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A. T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875. B Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. S. M. Ballard, M.D., of Atlantic, was born in 1810, near Lynchburg, Virginia, and moved to Ohio with his mother when seven or eight years of age. At the age of twenty-four he graduated at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, and practiced his profession a number of years in Ohio. In 1841 he removed to Iowa City, where he engaged in the practice of medicine, and continued till 1851, when he removed to his present locality and established himself in farming and stock raising. He has one of the finest stock farms in the State of Iowa, consisting of 3,000 acres, situated in Oakfield and Exira Townships, about ten miles northeast of Atlantic, a bird's-eye view of which will be found in this work. The subject of this sketch was born in Salem , Columbiana County , Ohio , May 31, 1846 . His parents moved to Iowa the following October, and he was brought up on a farm at Springdale , Cedar County ; receiving a good education at the common schools and the Seminary of the Society of Friends, at Springdale . In 1864 he took a complete course at a commercial college in Indianapolis . From this time until 1869, his home was at Iowa City , where he commenced studying law with Honorable Rush Clark in the Spring of 1868. He soon after entered the law department of the Iowa State University , from which he graduated, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in June, 1869, and commenced practice at Northwood, North County , in August following. After establishing himself in business he visited his early home, Springdale , and was there married on the 23d day of November, 1869, to Miss Julia A. Pickering, by the ceremony of the society of friends, of which both were and still continue to be members. Mr. Butler was thrown upon his own resources when entering upon the study of his profession, in consequence of financial reverses suffered by his father, and had only his own ability and education to rely upon when he commenced business at Northwood. With good judgment he selected a favorable field, and then employed his talent with energy, pluck and perseverance. His industry has been well rewarded; he rapidly acquired practice, associated others with himself, enlarged the sphere of his business, and is now at the age of 29, the head of the prosperous law, real estate loan and collection house of Butler , Smith & Pickering. In September, 1872, he was appointed by the Governor to a vacancy in the office of district attorney for the 12th judicial district, comprising eight counties, to which position he was elected in November following on the Republican ticket by a very large majority for a term of four years, still unexpired. He is a hard worker in his profession, but nevertheless, is genial and pleasant in his social relations, and bears a good reputation in all the relations of life. |