Biographies -Henry Ballard; George Ballard

Henry Clay Ballard born 1844, died in 1917. He married Margaret Barry, born 1849, died 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard came from Illinois to Odebolt in 1876. Mr. Ballard was a union veteran having served in the Civil War. In 1883, he was owner of a meat market in Odebolt. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ballard were parents of eleven children, four of whom died as children with scarlet fever and one other in childhood. The other six children were: Genevra (Mrs. C.C. Patty); Winnifred (Mrs. J.F. Umbarger); Alonzo; C.Dennis, married Florence Kennedy; Edna (Mrs. Samuel Love); and Vincent.

C. Dennis Ballard was bookkeeper at Adams Ranch for many years. He and his wife Florence were parents of one son, John, who married Iris Hagger

George Ballard

(Source: “As Time Goes By”, Odebolt, Iowa 1877-1977,
printed by The Odebolt Chronicle May, 1977)

George H. Ballard, born 1836 in Lake County, Ohio, son of William (born 1786) and Susan (Baldwin) Ballard, born 1795. In 1856 George was married at Malta, Illinois, to Adaline Belles, born 1838. George was mechanically inclined and worked at cabinet making, building homes and also worked for Marsh Harvesting Machine Company.

In the spring of 1878 they went to Kansas and in 1880 came to Odebolt and located on a farm two and a half miles north of Odebolt. George operated the Union restaurant in Odebolt for many years.

Children born to George and Adaline were: William, died in childhood; Charles Wesley; Frank; Elizabeth (Mrs. Bailey); Etta (Mrs. Traver).

Charles Wesley Ballard, born 1859 in Illinois came to Odebolt in 1880 and taught school in Richland, Wheeler and Clinton Townships. Also farmed and helped his father in the restaurant business.

In 1895 [other sources say Nov 17, 1897] Charles Ballard married Mary Esther Riem, born 1873 to George and Clara (Cross) Riem.

Children born to Charles and Mary Ballard are Blanche and Myrtle (Mrs. Jennings Berg).

Click photo to enlarge
After 1881, this building on the north side of Second street, first occupied by the Burleigh and Summerville drug stores, housed the "Union Restaurant," which was conducted for 19 years by George H. ("Deafy") Ballard. Photo circa 1880's.

Click to enlarge.
Left to right: two saleswomen, Mrs. George Ballard, and her son, Charles Ballard, far right.

(The above photos submitted by Wesley Berg, Feb. 2004. Photos scanned by B. Horak)