- GEORGE BALLARD, residing on section 24, Union Township, is
numbered among the early
- settlers of the county, and is one of the leading agriculturists.
He is a native of New York, having been born in Monroe County,
on the 10th of December, 1819. His parents were James and Electa
(POWELL) BALLARD, the former born in Rhode Island and the latter
in Massachusetts. Their marriage was celebrated in Rutland County,
Vt., where they had previously removed, and their domestic life
was begun upon a farm in that county, where two children were
born to them. They later removed to Monroe County, N.Y., where
the family circle was increased by the birth of five sons and
one daughter. Argalus, the eldest, now deceased, was for many
years a Deacon in the Free-Will Baptist Church, and died at his
home in Evansville, 1885; Janette is also deceased; Angeline
is the widow of Charles WHALEY, and makes her home in Evansville;
George, of this sketch, is the fourth in order of birth; Levi
makes his home with our subject; James is a resident of Evansville;
John is living Batavia, N.Y., and Miles is located in Allegany
County, N.Y. The death of the father occurred at his home in
Monroe County, in 1882, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-six
years. His wife preceded him to her final rest, dying in 1880
at the age of eighty-eight years. During the greater part of
their lives Mr. and Mrs. BALLARD were faithful and consistent
members of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and were active workers
in its interest.
- Our subject received his education in the common schools
of his native State, and his early life
- was spent upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty years
he left the parental roof and went to work by the month, continuing
to employ his time at various occupations for five years. At
the expiration of that time, in 1845, he was joined in wedlock
with Miss Jane FRANCISCO, a native of Jefferson County, N.Y.,
and a daughter of Garrett and Nancy (PHILLIPS) FRANCISCO. Her
mother was born in Montgomery County, and her father was a native
of Schenectady, N.Y. In an early day the family removed to Monroe
County, where the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. BALLARD was celebrated.
Her father, when a young man, followed a sea-faring life for
three years, but afterward followed farming and about 1853 removed
to Mason, Ingham Co., Mich., where he and his wife passed to
their final rest some years later.
- The same year of their marriage our subject and his young
wife removed to Allegany County,
- N.Y., where he made his first purchase of land, consisting
of fifty acres. He there laid the foundation for future success.
After residing upon that farm until June, 1850, he sold the same
and following the course of human emigration, which was steadily
drifting westward, landed in Rock County, Wis. He located near
the city of Janesville, and the first year after his arrival
engaged with his brother Argalus in running a threshing machine.
They located land in Union Township, which they operated in partnership
in 1852, when George purchased 120 acres on section 24, in that
township, comprising a part of his present farm. The land was
then in a wild and uncultivated condition, and the only improvement
consisted of a little log cabin, into which the family moved.
With that energy which characterizes all his undertakings he
began without delay the work of development, the family continuing
to reside in the pioneer home until fortune having favored his
industry he erected a two-story frame building, the dimensions
of which were 18x26 feet, with an L also 18x26 feet. Many other
useful and beautiful improvements have been made, orchards containing
fruit trees of all kinds have been planted, and the farm is now
one of the best in the township. It comprises 200 acres of valuable
land, and each year increases its productiveness.
- The union of Mr. and Mrs. BALLARD has been blessed with eight
children: George A., who was
- born in Allegany County, N.Y., married Miss Maria RIDDLE,
and they have a family of five children, namely: Harley, Lewellyn,
Forest, Claude and Lloyd. George is now farming in Magnolia Township;
James died at the age of two years. The following children were
born in Rock County: Adora, who became the wife of Joseph RUNEY,
a farmer of Rutland Township, Dane County, has three children
by her marriage, Stanley, Madge and Garrett; Byron died in infancy;
Frank died at the age of two years; Benjamin, who is engaged
in blacksmithing in Milton, Rock County, wedded Miss Della ALLEN,
a native of Ohio, and they have two children living, Ethel and
Lily, while Ella and Lottie are deceased; Eddie wedded Miss Nettie
BARKER, of Rock County, April 18, 1889, and resides with his
parents; Clarence, who is operating a part of the home farm,
on section 24, Union Township, is the husband of Mamie ROBERTS,
a native of the town of Magnolia. The children have all received
good educational advantages, such as would fit them for the practical
duties of life.
- In political sentiments Mr. BALLARD is an ardent supporter
of the Republican party, and has
- served as a member of the School Board for many years. He
has given liberally to the support of the church, has been prominently
identified with the educational and social advancement of the
community, and is a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
Not only has he been an eye witness of the many great changes
that have taken place during the past forty years, but he has
nobly borne his part in the work of transformation, which has
placed Rock County on a par with any in the State. His genial,
cordial manner has made him a favorite, and he is highly esteemed
by a large circle of acquaintances.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 300-301.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|