subject, engaged in the glass business in Pittsburg. He died in 1885, aged 43 years. He married Irene Freeman, daughter of James L. and Priscilla (Gamble) Freeman, the former of whom was born in 1809, in Pittsburg, and at the age of 18 years removed to New Cumberland with his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Black) Freeman. Hancock County owes much to Thomas and James L. Freeman for the development of one of the large and important industries of New Cumberland and vicinity. A foundry association in Pittsburg desired to find a certain kind of clay suitable for moulding into fire- brick and offered a prize to any one who would discover any bed of this kind within 100 miles of that city. Thomas Freeman, while boating along the river, made the discovery at the point known as Freeman's Landing, near the site of the present manufacturing plant. This discovery was made in 1829 and immediately capital came there and settlement began. Mr. Freeman built a small factory and began the manufacture of the brick, shipping to Pittsburg and Cincinnati, the nearest town being Fairview, five miles in the interior. Thomas Freeman reared a family of 10 children, the three survivors being: John, of Steubenville, Ohio; Jennie, of Pittsburg; and Mary, wife of Rev. John Truesdale, of Chicago. Thomas Freeman was a man of great business ability, recognizing before many others the possibilities of his section of the country. As early as 1850 he was engaged in a coal business, and with his son, James L.. increased the fire-clay and brick business until they were the owners of three plants. They were the first manufacturers of sewer pipe, manufacturing this necessity in 1860. Thomas Freeman died in 1857, at the age of 66 years, his widow surviving for a short time. James L. TVeeman was engaged in the brick business on the river, opposite New Cumberland, when his death occurred in 1892, at the age of 83 years. Mrs. Ballantyne was her parents' only child and was but a babe when her mother died, aged 19 years. The father never married again. Four children were born to the parents of our subject, namely: Virginia, wife of George B. Walmer, of Chicago; Nathaniel W.: J. F. and C. A., both in the brick and mercantile business with Nathaniel W. From the grandfather's time the brick business was carried on as a partnership arrangement, but in 1903 it was incorporated with J. F. Ballantyne as president; Nathaniel W. as secretary and treasurer; and C. A. Ballentyne as manager. The plant is located at Freeman's Landing, where both river and railroad facilities are at hand, and the output is clay and fire brick. They employ 40 men and the factory is well equipped with all kinds of modern labor-saving machinery. A ready market is found for their products, the clay found in the vicinity being peculiarly adapted to the manufacture of fire-brick. The brothers are all practical business men and carry on a large mercantile enterprise in connection with the manufacture of firebrick, J. F. Ballantyne giving his attention to the mercantile branch. Our subject has been so long connected with this business that he has few superiors in it. From childhood he has been familiar with it and is thoroughly conversant with every detail and every improvement in method. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF DEATH, Hancock County WV, #5888 FULL-NAME: Nathaniel Wallace Ballantyne BIRTH-DATE: December 22, 1868 BIRTH-PLACE: Pittsburgh, Pa. DEATH-DATE: May 28, 1949 AGE-AT-DEATH: 80y-5m-6d DEATH-PLACE: Ridge Ave., New Cumberland, Hancock County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: Ridge Ave., New Cumberland, Hancock County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Executive / Clay Industry FATHER: Alexander Ballantyne MOTHER: Irene Freeman CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Aneurysm / hemmorhage & thrombosis INFORMANT: Mrs. Lucie Brown Ballantyne BURIAL: New Cumberland Cemtery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Hancock County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/hancock/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------