Balfe.com - Balfe Family Web Site

Martha Poole and Robert Cramer Balfe

Robert and Martha Balfe, Beverly, Mary and Martha Sue

Grandfather with Martha Sue and Mary

Grandfather (James Frank Balfe) with Martha Sue and Mary (1954)

BALFE FAMILY HISTORY The Balfe family has traced their ancestors back to JAMES BALFE who was born in 1841 in the County Wicklow, Ireland. He and a brother, whose name is thought to be Miles, came to the United States in 1855. The boys were separated and never saw one another again. James made his way to Richmond, Indiana. MARY ALEXANDER came to the U.S. from the County Clare, Ireland. Mary and James were married and lived in Richmond, Indiana. They had nine children. Mary died in 1918 and James died in 1927 at the home of his son JAMES FRANK BALFE.

JAMES FRANK BALFE was married to ALMA CATHERINE CRAMER . James and Alma had three children, ROBERT CRAMER, MARY BALFE HARMER,and EILEEN BALFE McDONALD. Alma died in 1953 and Frank died in 1960. Both are buried in Muncie, Indiana.Alma’s family can be traced back further than James’. Alma was one of the 6 children of JOHN CRAMER born in 1850 in the U.S. and MARGARET RYAN born in 1855 also in the U.S. John Cramer’s parents were PATRICK CREAMER and MARY MULLIGAN they came from County Cork, Ireland. Margaret Ryan’s parents were PATRICK RYAN and BRIDGET MARA from the County Tipperary , Ireland. John Cramer changed his name from Creamer to Cramer. He worked as a glassblower.

ROBERT CRAMER BALFE, was born in Muncie, Indiana on May 25, 1909. . He graduated from the University of Notre Dame. During his four years there he was a student manager with the athletic teams and worked with Knute Rockne. He graduated in 1931 and became a sports writer for newspapers in Daytona Beach, Deland, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was the sports editor for the Palm Beach Post Times for 50 years. Robert married MARTHA MIRANDA POOLE,who was born in Lake City, Florida. Martha’s parents were CALVIN RILEY POOLE and MATTIE LOWE FORT. Calvin’s parents were WILLIAM RILEY POOLE and MATILDA HAIR, both were from Georgia. Both Calvin’s and Mattie’s fathers served in the Confederate army in the Civil War.

ROBERT CRAMER BALFE and MARTHA MIRANDA POOLE have 5 children, Beverly Ann, Mary Ellen, Martha Sue, Robert C. II, and Barbara Jean. BOB BALFE (as he was known as a writer)retired in 1974. He was inducted into the Palm Beach Sports Hall of Fame in 1977. He died in 1987 at the age of 78 yrs. Martha died in 1997 at the age of 83 yrs.

2006 Family Reunion at Sandbridge, Virginia

Barb's Family	Bev's Family	Bob's Family
Mary's Family		Sue's Family

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