TNCOCKE-L Archives

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Subject: [TNCOCKE] HOMMEL/RADER/ALEX R BLAZER/FRESHOUR/BALCH/KELLEY/BIBLE/HARKINS
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 15:17:33 EST

WILLIAM MATTHIAS BALCH was born 22 May 1867 Parrottsville, Cocke County,
Tennessee. He died 6 July 1925 at the Veterans Hospital in Oteen, near
Asheville, Buncombe Co. North Carolina of tuberculosis and history of
alcoholism. At the request of his 12 year old daughter, Ruby (only survivor),
his body was shipped to Parrottsville for burial. He is the son of Henry
Girdine Balch and Margaret Jane Faubion. I have been unable to find burial
records for him in Cocke Co.

On 26 September 1908 Parrottsville, Cocke County, Tennessee he was married by
Rev. W. G. Matney, to JUANITA HOMMEL Born April 1891 Tennessee Died 8 May
1917 Cocke Co. TN. It is thought she is buried in the Ellison Cemetery,
Parrottsville, Cocke Co. TN. She is the daughter of JAMES H. HOMMEL Born Nov
1853 Tenn. & MARTHA FRESHOUR. James Hommel had close ties to the Balch family
in Cocke Co. He was a carpenter. Her siblings were James S. Hommel b. Jan
1889 and Frank W. Hommel b. May 1893. Frank married Stella Shelton and had a
daughter, Mary Ann Hommel. JAMES H. HOMMEL "Jim" had remarried to EMMA ______
about 1898 and had two more daughters (possibly more) CHARLSIE LEE HOMMEL b.
abt 1904 (she married ALVIN RADER and moved to Detroit, Michigan) and EDNA
HOMMEL.

On the night of 14 May 1913 their daughter, RUBY EMELINE BALCH was born in
Martel, Tenn. It stated in the pension file Knox Co, but may have been just
across the line in Loudon Co.

Charlsie Lee Hommel was guardian of RUBIE EMELINE BALCH's pension, 1/2 sister
of her mother. She was appointed 10 April 1926 & resigned 28 July 1928 after
her marriage to ALVIN RADER 16 June 1928 and moved to 7567 Richmond Ave,
Detroit Michigan where her husband was employed by Hammerman Chevrolet Motor
Co.; William E. Bible was then appointed and resigned 3 April 1929; W. B.
Harkins was then appointed as her guardian.

Ruby was totally orphaned at the tender age of 12 years. She continued to
live with her step grandmother, Mrs. Emeline Faubion, for the next three
years after the death of her father, only being gone from time to time to
Knoxville to visit her father's people (Aunt Della Balch Holt). On the 14th
March 1928, she again was "orphaned" when Emeline Faubion died, 3rd wife of
Matthias Faubion.

After the death of her step grandmother, she temporarily stayed at the home
of Mrs. Joe Davison, and about a month with Mrs. Hardin L. Kelley. She next
lived with her grandfather, James "Jim" H. Hommel, who also resided in
Parrottsville.

They lived near to Alexander R. & Lucy Blazer, Jim Hommel is a cousin of
Alexander Blazer somehow, where she found refuge in their home. She had made
a sad statement to Lucy Blazer, her closest confidant, she didn't know what
would happen to her since her grandmother had died.

Her grandfather, Jim Hommel had threatened to send Rubie to Reform School
about the time all of this was happening in 1928 or 29.

The plight of Ruby is unknown. There was no further mention of her after she
reached the age of 16, when her pension was stopped by the government. No one
seems to know what has happened to her.

I am hoping that someone out there knows something about our cousin Rubie and
what happened to her. Was she sent to reform school as her grandfather had
threatened, and where would that have been located?

If anyone out there recognizes any of the people involved and has knowledge
of what happened to her, PLEASE contact me.

Thank you.
Carolyn Whitaker
http://members.aol.com/atsissie3/page7/index.htm
WILLIAM M. BALCH & JUANITA HOMMEL page

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