Individual Details
James Barr RALSTON
(20 Dec 1811 - 4 Jul 1904)
Events
Families
Spouse | Nancy Jane MCCORMICK (1818 - 1907) |
Child | Amanda RALSTON (1838 - 1923) |
Child | Matilda RALSTON (1840 - 1900) |
Child | John Nelson RALSTON (1842 - 1863) |
Child | James McCormick RALSTON (1845 - 1931) |
Child | David Franklin RALSTON (1847 - 1928) |
Child | Sarah Ellen RALSTON (1849 - 1892) |
Child | Ellis Simpkins RALSTON (1851 - 1915) |
Child | Margaret RALSTON (1854 - 1916) |
Child | Alicia Melinda RALSTON (1857 - 1935) |
Father | David Franklin RALSTON (1785 - 1862) |
Mother | Hannah BARR (1779 - 1861) |
Sibling | Rebecca RALSTON (1821 - 1900) |
Sibling | Hannah RALSTON (1815 - 1880) |
Sibling | John RALSTON (1818 - 1892) |
Sibling | Mary Ann RALSTON (1817 - 1895) |
Sibling | Nancy Jane RALSTON (1819 - 1886) |
Notes
Residence
James B. Ralston was listed as a head of household on the 1840 census in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. According to the census, James' household included with 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, and 1 female 20-30.Residence
James B. Ralston was listed as a head of household on the 1850 census in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. According to the census, James was a 38 year old farmer born in Pennsylvania. Also included in the household were Jane, Amanda, Matilda, John, James, David, and Sarah E.Residence
James Ralston was listed as a head of household on the 1855 census in Knox County, Illinois. The household included 2 males under 10, 2 males 10-20, 1 male 40-50, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-20 and 1 female 40-50.Residence
J.B. Ralston was listed on the 1860 census as a 47 year old born in Pennsylvania. Living in his household were Jane, Matilda J., John M., Jos M., Frank D., Sarah, Elia, Margaret, Alicia.Tax
with a valuation of $345Residence
James Ralston was listed as the head of household on the 1870 census in Grundy County, Iowa. According to the census, James was a 59 year old farmer born in Pennsylvania. Living in his household ware Jane, Matilda, Ellis, Margaret and Alice Ralston.Residence
James B. Ralston was listed on the 1880 census as a 58 year old farmer born in Pennsylvania. Living in his household were Jane, Matilda and Alice Ralston.Residence
J. B. Ralston was listed as the head of household on the 1885 in Grundy County, Iowa. According to the census, J. B. was 73 years old and born in Pennsylvania. Also listed in the household were Jane and Matilda.Residence
James B. Ralston was listed as the head of household on the 1900 census in Grundy County, Iowa. According to the census, James was born Dec 1811 in Pennsylvania. Also listed in the household were his wife, Jane, and a daughter Matilda J. Ralston.Death
Grandfather Ralston Dead.End of Long and Noble LIfe.
Came to Grundy County in 1868
Ninety-two Years Old.
James B., eldest son of David and Hannah Ralston was born in Armstrong county, Penn, December 20, 1811. The eldest of a family of two boys and four girls growing to maturity, he was the last to be called from earth.
On May 31 1836 he was united in marriage to Jane McCormick at Worthington, Armstrong Co., Penn, to which union eleven children were born, five of whom have gone on before the father, six yet remaining: David Franklin Ralston, New Windsor, IL; Mrs. Amanda A. Simkins, Hall City, South Dakota; Ellis S. Ralston, Concordia, Kansas; Mrs. Alice M. Leighter, Dodge City, Kansas; Mrs. Margaret R. Barnes, Cedar Falls, Iowa, James Ralston, Conrad, Iowas.
In 1854 Mr. and Mrs. Ralston moved from Armstrong county, Penn., to Knox county, ILL, where they made their home till 1868 when they moved to Grundy county, Iowa; settling on the farm which has ever since been their home, and from which they have done their part in the building up of this new country.
At the age of twenty-five Mr. Ralston was converted and united with the Presbyterian church of which he has continued to be a member. When the Presbyterian church of Grundy Center was organized he and his wife were among the charter members, and he was, during the time of his connection there, made an elder of the church. When the Presbyterian church of Conrad was organized their membership was transferred to Conrad, they again taking part in the building up of a newly organized work. From the time of his membership in the Conrad church until the day of his death he has continued as an elder honored and loved, thought age has prevented him from taking an active part in the work in late years. His one regret regarding his Christian life was that he did not acknowledge Christ at an earlier age. Always has his life told for righteousness and truth; and encouragement to all who came under its influence and an example of noble living that will live on in the memory of those who knew him.
For several months his strength has been failing and at times he seemed quite poorly yet as often rallying. Last Saturday he was able to walk about the house and when the end came, it came as the wearing out of the machinery of the body and not from disease.
About five o'clock Monday morning, July 4, 1904, the summons came peacefully and quietly. His age was 92 years, six months and thirteen days.
His children numbered eleven, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren the number is one hundred and sixteen.
In father Ralston's death he has fulfilled the scripture, "Thou shalt come to thy grace in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season."
A brief service was held at the late residence at two o'clock, Tuesday, July 5, and at the Alice church at three o'clock, conducted by Rev. A. G. Bailey, of La Porte City, Ia., the late pastor of the deceased, and Rev. T. N. Buchanan, paster of the Conrad Presbyterian church, Interment at Alice Cemetery.
Endnotes
1. "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), .
2. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2017), memorial for James Barr Ralston (1811-1904), Find a Grave Memorial no. #19656003, created by Mark Lindahl, citing Alice Union Cemetery, Conrad, Grundy County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by Swanlin, James Barr Ralston.
3. Works Project Administration, "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database online, Graves Registration Project, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2017), James B Ralston.
4. Letter from () to ; ().
5. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7836/). Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 : accessed .
6. 1840 U.S. Census Armstrong County Pennsylvania, Armstrong County Pennsylvania, , image 19 of 22, James Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com: accessed ).
7. Iowa, Death Records, 1921-1940, James M Ralston, 30 Dec 1931; database with images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : viewed online October 2017).
8. "Family Data Collection -- Individual Records,"Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (Sept 2017), Sarah Ellen Ralston.
9. 1850 U.S. Census, Armstrong County Pennsylvania, population schedule, North Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, image 20, household 129, James B Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication M432.
10. 1855 Illinois Census, Knox County, Illinois, Illinois State Census, Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, page 350, James Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016).
11. "Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990,"Family Search, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (Oct 2017), James B Ralston.
12. "Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990,"FamilySearch, (www.familysearch.org : viewed online (Oct 2017), Margaret Rebecca Barnes.
13. Iowa, Black Hawk County. Death Certificates, 1904-1920. Film #102842701. Margaret Rebecca Barnes, March 17 1916 : Image 4807; digital images, Family Search www.familysearch.org : viewed online March 2019.
14. Marriage Records, 1880-1951, Alice M. Ralston, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2017).
15. 1860 U.S. Census, Knox County, Illinois, population schedule, Ontario, Knox County, Illinois, page 170-171, household 1244, J. B> Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication M653.
16. Knox County, Illinois 1865 Personal Property Tax List (Galesburg, IL: Knox County Illinois Genealogical Society, 1990), p. 93 (Hammond.IL.021). Hereinafter cited as Knox County Illinois 1865 Tax List.
17. 1865 Illinois Census, Knox County, Illinois, Illinois State Census, Ontario, Knox County, Illinois, page 94, J. B. Ralson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016).
18. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online March 2017), memorial for Alice Melinda Ralston Lighter (1857-1935), Find a Grave Memorial no. #106296564, created by Barragirl, citing Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas; accompanying photograph by Tim Tompkins, Alice Melinda Ralston Lighter.
19. 1870 U.S. Census, Grundy County Iowa, population schedule, Felix Township, Grundy County, IOwa, page 13, household 87, James Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com: viewed online July 2017).
20. 2001 , , Iowa: Felix, Grundy, Iowa (Ralston.IA.002).
21. U.S. Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, James B. Ralston, 1880; database with images, Ancestry.com (ancestry.com : viewed online July 2017).
22. History and Genealogies of the Hammond Families in America With an Account of the Early History of the Family in Normandy and Great Britain (Oneida, NY: Ryan & Burkhart, 1904)
23. 1880 U.S. Census, Grundy County, Iowa, population schedule, Felix Township, Grundy County, Iowa, ED 230, page 10B, dwelling 76 and 77, James Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online February 2018); NARA microfilm publication T9.
24. 1885 Iowa State Census, Grundy County, Iowa, Iowa State Census, , Felix Township, Grundy County, Iowa, page 12, household 76, J. B. Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016).
25. 1930 U.S. Census, Grundy County, Iowa, population schedule, Felix Township, Grundy County, Iowa, ED 42, Sheet 7A, household 146, James B Ralston; digital image, Ancestry.com(www.ancestry.com: viewed online July 2017).
26. "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), .
27. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2017), memorial for James Barr Ralston (1811-1904), Find a Grave Memorial no. #19656003, created by Mark Lindahl, citing Alice Union Cemetery, Conrad, Grundy County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by Swanlin, James Barr Ralston.
28. Works Project Administration, "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database online, Graves Registration Project, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2017), James B Ralston.
29. "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), .
30. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2017), memorial for James Barr Ralston (1811-1904), Find a Grave Memorial no. #19656003, created by Mark Lindahl, citing Alice Union Cemetery, Conrad, Grundy County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by Swanlin, James Barr Ralston.
31. "Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online July 2017), James B Ralston.
32. Iowa Gravestone Photo Project, James B Ralston, tombstone images, Iowa Gravestone Photo Porject (iowagravestones.org : viewed online August 2019).https://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=666700.