My Genealogy Hound

E. R. BALLARD. There is doubtless no resident of Sedalia whose travels have extended over so large a portion of the world, or whose experiences have been so varied, as have those of the subject of this notice. Having in boyhood become thoroughly familiar with the construction of telegraph and telephone lines, he was employed in that business in different parts of the world, and spent a number of years abroad. His career has been a remarkable one, and, being an interesting conversationalist, he often delights his friends with some thrilling episode or entertaining reminiscence of his life in foreign lands. He served as chief electrician of a telephone company in the Soudan War, and witnessed the massacre in which General Gordon lost his life, he himself narrowly escaping death.

In view of his prominence in Sedalia, a brief outline of the life of Mr. Ballard will be of interest to our readers. He was born in Xenia, Ohio, October 22, 1858, and is of Virginian descent. His paternal grandfather, Jamestown Ballard, removed in an early day from the Old Dominion to Ohio, where he engaged in farming. During the War of 1812 he enlisted in the service of our country, and was one of its loyal soldiers during that conflict.

The parents of our subject, Hebron and Mary E. (Hagler) Ballard, were natives of Ohio, where the former was a farmer for some years. During the Civil War he took part in the Morgan raid. In 1889 he removed to Missouri, and since that time has followed farming. His wife, who died some years ago, was born in Greene County, Ohio, being a daughter of Eli Hagler, a soldier in the War of 1812, a farmer by occupation, and a man of large means.

The family of Hebron and Mary E. Ballard consisted of four children, all but one of whom are still living. E. R., who is the second in order of birth, remained in Ohio until fourteen years of age, when, in 1872, he went to Omaha, Neb., and learned telegraph construction. In 1879 he took charge of a corps of men, and built lines all over the West, from Chicago to San Francisco. In 1883 he was sent, via San Francisco, to Australia, stopping at the Sandwich Islands and New Zealand. After staying for some time in Melbourne, he went to Van Diemen’s Land, and from there sailed to India, thence went to China and Japan and later proceeded to Spain and Africa. At the time of General Gordon’s death, near Khartoum, he was putting wires to the front for special service, and so dangerous was his position that it seemed scarcely less than a miracle that he was not killed. In fact, throughout the entire period of the Soudan War he was in the greatest peril, his life being at the mercy of the treacherous natives.

The close of the war terminating his stay in Africa, Mr. Ballard sailed for the British Isles, and then returned, via Hamburg, to the United States, reaching his Ohio home after an absence of more than five years. However, he did not remain in the Buckeye State, but resumed construction work in Omaha, and in 1888 came to Missouri. His home has since been in Sedalia, where he owns seven acres within the city limits, on Arlington Heights. While still employed as an electrician, much of his attention is devoted to the breeding of fancy poultry, including the best varieties, among which are Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. His poultry has been exhibited at fairs in this state, and in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, and has taken the first premium in almost every instance.

The pleasant home of Mr. Ballard is presided over by his accomplished wife, who was formerly Miss Jessie McMurry. She was born in Charleston, Ohio, but at the time of her marriage resided in Xenia. Three children bless the union, Harry M., Bessie W. and Berthel. Socially Mr. Ballard is a member of the order of Electrical Workers of the World, and takes an interest in everything pertaining to that science. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Sedalia, and he is a generous contributor to its good works. Politically he is a Republican.