Biographical Sketch of Bland N. Ballard, Pulaski County, Missouri.
From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
Publishing Company.
Bland N. Ballard, farmer and stockman of
Cullen Township, Pulaski Co., MO., is a native of Sangamon County, Ill., born
in 1834. His father, Bland N. Ballard, Sr. was a native of the "Palmetto
State", born in 1800, and when a young man went to Overton County, Tenn.,
where he met and married Miss Margaret Smelser,
who was a native of that county, born in 1801. In 1833 he moved to Sangamon
County, Ill., and four years later came to Pulaski County, MO., where he spent
the remainder of his days, dying in 1861. He was an influential citizen of
Pulaski County for many years, and held the following offices: sheriff and
collector, circuit and county clerk, a member of the State Legislature and
probate county judge. To him and wife, who died in 1873, six children were
born, Bland N. being their third child. He resided with his father until the
latter's death, and then his mother made her home with him. His marriage to
Miss Sarah White was celebrated in October, 1867. She was born in Springfield,
MO., in 1841, and became the mother of five children: Maggie, Olive, Charles,
Cora and Sallie. Her death occurred in March, 1878, and in January, 1879 Mr.
Ballard wedded Elizabeth Bradford, a daughter of Neely Bradford, by whom he
became the father of four children: Lucy, Samuel, Neely and Winnie. Mrs.
Ballard was born in Phelps County, MO., in 1842. Mr. Ballard's first
investment in land was seventy-six acres, which he bought in 1866, but he has
since increased his acreage until he now owns 102 in the home tract and 198
acres in another. In 1888 he erected a hand- some and commodious tow-story
frame residence, at a cost of $800. In 1861, he enlisted in Company A, under
Col. Stein, and served four years, being a participant in a number of
engagements. He was captured near Fort Smith, and taken to St. Louis, where he
was kept a prisoner for about nine months, when he was paroled, and returned
home. He has always been a Democrat in politics, has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, for about fifteen years, and is a Master
Mason.