W. A. Ballard

W. A. Ballard, Early
Menard Merchant Dies
In Eden Home Monday

   Funeral services for W. A. Ballard, 85-year-old pioneer of Menard and Concho counties, were held at the Baptist Church in Eden Tuesday afternoon. He was claimed by death Monday.
   Mr. Ballard was in the mercantile business in Menard until about 1885 when he moved to Concho county. He is remembered by the older residents of this section.
   The deceased is survived by his widow; two sons, C. A. of Eden and D. P. of Amarillo; and six daughters, Mrs. J. W. Stephens of Hermosa Beach, Cal.: Mrs. Clarence Honeycutt of Temple, Mrs. C. E. Pearson of Eden, Mrs. T. B. Drinkard of Eden and Miss Lillie Ballard, also of Eden.

Menard Messenger
Jan 19, 1933

W. A. Ballard, Pioneer
Eden Resident, Dead
    EDEN, Jan 16-- W. A. Ballard, 85-year-old pioneer citizen of Eden and Concho county, died at his home here today. Mr. Ballard came to this section more than 40 years ago and fenced in Concho county when the open range was broken up. He owned extensive ranch and town property.
    Mr. Ballard was a charter member of the Eden Camp of the Woodmen of the World and long had been a member of the Baptist church. He was widely known over this section of West Texas.
    Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Baptist Church by the Rev. Z. E. Parker, pastor of the Baptist church at Ozona. Pallbearers will be deacons of the Baptist church.
    Mr. Ballard is survived by his widow; two sons, C. A. of Eden and D. P. of Amarillo, and six daughters, Mrs. J. W. Stephens of Hermosa Beach, Cal.; Mrs. Clarence Honeycutt of Temple, Mrs. C. E. Pearson of Eden, Mrs. J. E. Nail of Eden, Mrs. T. B. Drinkard of Eden and Miss Lillie Ballard of Eden. In addition he is survived by thirty-one grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Brady Standard
Jan 20, 1933

W. A. BALLARD
EDEN PIONEER
RESIDENT, DEAD

Funeral Service To Be held This Afternoon At Baptist Church
Special Correspondent.
    EDEN, Jan 16- W. A. Ballard, 85- year-old pioneer citizen of Eden and Concho county, died at his home here today...  (this obituary continues on and is the same as the Brady Standard obit)

Times San Angelo Texas
Jan 17, 1933

W. A. Ballard, 84, Dead; In County 52 Years
Eden Echo, Jan. 19, 1933- 
    The rewards for a life well-lived and for work well done came to William Anderson Ballard Monday after almost 84 years of pleasant service to his family, his fellow man, and his God.
    Mr. Ballard was born on August 8, 1849, in Tennessee. Although only a lad, he enlisted in a special detachment of the Confederate Army near the close of the Civil War. A short while after the war was over he came to Texas, about 1881, near Paint Rock, later moving to Eden, which has been his home for more than 40 years, with the exception of one or two years in which he operated a gin at Hext in Menard County.
    Without disparagement to anyone, it can be more truthfully said of him than any other citizen that he was the most valuable and active man in this section, and to say he was also the most respected and beloved. Age had in on way affected his activities and enterprise. He was a builder to the last. A great part of the civic development of the town is traceable directly to him. He built buildings and fostered progress. Few, if any, younger men matched his interest and help in promoting better livestock in this county. Long years after most men are forced out by age he was still busy planning and looking ahead. And until he was stricken with the flu about three weeks ago, there were few men anywhere, near his age, who could get about better or do as much work as he.
    he was a active member of the Baptist church, of long standing; and was the chief pillar and strength of the local church. It was in church work that he took his greatest delight and in which his life and influence are most felt. Deeds of helpfulness and kindness to others in need are numberless. Scarcely a person in this country but has felt his kindly encouragement and have been aided materially by him. His stand was firm and his conviction strong in matters of good and evil. He was ever to be found on the side of righteousness and morality, as he was given to see it.
    Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Z. E. Parker, former pastor and confidant of the deceased, now of Sonora, assisted by Rev. W. L. Wall, former Methodist pastor here, now living here, and a friend of more than 20 years standing. The church was packed to overflowing by friends, old and new, and the bier was banked high with floral tributes from kin and friends. The artistry and skill of an artist was reflected in their choice and arrangement, and they were a fitting tribute to a life so abundantly lived.
    Survivors are his widow, six girls, Mrs. T. B. Drinkard, Mrs. J. E. Nail, Mrs. C. E. Pearson, Miss Lillie Ballard, of Eden, Mrs. C. M. Honeycutt of Temple, and Mrs. J. W. Stephens of Mermosa (Hermosa) Beach, CA, and two sons, Charles A. of Eden, and Alfred T. Ballard of Amarillo. Only Mrs. Stephens was absent.

Eden Echo reprint from 50 years ago
Thursday, July 21, 1983
Submitted by Joel Cox