William” Poletus Washington Ballard was born April 30, 1854, in Mercer Co., (W)V, the son of William and Elizabeth Jane Lavender Ballard. As a child, Ballard had to endure a lot of moving around. The William and Elizabeth Ballard family lived in Mercer County, (W)V, from 1852 to about 1857, in Cabell County, (W)V, from about 1858 to about 1860, and in Monroe County, (W)V, in 1861. Ballard’s siblings were Wilson L. Ballard, James P. Ballard, John W. Ballard (died young), Margaret A. Ballard, and William G. Ballard. The William and Elizabeth Ballard family moved to Kanawha County, (W)V, in about 1862. Poletus went through a great loss in 1865. His father, William Ballard, was murdered in the Co. G, 7th WV Cavalry camp at Coalsmouth on March 18, 1865. William was shot by John Wesley Adkins, a private in the same company. Poletus Ballard remained with his mother and siblings for many years after that. He, along with his brothers Wilson and James, were coal miners in the London area by the year 1869. Wash Ballard, as he was called, married Lucy Johnson June 22, 1876, at Kanawha Co., WV. The marriage produced one child who was named Leola (aka Ola). Sadly, Lucy died some time before 1880. Wash remarried Mary Ann Coiner August 25, 1880, at Kanawha Co., WV. The marriage produced the following children: William H., Lillian M., George W. (died young), Bertha, James W., Forest L., Hattie (aka Gracie), E. Russell, and Ella F. Wash and Mary Ann ran a boarding house at Eskdale from about 1905 to about 1913. They bought property at Fosterville in Boone Co., WV, in 1914. There, Wash ran a general store out of a barn near the house. His establishment was one of the first to have a power box (generator) in it’s basement for power. “William” Poletus Washington Ballard died between 1914 and 1920 most likely at Fosterville, Boone, WV. His burial place is believed to be Red Warrior Cemetery, Cabin Creek, WV, but no tombstone has been found. Mary Ann Coiner Ballard died December 25, 1938, at Fosterville, Boone, WV. She is buried at Montgomery Memorial Park, London, WV. NOTES: Pronunciation of POLETUS: (PLEE-tus) If you are a descendant of Poletus W. Ballard or one of his siblings, please contact me for instructions on how to join the "W-EBallard" mailing list through OneList. My email address is [email protected]