The Alva O. Ballard Family

My parents were Alva O. Ballard and Rosa A. Carlisle. My father's parents were James C. Ballard and Mary J. Conn. His paternal grandparents were Dr. and Mrs. Philip Ballard, and they lived in the country north of Grelton.

His maternal grandparents were Robert R. Conn and Mary Zinn. They lived on a farm two miles west of McClure. Grandfather Conn served with the Northern Army during the Civil War. My mother's parents were Benjamin F. Carlisle and Nancy J. Burwell. As far back as I can remember, they lived in McClure where he worked as a carpenter.

This A. O. Ballard threshing machine was in operation about 1911. Standing on the engine is J. C. Ballard, sitting on the coal box is A. O. Ballard, standing on the ground, left to right, Clyde Conn and Virgil Smith.

As a young man, my father worked in the oil fields in Wood County near Bays and Wingston. The first few years of their married life was lived on a farm which they rented from my father's mother; this farm is located on Road P, just east of SR 65, one mile north of McClure. I was born here, as were two of my sisters, Mabel and Marie.

After grandmother's death in 1905, we moved to the Culbertson farm, southwest of McClure. Our youngest sister, Grace, was born here. I began my formal education at Fisher School which was on a corner of the farm on which we lived.

Later, we moved to the Theodore Dielman farm on Road Q northeast of McClure, and my sister Mabel and I attended North School.

About 1911, our parents purchased the farm on Road P where we had previously lived and this became our "home place." They later purchased 50 acres adjoining on the north from Benjamin and Alma Steiger. All locations are in Damascus Township.

For several years, our father owned and operated a threshing rig - "this was B.C." - "before combines." Threshing was a community affair — eighteen to twenty men, eight or ten teams and wagons were required to haul the sheaves from the field and take care of the grain. The straw was blown into a stack, usually in the back barnyard, for the cattle. If the weather was good, the men of the neighborhood were often busy for three weeks or more, as they followed the machine as it moved from one farm to another. Needless to say, the women were also busy preparing meals for the hungry threshers. After he sold the threshing machine to Roy Von Seggern, a young man who had lived in our home and worked for my father for several years, my father engaged in various business activities such as buying hogs and cattle from farmers and shipping in carload lots by rail to various markets; he was a partner in a garage and auto agency; later he was the co-owner of a grocery store and meat market.

These McClure fishermen returned from a trip to Houghton Lake, Mich., June 12, 1915. Back row, left to right: Wm. Nelson, E. O. Cromwell, Chas. DeTray, George Kryder; front row: A. O. Ballard, Ron Von Seggern, Chas. Vogel, John Conn; in background: Chas. Harman. This picture was taken in front of the grocery and meat market in McClure.

Then he traveled northern Ohio selling threshing machines and steam engines. When farm tractors came into the picture, he moved into this field and later established a farm equipment business in McClure in which he was active until ill health forced him to retire in 1947.

My father was always very active in church, serving on official boards, a S.S. teacher, S.S. superintendent and choir leader. He was a long time member of Damascus Christian Union Church. The family also attended here for many years. During World War I, he was very active in the sale of Liberty Bonds.

My mother passed away in January 1948 and my father followed nine weeks later in March, both at the age of 73 years.

My sisters are Mrs. K. R. Ferguson (Mabel) presently living in St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. Blair Farison (Marie), Deshler Rd., McClure, and Mrs. Harold Rettig (Grace) who lives on the "home farm." I am Mrs. John W. Smith (Esther). Other descendants of Alva O. and Rosa Ballard include eight grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

Submitted by Esther (Ballard) Smith, Grand Rapids

Continuation of the Alva O. Ballard Family, Volume 3, page 59

The history of the four Ballard sisters is as follows:

Esther M. Ballard, born 1900, married B. Don McClure, who died. She married Dr. John W. Smith, who is now deceased.

Mabel V. Ballard was born in 1902 and married Chester Mills who died. She later married Keys Ferguson who is deceased. The Mills children are Rose Marie, born 1930, and Frances Jean`born in 1935. Rose Marie married Glen Good and their children are Kathleen, born 1949; Kay, born 1951; and Kristen, born 1953. Kathleen is married to David Suess and their daughter is Paulina born in 1977. Kay is married to Dennis Sims and they have a daughter, Kerry, born 1977. Kristen is married to Frank Hamilton and they have a daughter, Nicole, born 1978. Rose Marie is married to Russell Ballard and their sons are Russell, Jr. born in 1962 and Robert born in 1964.

Frances Jean Mills married Joe Ellis and their daughters are Joene born 1954, and Jaclyn born 1958. Joene is married to John Henry and they have a son, Jason born in 1977. Frances Jean is married to Rift Fournier and their son is Noel born in 1968.

Marie L. Ballard, born 1904, married

Blair Farison and they have four sons and two daughters: Richard born in 1924; Robert born in 1927; Franklin born in 1929; Naomi born in 1931; James born in 1938; and Margaret born in 1940.

Richard married Ellen Smith and their children are Jeanne born in 1949; Barbara born in 1951; Kenneth born in 1957; and Patricia born in 1960. Jeanne is married to Larry Turner and their children are Tye born in 1970; Julie born in 1971; and Andrew born in 1973. Barbara is married to Gregory Fritz and they have a son, Cory born in 1977.

Robert married Doris Nielson and they have two daughters, Becky born in 1952 and Gloria born in 1953. Becky is married to Kieth Meckley and their children are David born in 1975, and Amy born in 1976. Gloria is married to Norman Emmons and they have a daughter, Wendy born in 1977.

Franklin married Frieda Allen and their children are Marilyn born in 1950; Billy Ray born in 1950; and David born in 1957. Marilyn is married to Mike Dorough and their daughter is Jennifer born in 1974. Billy Ray is married to Diane Murphy, their son is David Ray born in 1975.

Naomi is married to Thomas Good. Their children are Brenda born in 1952; and Thomas, Jr., born in 1954. Brenda married Richard Ward and their children are Joel born in 1971; and twin girls, Kerri and Kristi who were born in 1975. Thomas, Jr. is married to Amy Blake.

James is married to Gail Donohue and they have Jeffery born in 19( 2, and Mark born in 1967.

Margaret is married to Norman Fisher and their twin sons are Barry and Brian who were born in 1968.

Grace E. Ballard, born 1907, is married to Harold Rettig.

Submitted by: the Family