eleven years one of the board of supervisors for this county. He married twice; his first wife was Miss Louise E. Stoll, of Illinois, who died April 26, 1864, leaving three children: Alice J., Eliza E. and Albert A. In October, 1864, he was united at the hymenial altar with Miss B. M. Sheffield, of Iowa, a daughter of Nathan and Maria Sheffield. They have six children: Anson E., Russell N., Minnie C., Fred S., Kestin S. and John F. Mrs. Ballard is a member of the Methodist Church. The subject of the sketch is a Master Mason, and enjoys a well deserved popularity.
Vivaldo A. Ballou is the editor and proprietor of the Watchman, a newspaper published in the interests of the Democratic party at Nevada, Story County, Iowa, and under his able management it has come to be regarded as one of the leading journals in this section of the country. He was born in Prattsburg, Steuben County, N. Y., September 7, 1840, a son of David H. and Helena A. (Whitman) Ballou, who were also born in this State, the former in March, 1814, and the latter in 1818. In 1850, Vivaldo A. Ballou first came to the State of Iowa, and in the spring of 1856 began learning the printer's trade in the Tribune office at Dubuque, but in June, 1858, he went to Webster City, and for about two years worked in the Freeman office, and from there in September, 1860, he entered the Upper Iowa University, remaining a student in the same until the following June. In July he enlisted in Company F, Second Iowa Cavalry, being sworn into the United States service in September. At the end of one year he was discharged on account of physical disability. He subsequently returned to Webster City, and after managing the Webster City Freeman for two years, he became a student in Cornell (Iowa) College, and was earnestly engaged in pursuing his studies in that institution for two years. In the fall of 1868 he came to Nevada, and after being engaged in conducting the Aegis for one year he sold out, and the subsequent ten years were spent in selling drugs. In 1880 he became proprietor and began editing the Watchman, and is now one of the oldest and most successful newspaper men in this section of the State. Having acquainted himself with the printing business at a very early day, he is a thorough master of this calling, and under his able management his paper has proven a decided success. He was married, in 1868, to Miss A. M. Sharp, and by her has had' four children : Maude, Edith, Victor and Ruth. Mr. Ballou is a Mason, belonging to Nevada Lodge No. 99, and 3 X 3 Chapter No. 92. He also belongs to J. D. Ferguson Post No. 31, of the G. A. R., and has been adjutant for the last five years.
Ambrose K. Banks. The life record of this gentleman is one of more than usual interest, and his career has been of such influence and benefit to the people of Story County, that a sketch of his life will be of more than passing interest. He was born in Ontario, Canada, near Kempville, September 21, 1845, and is a son of Israel and Mary (Clothier) Banks, who were born in New Hampshire and Vermont, in December, 1804, and 1813, respectively, both dying in Iowa Center, Iowa, in 1863. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of their nine children, seven of whom are living. At the age of ten he was taken to Ogle County, Ill., where he acquired the rudiments of his education in the common schools near his home. In 1861 he removed to the State of Missouri,for the purpose of driving mules in the employ of the Government, and later was a soldier in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, and was in the fight at Wilson's Creek, where the lamented Gen. Lyon was killed. In 1862 he returned to Rockford, Ill., and began learning the machinist's trade, but in