Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Micajah B. Ballard
It is not infrequently the case that the narrative of a good man's life can be summed up in a few lines, for the story is so simple, plain and devoid of great events. The same life, however, as it has been lived, day by day, that has been an example and shining light in a community, has been an incentive to many a lesser soul, doubtless; and only those who have the wisdom to read between the lines of such a man's history judge him aright.
The subject of this memoir, a quiet, unassuming citizen of Richmond, and for thirty-three years one of her leading business men, is held in the highest esteem here, as he richly deserves. Now in his seventy-third year, he was born in the neighborhood of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, August 7, 1826, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Lewis) Ballard, and grandson of Byram Ballard. The latter was a native and life-long resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, in which city our subject's father likewise was born. Thomas Ballard married Miss Lewis, of Prederick, Virginia, and in 1819, they located in the wilderness of Highland county, Ohio, at some distance from the town of Leesburg. Later they removed to the vicinity of Lebanon, Ohio, where they resided until 1847, subsequent to which they dwelt in Richmond. Indiana. The father died the year after his arrival here, but the mother lived until 1862. The former had learned the trade of a stone mason, but devoted much of his later years exclusively to farming. In religion he was a member of the Society of Friends, as had been his forefathers for generations.
Until he was about fifteen years of age, Micajah B. Ballard attended the district schools in his home township, and in 1841 he came to Richmond, where he became a clerk in the store owned by his elder brother, Achilles. Having determined to enter the medical profession, he took up the study under the guidance of the late John T. Plummer, M. D., of Richmond, and from 1849 to 1850 he attended lectures in a medical college at Cincinnati. In 1854 he entered the employ of Plummer & Kelly, druggists, and continued with that firm until the summer of 1864. He enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, in July, 1864, and in the following October, was made assistant surgeon of that regiment. He remained in active service as a surgeon until the close of the war, when he returned to Richmond. In 1866 he embarked in the drug business on his own account, and for twenty-seven years his store was on Fort Wayne avenue. In 1893 he removed his place of business to his present tine quarters at No. 1031 East Main street.
In his political standing Mr. Ballard is a stalwart Republican. Socially he is identified with Webb Lodge, No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons; King Solomon's Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; and Richmond Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. In October, 1866, Mr. Ballard wedded the lady of his choice, then Miss Nannie Snyder, of Eaton, Ohio. Their only child, Fannie, a beautiful. and attractive girl, died in 188S, at the age of twenty years. Mrs. Ballard devotes much of her time to benevolent work, and is a great favorite in social and literary circles of Richmond.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899