The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1083 

STANLEY BALLARD

Stanley Ballard, orchardist and ranchman of Yakima county, who brings to his
work in the former connection throughout scientific training received at
Pullman, while sound judgment in all business affairs makes his efforts in any
direction of practical worth, is a native son of the Northwest, his birth having
occurred in Seattle, Washington, July 13, 1880. His father, W. R. Ballard, was
born in Ohio and was son of a physician, who became a resident of Roseburg,
Oregon, in 1864. The following year he removed to Slaughters, Washington, now
called Auburn, and there took up government land. He also practiced medicine as
a pioneer physician of the state and resided at that point to the time of his
death. His son, W. R. Ballard, lived in Auburn, Washington, until about 1880,
when he removed to Seattle and operated a steamboat line there. About 1888 he
established the town of Ballard, after which he engaged in the real estate and
banking business in Seattle. Associated with Judge Burke and John Leary he built
the street car line froth Seattle to Bollard and in various ways contributed to
the upbuilding and development of that section. He served for one year as
president of the Puget Sound National Bank and he is still engaged in the real
estate and investment business in Seattle, ranking as one of the prominent
financiers of that section. In 1873 and 1874 he surveyed the Yakima Indian
reservation, this being the first survey made. All through his life he has been
more or less closely associated with surveying and has contributed to large
measure to the pioneer development and upbuilding of the state. He has ever
stood in the vanguard in connection with the progress of Washington as frontier
conditions have given way before an advancing civilization, and that the
opportunities and advantages of the west and its business conditions are on a
par with those of the older cast is attributable in no small measure to his
effort. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and in his life exemplifies
the spirit of the craft. He married Estelle Thorndyke, whose father went to sea
when eighteen years of age and became captain of a vessel. He made a trip around
the world nine times with his own boats, visiting almost every known port of the
civilized world. He maintained his home in Rockland, Maine, and there passed
away, after which his family came west to the Pacific coast, settling first at
San Francisco but in the early `80s removing to Seattle, where the marriage of
his daughter, Estelle Thorndyke, to W. R. Ballard was celebrated.

Born in Seattle, Stanley Ballard completed a high school education in New Jersey
and was also for a time a student in the Culver Military Academy at Lake
Maxinkuckee, Indiana. Subsequently he spent three years at Lawrenceville, and
for a year pursued a special course in horticulture in the Washington State
College at Pullman. In 1909 his father purchased forty acres of land on Naches
Heights and in 1911 Stanley Ballard took charge of this property and began its
development. At a later date he purchased the land from his father and he now
has thirty-two acres in bearing orchards, thirty acres being planted to apples
and two acres to pears. Mr. Ballard has also purchased more land from time to
time as his financial resources have increased and now has seventy acres in all,
planting the balance in alfalfa. He also has a well appointed dairy and is
likewise engaged in raising cattle and hogs. The various branches of his
business are wisely conducted and are proving profitable, so that he occupies a
position among the leading business men of his section.

On the 15th of October, 1913, Mr. Ballard was married to Miss Ruth Gilmore, of
Seattle, a daughter of David and Agnes (Potts) Gilmore, who were early settlers
of Seattle, the father being a captain on boats sailing from that port. Mr. and
Mrs. Ballard are members of the First Presbyterian church of Yakima and he
belongs to the Yakima Country Club and the Seattle Golf Club. He also has
membership in the Yakima Commercial Club. His political allegiance is given to
the republican party and he does not lightly regard the duties of citizenship
but at all times keeps well informed on the vital questions and issues of the
day and supports every measure and movement which he believes will prove of
general benefit. He has never sought or desired office, however, but prefers to
give his undivided attention to his business affairs and the wise direction of
his interests has gained him place among the leading farmers and orchardists of
Yakima county.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.