Volney B. Ballard has been a leading factor in business affairs at Attica since 1910, is proprietor of the only drug store of the town, and is also the leading banker.
Mr. Ballard was born at Huntsville in Reno County, Kansas, August 22, 1883. His ancestors settled in New York from England in Colonial times, and some of them fought as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His father is Volney B. Ballard, Sr., a resident of Attica. He was born in Jefferson County, New York, in 1844, grew up and married there and learned the blacksmith’s trade in early life. When no more than a boy in years he entered a New York regiment of infantry and was fighting the battles of the Union throughout the South for a period of three years. In 1881 he brought his family to Huntsville, Kansas, buying a farm, but since 1890 had lived retired. His home was at Nickerson until 1915, when he moved to Attica. He is a republican in politics. Volney B. Ballard, Sr., married Cora A. Hill, who was born in Jefferson County, New York, in 1857 and is still living. They have three children: May, unmarried and teaching school at Dragoon, Arizons: Volney B.; and Herbert C., a merchant at Cochize, Arizona.
Mr. Ballard spent his early youth on a farm in Reno County, attended rural schools there, and in 1903 graduated from the Reno County High School. One of his important early experiences was teaching in Reno County for three years. He left school work to enter the Kansas University in the pharmacy department and graduated Ph. G. in 1908. For two years after that he was employed in a drug house at Harper, Kansas, but in 1910 removed to Attica and bought the drug business of Phillips & Kurt. This is the only store of its kind in the town and Mr. Ballard had built up a flourishing business. He owned the building as well as the stock of goods and also had a residence on Main Street.
Mr. Ballard was one of the organizers in 1913 of the First National Bank, and had since been president of that institution. He also owned a farm of 640 acres in Stevens County, Kansas. Mr. Ballard is independent in his political relations, and had served as a member of the town council at Attica. He is affiliated with Attica Lodge No. 262, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and also with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1912, in Butler County, Kansas, he married Miss Margaret Hawes. Her mother is deceased and her father is Jeese A. Hawes, still living in Butler County. He was a pioneer there and owned the homestead which he took up in the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have two children: Frances, born July 26, 1913; and Bryee, born January 19, 1916.