The descendants of Levi David and Tennie Cothran Balkum have a reunion every summer to celebrate being together. The family of Levi David Balkum and Tennie Balkum have always enjoyed getting together and sharing a meal and spending time together.
These Balkum families are going into the fifth and sixth and seventh generation of descendants from this couple. Other people included are descendants of sisters and brothers and cousins of this family, as well as the kinfolk that married into the family. The sons and daughters of Levi David and Tennie are known for their love of family, church, home, and a good meal and a good time.
Levi David Balkum is looked to as the family Patriarch as he helped to bring his siblings from Alabama in about 1882 or 1883 to central east Texas. Later Levi David helped the family to migrate from Leon County and Freestone County TX to Tom Green and Runnels County of west central Texas. The families married and raised their children in the farm communities of the area and time. Church life continued to play a large part in their daily lives. Most of the families were Baptist.
The descendants of Levi David (L.D.) Balkum and Tennie Cothran are connected to the Ezell family line through the children of Lewis Ezell and his wife Nancy Rogers. Priscilla Ezell Boyd and Marth Ezell Cothran were sisters, they had a brother named David Ezell. Priscilla Ezell Boyd is the Grandmother of Levi David Balkum. Martha Ezell Cothran is the Grandmother of Tennie Cothran.
From looking at the old family picture of Levi David Balkum I think that he was a tall , big man. Tennie looks to me like a tiny little woman with soulful eyes. Even sitting down as L.D. Balkum was he seemed to tower over the sweet faced wife standing beside him. The companion picture has the same back ground and it is of the three older children Edmond, Fannie Mae, and Wiley Lee. There are also some pictures of Aunt Emily who was a sister of Levi David and also a picture of Uncle Mack who was the youngest brother of Levi David Balkum. The couple Levi David and Tennie Balkum are the founders of the present day Balkum family in Texas

• Balkum Family Reunion about 1918 (59 KB)
  In about 1918 the descendants and kin of Levi David Balkum gathered for a reunion. Present included Levi David & wife Sallie, sister Aunt Mae, brothers Uncle Mack & Uncle Bob Robert, Adult children & families of Edmond, Wiley Lee, Fannie Mae, Alfred,& M. Hubert
• Another picture of Balkum Family Reunion (47 KB)
  Seated Edmond is holding little Tennie the second, & L.T., Alfred is holding C.W., Levi David & Sallie, Rachel & Inez standing. Back row Aunt May, Jacon Proctor, Jodie, Fannie Mae, Fannie & baby Irene, Hubert, Wiley Lee & Myrtle & baby Eddie, Little Rachel & Inez in front.
• Full view of the above picture (62 KB)
  Same picture as above with wider view to include Uncle Mack seated to side. See Aunt Emily May, Jodie, Fannie Mae and Fannie Castle Balkum
• Levi David Balkum and wife Tennie Cothran Balkum (30 KB)
  This couple are the founders of the present day L.D. Balkum family in Texas.This view shows the picture in the old frame. Tennie Cothran Balkum died after the birth of her last child Mackey Hubert. Levi David later married Sallie Riggs.
• Companion picture to one of L.D. & Tennie Balkum (22 KB)
  The two pictures with the same back ground were taken in 1893. The children are the three eldest,from right Edmond about 6, baby Fannie Mae and Wiley Lee Balkum.

• From the Granddaughter of Inez Balkum Whittenberg
• Levi David Balkum Family Patriarch

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