Jesse M. Ballard
As president of the Ballard Packing Company, which he founded some years ago in Marion, Jesse M. Ballard is well and favorably known in this city, where he has been prominently identified with business interests since his young manhood. He is a man who has seen a considerable public service, his acquaintance in the city being unduly wide because of that fact, and there are few men in the city who have a better standing among their fellows or are more worthy of the hearty good will he here enjoys than is Mr. Ballard.
Born July 13, 1861, in Center Township, Grant County, Jesse M. Ballard is the son of James and Emily (Riggs) Ballard. The father was a native of Henry County, Indiana, and the mother of Elkhart County, this State. James Ballard was a farmer, born to the industry, and he came to Grant County as a young man, and worked as a farm hand by the month until he had saved sufficient money to buy him a small farm. He had no sooner made his purchase and become well settled on his new home with his little family, when the outbreak of the Rebellion upset his plans forever. He was drafted in the Forty-third Indiana and he died in the service at Huntsville, Indiana, leaving his widow and two young children to mourn his untimely end. The children were Jess M., of this review, and Nora, who is married and lives in Grant County.
The mother later married Irwin Love, of Grant County, and of this second marriage two sons were born, George B. Love, who is mentioned elsewhere at length in this work, and Orville, who is now deceased. The mother passed away in April, 1882.
Jesse M. Ballard was reared on the farm where he was born, which his father had earned by the sweat of his brow, and which relentless Fate never permitted him to enjoy for more than the brief period preceding his enlistment in the service of his country. The son received some education in the country schools, and being an apt and brilliant student, found it possible to spend some time in the Marion Normal. He began life as a farmer, teaching school in Washington Township during the winter seasons for eight years, and on May 1, 1893, he was appointed deputy postmaster of Marion, a position he held until 1896, when he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland. He held the office for three years, resigning his place on the anniversary of the day when he entered the service. For some time thereafter Mr. Ballard farmed and handled live stock, and then commenced to take an active interest in the wholesale meat and packing business, in connection with his farming operations. He began the new enterprise on January 1, 1901, under the firm name of Ballard & Schwartz, and for eighteen month, thereafter the new firm conducted business, after which Mr. Ballard bought out his partner, and the firm became known as the Ballard Cold Storage Company, continuing as such until 1909. On January 1st of that year the business became known to the community as the Ballard Packing Company, having been incorporated in September, 1908, with Jesse Ballard, president, A. J. Ballard, vice-president and Otto Small, secretary-treasurer. the firm carries on a general packing business in hogs, cattle and sheep, and is one of the prosperous and well established enterprises of the city.
Mr. Ballard was married on September 4, 1883, to Mary A. Lomax, a daughter of Alfred and Mary (Anderson) Lomax. They have two children: Emily, the wife of Harry Stover, of Mobile, Alabama, and Alfred J., who is associated with his father in the business, as vice-president of the company.
In addition to his other interests, which are more or less widespread, Mr. Ballard has a cotton plantation in Louisiana, consisting of 1,185 acres and a small place of 140 acres in Washington Township, this county. Other property in and about he county is also to be found upon the tax tolls charged against him.
Mr. Ballard and his family are members of the Episcopal Church, and he is a Democrat in his political faith. He has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Foresters, and in these, as well as in other circles, is highly esteemed by his fellow men.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.