James Lewis Ballard was the son of William Jarman Ballard (1803-1878) and Elizabeth Tapp.  He married Katharine A. Hogan (1832-1914)

The following obituary of James Lewis Ballard appeared in the Bloomington Weekly Pantagraph, Friday, 7 September 1906.

Friday morning at 6 o’clock occurred the death of Dr. James L. Ballard at his home in Saybrook, aged 80 years, 3 months and 6 days. Dr. Ballard was stricken last Saturday morning with paralysis and had since that time been very feeble, death being expected at any moment. The deceased had been in poor health for a long time before the stroke which directly led to the fatal termination.

Dr. Ballard was one of Saybrook oldest and best citizen having practiced medicine until of late years, but always ready and willing to go in case of necessity. All of the children of the deceased were at his bedside at the time of his death excepting John, of Nebraska City, Neb., and Mrs. Lizzie Sudduth, of Billings, Mont. Those present were Mrs. Robert Portwood, of Wagner, I. T.; William of Chelanse; Mrs. Lucy Evans, Mrs. C. A. Schureman and Mrs. J. M. Crlgler, of Saybrook. Three children preceded the doctor in the other world, two daughters and one son.

Dr. James L. Ballard was one of the pioneer physicians of this section of the state, and one of the oldest practitioners in McLean County. He was born in Madison County, Ky. May 25. 1826, and was reared in Jessamine County, that state.

His father was Dr. W. J. Ballard, who was a native of Virginia and after living in Kentucky for a time came to Bloomington in 1855. Dr. J. L. Ballard studied medicine with his father, later attending lectures at Transylvania University at Irvington, Ky. He completed his studies there in 1847 and on May 23, 1849, was married to Miss Kate Hogan. Dr. Ballard removed with his father’s family to Bloomington in 1855 and once again engaged in practice here. Two years later he removed to Saybrook and lived there until the time of his death. His professional acquaintance extended not only in the immediate vicinity of Saybrook, but also in to the adjoining counties of Ford, DeWitt and Champaign. Since 1894 he has not actively engaged in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Ballard was one of the best known men in Saybrook, having during his long life enjoyed many positions of trust and honor, such as supervisor, justice of the peace, assessor and township trustee, in politics he was a Democrat and socially he was a prominent member of the order of Masons and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

He was interred at Riverside Cemetery, town of Sabrook in McLean County, Illinois.

Issue:

Love Eugenia, born 2 April 1850, died 29 November 1912; married 21 December 1871 Dr John M. Crigler, and had issue: 1. John, died age 10; 2. Maud F., who married Dr J. M. Anderson of Saybrook, Illinois; 3. Bess Ruth, who married George E. Rauscher of Saybrook, Illinois; 4. Katie Bell, who married Dr J. W. Gresham of Jackson, Tennessee.

Elizabeth, born 26 June 1852, died 18 September 1912; married William Xavier Sudduth.  Issue: Mable Sudduth (1885-1955).  Interred Mountview Cemetery, Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana.

Belle L., born 8 June 1854, died 21 September 1879; married Julius Wellington Crigler (1853-1932).  Interred Riverside Cemetery, Saybrook, McLean County, Illinois.

William Hogan, born 11 April 1856 (tombstone gives 1854), died 22 June 1910 in Chebanse, Illinois.  Married (1) 21 December 1880 Ida M. Jaquith died 24 October 1887); (2) 27 December 1897 Mary Wakeman.  Issue: (2) 1. James Bradford (1900 (died in infancy); Ruth W. (1904-1985); 3. Helen F. (1909-1986).  Interred at Evergreen Cemetry, Chebanse, Iroquois County, Illinois.

Lucy, born 1860, may have died 1940; married _______ Evans.

Katie, born 1864, died 1949; married Charles A. Schureman.  Interred at Riverside Cemetery, Saybrook, McLean County, Illinois.

John Bland, born c. 1865, died 21 January 1922 in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska, where he practiced dentistry.  Married Ellen Nickols of Bellflower, Nebraska.  Issue: 1. John L. born 1888, died July 1931; married 11 September 1919 Jean Hunt of Beosho, Missouri.  2. Love, born 1891; 3. June, born 1896. 4. Kathryn, born 1897, died 1927; married ________ Grassmueck. 5. Helen, born 1898, died 28 November 1961, married ________ Andrews.

Charles E., born 26 February 1867, died 7 September 1891, a suicide, without issue.  See “Love and Death: The Awful Double Tragedy Which Ended the Lives of Two Young People.” The Bloomington Pantagraph, Tuesday, 8 September 1891, p. 6.

Mildred Audrey, born 7 February 1870, died 1 December 1932; married Robert S. Portwood.    Interred Riverside Cemetery, Saybrook, McLean County, Illinois.