DR. LEVI W. BALLARD. – The subject of this sketch was born in Petersburg, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, on December 21, 1815, and is the son of William and T.B. Downing Ballard. He was educated in the common schools of his native place, and went to Hancock Academy in Hancock for two years, after which, in 1837, he came to New Jersey and taught school for three years. After engaging with but poor success in the mercantile business, he removed to Ohio and engaged in different occupations, until finally, taking up the study of medicine, he entered the Cleveland Medical College and graduated as M.D. in 1848. He then engaged in the practice of his profession until 1852; when, on account of the loss of his wife, he, in April of that year, started across the plains to California, where he arrived in September. He followed mining for a time; but, meeting with no success, in January of 1853, he returned via the isthmus of Panama to Ohio to settle up important business. After closing his affairs at that place, he again started across the plains to California, but while on the journey was persuaded to come to Oregon, and arrived at The Dalles July 14, 1853. He remained at The Dalles until 1854, after which he went to Umpqua county, practicing his profession and also raising stock. On the breaking out of the Rogue river war, the Doctor gave his services as surgeon, and remained until the close of hostilities, after which he returned to his home on the Umpqua.
In 1857 he returned to Ohio, and was married a second time, and with his wife and two children came again to Oregon. In the spring of 1865 he concluded to remove to Washington Territory, and, after looking over the ground, homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, on which the town of Slaughter is now located and followed farming and practiced his professing. In 1886, the Doctor laid off part of his claim as the town of Slaughter, naming it after Lieutenant Slaughter, who was killed by the Indians at this place in 1856. The Doctor took an active part in the educational and religious institutions, and was the first elder in the First Presbyterian Church on White river. He is now in his seventy-fourth year, is a Republican in politics, and has five sons, one of whom is deceased, – Irvin, who was prosecuting attorney of the second district at the time of his death.