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| Birth Date: April 20, 1886 | Birth Date: Sep 21, 1894 | |
| Death Date: Sept. 1, 1957 | Death Date: Nov 3, 1990 |
Source: Adams Funeral Home
Edward Stephen Ballard came to Crosbyton in Feb. 1914, at the age of 28. He was born in Saunders Co., NE, April 20, 1886. He was the third child born to William Michele Ballard of Dubuque, Iowa, and Ellen Daley, who came to Iowa from Ireland as a small child. The family moved to South Dakota where they homesteaded.
Ed received his education in a small country school and in the home of a Catholic priest where he served as altar boy several years.
Moving back to Nebraska after he was grown, he met and married Jessie Rose Stephenson in Loup City, NE, December 24, 1912.
Jessie was born in Julesburg, CO., September 21, 1894. Her father, William Riley Stephenson, was a railroad man and at that time Julesburg was the town at "rails end". He was born in Crawford Co., IN., and was married to Sarah Ann Saterfield, also of Crawford Co.
Ed came to Texas by train on the promise of a job with a former employer, Harold Bruner, who was in the business of drilling water wells. Jessie, with baby daughter, Rava, arrived in Crosbyton in May, 1914. There was no housing available at that time and they boarded at the old "Star Hotel", which was owned and operated by Temple and Martha Johnston, and stood on the corner where the [old] post office now stands. Later they bought a house at what is now 211 North Berkshire, where they lived many years.
Mr. Bruner moved from Crosbyton in a short time and Ed bought out the well business. Among the wells he drilled was the first City water well before 1920. Through the years he drilled many of the wells in the surrounding area. One of the windmill towers built by Ed now stands in the Lubbock museum, donated by Forrest Edler for whom it was built.
Ed was secretary of school board in 1923 when the high school building burned to the ground. The building which now stands in its place was constructed in 1923. the members of the board of trustees whose names are on the corner stone are President - D.C. David, Vice President - B.H. Howard, Secretary - Ed S. Ballard, O.C. Hulme, Dr. T. J. Cagle, and A.W. Gibson, all of whom are now deceased.
Ed continued in his business until two years before his death, Sept. 1, 1957.
Ed and Jessie had five children, four of them born in Crosbyton, Reva was born in Comstock NE, Sept. 9, 1913. She graduated from high school when only 16 and continued her education at West Texas Hospital in Lubbock, where she became a registered nurse in 1933. She moved to California where she married Paul Raines, a former Crosbyton resident. They have one son, Steven and one granddaughter, all of whom now live in San Bernardino. CA.
Vinnie Mae was born Feb. 4, 1916, and received her education in the Crosbyton schools. A few months after high school graduation she married William G. Long, Aug. 11, 1935. W. G. came from Whitewright. They have three sons, Jimmy, Jr., and Gene, all of whom graduated from Crosbyton High School. Jimmy and Jr. married local girls and each have two sons. Gene lives in Arstow, CA. He is married and the father of three girls, two of which are twins.
Majorie Ellen was born July 22, 1918. She married Bayard Silvers of Ralls and has a son, Steve, who lives in Seattle, WA, and has two daughters. She has a daughter, Patricia Ann, who has three children and lives in Fullerton, CA. After Bayard´s death in 1957, Marjorie married William S. Oliver, a native of San Bernardino, CA, where they now live.
The only son, Donald William, was born Jan. 30, 1922. He received his schooling at Crosbyton and at age of 18 joined the Navy. During World War II he was on board ship in active duty in the South Pacific from 1942-1946. After his return he married Velma Lois Anderson, born Mar. 26, 1928, in Knox City. They have three sons, Donnie, Eddie and Joe, and a daughter, Ardath Kay, all still living in Crosbyton. Each of the children graduated from Crosbyton High School. Donnie and Joe each have a son.
Mavis Rose was born May 23, 1928. she graduated from high school and went to California where she attended college for two years. She met and married Carlton Wallace, a Texan from Lakeview. They have two sons and a daughter and one grandson. At this time they are all living in and around Redlands, CA.
In 1947 when Crosbyton Clinic Hospital was opened, Jessie was the first night nurse on duty. She continued her work until Ed´s illness and death. In 1958 she started working as a private-duty nurse and finally retired at the age of 80.
Since 1920 Ed and Jessie have had descendants attending school in the Crosbyton school system continuously. Among the descendants living in Crosbyton now are the oldest grandson, Jimmy Duane Long and the youngest great-grandson, Jeremy Dale Ballard. (by Vinnie Mae Long)
Source: "A History of Crosby County 1876-1977" © Crosby County Historical Commission 1978; Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas.
Services for Jessie Rose Ballard, 96, of Crosbyton were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1990 in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Lester B. Griffin, pastor, officiating.Burial was in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home.
Mrs. Ballard died at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 1990 at her daughter´s residence in San Bernardino, Calif.
She was born in Julesburg, Colo., and moved to Crosby County in 1914. She married Edward Stephen Ballard Dec. 24, 1912, in Loop City, Neb. He died in 1957. She had worked as a nurse at Crosbyton Hospital. She had resided in California during winter months since 1960. A son, Donald William Ballard, died in 1988.
Survivors include four daughters, Vinnie Mae Long of Crosbyton, Marjorie Ellen Oliver and Reva Raines, both of San Bernardino, and Mavis Wallace of Redlands, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; and eight great great grandchildren.
Donnie Ballard and David Wallace, grandsons, and great grandsons, Terry Long, Doyle Long, Blaine Long and Robby Long were pallbearers.
Crosbyton Review, November 9, 1990
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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