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.
