Henry Delos Ballard (1842-1931)

BALLARD, BEECHER, CORCORAN, BEATY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/6/2017 at 08:27:40

Douglas Enterprise - December 8, 1931

Sunday afternoon, at the Douglas hospital, "taps" were sounded for another venerable patriot when H.D. Ballard, a veteran of the Civil war, passed from this life after a brief last illness, at the age of 89 years, six months and 25 days. He had been a resident of Douglas for nearly a score of years and always had enjoyed the confidence, good-will and fullest respect of the people of the community in which he was widely known. He was also, with one exception it is believed, the last remaining survivor of the struggle between the Blue and the Gray, whose home was in Douglas or adjacent vicinity. The other veteran is Judge S.A. Ballard, father of Mrs. Roy Brenning of this city, who, though he spends much of his time in recent years at Casper, was for many years a Douglas citizen and still regards this his home.

Henry Delos Ballard was born in Alleghany county, New York, May 11, 1842, of sturdy pioneer American parentage, his grandfather having fought in the Revolutionary war, and his father serving as a drummer boy in the war of 1812. His mother was a Beecher and a first cousin to Henry Ward Beecher of Hartford, Conn. The Ballard family came from Salem, Mass.

When yet a small boy, Mr. Ballard's father, who was a physician, moved to Cook county, Illinois from which place they migrated westward to Story county, Iowa, in 1855. When the call of President Abraham Lincoln came for volunteers, he enlisted in the Second Iowa Cavalry, being soon sent home because of sickness, but six months later, having regained much of his former health, he re-enlisted as a private in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry. He continued in the service during the entire period of the war.

Turns to Business and Banking
Following the cessation of the hostilities he engaged in business and banking at Radcliffe, Ia., a small town in a then undeveloped territory. It was here that he was married to Miss Mary M. Corcoran, an estimable woman, who survives him, with the two children born to them; Guy W. Ballard of Crete, Nebr., and Mrs. Joyce Beaty of Virginia, ,Minn., who will be remembered as a former teacher in the kindergarten of the schools of Douglas while Mr. Beaty is a former pastor of the Congregational church of this city.

For a period of 18 years, then, Mr. Ballard was general agent for the Case Thrashing Machine company with headquarters at Webster City, Ia. In 1910 he moved his family to Lincoln, Nebr., and there managed a business college until 19 years ago when they came to Douglas to make their home, Mr. Ballard engaging in the real estate and insurance business, in which he remained active until a few short months ago.

Despite his advanced age, he was in his 90th year, this grand old man possessed an unusually keen mind and retained exceptional physical strength even to the moment he was stricken about 10 days ago, at which time he was taken to the hospital for care. Only a couple of days prior he had driven his car into Douglas that some business might be transacted, and then, as usual, enjoyed brief visits with friends about town who always admired his strong sense of humor, his ready wit, and his willingness to accept life and its disappointments with a smile.

Funeral Services Wednesday
Funeral services are to be held at 1:00 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Episcopal church with Dr. Manfred Lilliefors officiating. From the church to the Chicago & Northwestern railway station a military escort, which is also to accompany the caisson which is to be bear the bier to the church from the Hofmann chapel at 12:45, will be a part of the cortege. At the station final "taps" are to be sounded in tribute to a departed veteran, with Sergeant Anthony in charge of the Cavalry troop.

The pall bearers will be: James Marsden, John Kruppa, Claude L. McDermott, Howard F. Esmay, Richard C. Maurer and John D. Dawson. The remains are to be interred at Nevada, Ia., and are to be accompanied by Guy W. Ballard, the son. The daughter, Mrs. Beaty will remain with her mother who is seriously ill in their home in South Douglas.