Veteran Biographies

Herbert Eugene Ballou was born February 25, 1843 in the Town of East Otto to the parents of David and Mary Ballou. His parents moved to the Town of Ashford when he was a child where they farmed. At the age of 18, on October 8, 1861 he enlisted as a Private in Company “A” of the 100^th N.Y.V. I. in Springville, NY for a three- year enlistment. The 100^th was formed up in the city of Buffalo. He was discharged January 30, 1865. From 1865 to 1876 he lived in Colden and Springfield engaged in the hotel business. He then moved to Ellicottville, NY where he undertook farming for a living. In 1885 he married Mary Elizabeth Fox of that village. Herbert and Mary had two children, a daughter and a son. The daughter, Caroline Barret Ballou, Merrit Johnson Pettit, a grandson of Joshua R. Pettit, a veteran of the 154^th. Herbert passed away April 19, 1922 in Ellicottville, NY and is buried on the Sunset Hill Cemetery in that village.

Frederick J. Bollow was born in Mecklenburg, Scherwin, Germany February 6, 1842 to the parents of Joseph and Dorothy Bollow. He came to America in 1855 with his family at the age of 13. As a young man he engaged in farming in the Town of Ashford, Cattaraugus County, NY. He enlisted July 31, 1862 in Company “B”, 154^th N.Y.V. I. He was admitted to the Army Hospital in Alexandria, VA October 12, 1862 with chronic diarrhea and was discharged from service January 16, 1863. The 154^th had been stationed at Camp Stewart in Alexandria and broke camp on October 12^th and headed west along with the 134^th Regiment. Frederick returned home and married Louise Dorothy Westendorf on August 2, 1887 and continued farming in the Ashford area. They raised five children, three daughters and two sons. Frederick passed away November13, 1912 and is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery, West Valley, NY. One of his daughters, Emma Marie Bollow, married Justin Wilbur Pettit, a son of Joshua R. Pettit, a veteran of the 154th N.Y.V.I.