My Genealogy Hound

BALLARD, A. J. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 21, P.O. White Hall. Mr. Ballard was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, March 29, 1828; third child of Avery and Anna R. Ballard, whose maiden name was Wallace. Avery Ballard moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in his twentieth year, and there married the lady above mentioned. In 1831, accompanied by his wife and four children, he set out for Illinois in a two-wheeled ox cart. The trip occupied some four weeks, and when he landed in Illinois he had but twenty-five cents in money. He settled on the farm now owned by Chester Crabtree, entering 160 acres of land from the government; also purchased forty acres from Andrew Bingham, and after many years he became a prosperous farmer. He was treacherously assassinated on the 16th of April, 1870. This unprovoked murder made a deep impression on the community, who thoroughly respected Mr. Ballard, as he was an extremely law-abiding citizen and it was not supposed that he had an enemy in the world. Mrs. Mallard is still living. Andrew, from whom this sketch is obtained, married in his twenty-first year Miss Martha Smith, a daughter of David Smith, by whom he had eight children, seven of whom are living: Mary, who resides in Missouri, Sherry, Frances, Emily, Melissa, William, Henry, and Mattie. Mr. Ballard is the owner of 100 acres—80 acres prairie and 20 timber.