Darius Lamar Ballou

GEDCOM Note

Born on the White Hill Rd. in Southeastern Parish township, Oswego County New York Darius or "Lyde" as he was known, was left fatherless at age 2 when The Senior Darius Ballou enlisted in the Service and disappeared. Young Darius lived variously with his Mother (who briefly remarried a cousin, Silas Richardson) his grandparents on each side, and an Uncle, Levi Tilton. In each census found Darius has a different name, He is called "Ethelbert" in a census with his grandparents Ballou, "Lyde" in many censuses and even "Lyde Richardson" once with his mother and her new husband.
Family tradition has it that Darius and his mother worked for a circus at one time. He certainly had some instruction on his ability to dance said his daughter Irma.
Darius worked as a laborer on the Salmon River Dam project, and worked in the woods lumbering. In later years he worked construction projects such as the "Genesee Rd" (Modern State Rt. 5) Lyde was a good natured sort, who laughed heartily and could dance the Irish jig in his 70s. He is still well remembered by the grandchildren who knew and loved him.
Most of their children were born in Eliza H Smith's homestead on modern St Rt 104, east of Howardville, in Parish Twp.
Darius passed away in the care of his old neighbors the Sperlings in Albion township, just Northeast of Parish.
Darius' family Bible (dated 1860) and the bibles of the Tilton and Ballou grandparents passed on through daughters Hazel and Irma to Shawn Doyle of Pulaski, New York.

Pulaski Democrat Sept 6, 1922: "Mr. and Mrs. Ballou married 41 years"
On Sunday, August 27th, at the home of Mr. a n d Mrs. D. L. Ballou, the children and grandchildren and some friends of the family gathered to celebrate t h e i r 41st wedding anniversary.
Dinner was served on the lawn and everybody had a very enjoyable time. During the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Ballou were presented with some very pretty and useful silverware and linen.
The guests numbered thirty-one in all. They were: Mr. and Mrs, C. O. Ballou, Wm. Morell, Fairport.; Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Ballou and family, Redfield; Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Holcomb and family, Remsen; Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Matteson and son, Cassville; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hazelton, Mexico; Hazel Ballou, Pulaski, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller and son, Lynn, Mrs. Marion Curtiss, Parish; and Clayton Ballou, the younger son, who lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Ballou have the best wishes of all and hope good health attends them throughout the year, when they all hope to meet again. (A Guest.)