BALLARD REUNION HELD HERE

   W. A. Ballard, veteran ranchman and business man of this city, celebrated his 82nd birthday Sunday with a family reunion at the shady pecan grove on the T. B. Drinkard ranch.
    Mr. Ballard was born at Camden, Tenn. in 1849 and spent the first 15 years of his life there. He enlisted in the Civil War at the age of 19 and served in the cavalry brigade of General Forrest and was present at some of the outstanding battles of the concluding phases of the war.
    After the war in the fall of 1866, Mr. Ballard spent two months over the wagon trails to Texas where he settled at Georgetown. There he spent several years freighting in that section. From there he went to McCulloch County and to Concho County 47 years ago. He has lived here since.
    For 40 years Mr. Ballard has held the office of deacon in the Baptist Church. He has filled chairs in the Woodman of the World for many years, was a school trustee, and served as deputy sheriff of Concho County for 20 years.
    All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ballard were present at the reunion except Mrs. J. W. Stephens of Hermosa Beach, California and Alfred Ballard of Amarillo, Texas. The children present were: Mrs. T. B. Drinkard, Mrs. J. E. Nail, Mrs. C. E. Pearson, Miss Lillie Ballard, and Charles Ballard, all of Eden, and Mrs. C. M. Honeycutt of Tempe, Texas. In addition to the eight children, Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have 24 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
    The relatives that were present were: T. B. Drinkard and family, J. E. Nail and family, H. B. Gaddy and family, T. W. Drinkard and family, O. W. Armor and family, C. E. Pearson and family and Blair White, all of Eden, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. McCormick of Tuscola, C. M. Honeycutt and fmily of Temple.
    The barbecue was splendidly prepared by Oscar Magoon, a close friend of the family for many years.

Eden Echo
August 13, 1931