Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-04-01
Ballard-C Continued

with such men as James w. Grimes,
Samuel j Kirkwood, Henry O'Conner
and Others of that period. He was
owner Of the Iowa City Republican,
the party organ at one time. Hon.
John p. Irish and Hon. William p.
Hepburn We're among the employees
Oh this paper.
He was chiefly responsible for the
nomination of Samuel j kirkwood as
candidate, for Governor when last
elected to that office.
Probably no man ever went into a
| nominating convention more conf
dent of success than did Hon. j. b
Weaver as Republican candidate for
Governor in 1874.
DR.. Ballard was a delegate to the
Convention. He and some of the old
Weaver, or perhaps he did not sutfic
iently court them or their support
and they quietly decided TO present
the name of Ex-Governor kirkwood
as a candidate against Weaver.
When the nomination came on, and
after the name of Gen. Weaver was
presented as Candidate, DR.. Ballard
arose, a majestic figure, with his
snowy hair and beard and eagle eye,
and with his powerful voice announ-
ced: II nominate for Governor that
old war boss, Sam j Kirllwood' The
force of the attack attracted every
eye and ear. and an alert supporter
of Gen. Weaver demanded: SPY what
authority does the Gentleman of Au-
dubon announce the name of Gov
kirkwood:a Another friend of Wea-
yer shouted: "Gov. Kirkwood won't
have the office.
The doctor was ready for the occas-
ion and promptly replied "By Au-
thoIity OF the Great Republican Par.
ty Of Iowa.
That Patriarchal form and voice
did the business; Kmkwood was nomi.
mated, to the chagrin of Weaver and
his friends.
Who can say that Weaver would not
be an ornament in the Republican
party today but for the act of DR.
Ballard?
During the war he was on the sid,
OF the Union, always loyal. He was a
one time sent by GOV. Kirkwood o!
some kind of a mission 10 the lowe
| soldiers in the army down the Miss
issippi river. He never faltered il
his attachment to the party of his
choice,
In 1868 we had mass convention a
the Green schoolhouse to nominal,
Republican candidates for County of
ticerS. A gentleman who had beer
> turned down by the democrats cam,
into our convention and requested
. some of us to present his name as can
I didate for an office which he desired
4 He found no takers, but obtained al
opportunity to address the convention
and offered himself as a candidate
saving that he had seen the error o
his way and was forever done with de
\ mocracy, etc, that if nominated AM
Y elected by the Republicans he woult
Z do all in his power to perform hi
e duty. The doctor replied, telling hin
that he was glad to see him come GU
> on the right side: that the Republ
: cans would accept him on probation
n 4 Iln enc ~, of no Inth MOI il, tl
0 and that if he proved worthy nodoub
+ he would receive his reward
Among his o1her qualities he was
n delightful story teller and very com
5 panionable.
u 1t has been the delight of mysel
!! and many others to listen to nara
tions by DR.. Ballard of events con
nected with the early settlement O
this county.
AT term of court at Audubon man
years ago at the old Walker House
. Judge Reed, Judge Maxwell, DR.. Bal
g lard and others, with myself were hay
z ing pleasant evening together. Th
doctor being in reminiscent moo
0 related a thrilling account of the ea
perience of himself and Uncle job
Jenkins, who were once lost in SNOW
storm while out hunting.
His story was substantially as fol
lows: In December 1852 the govern
ment surveyors, of which | was pal
ty, were calnped at Blue Grass Grov,
engaged in sub-dividing that town
ship, 80-35, into sections. My frienC
: John S. Jenkins came up from the Bi
7 Grove TO our camp for hunt wit
me- We started of together west
ward from camp. During the day
severe snow storm came on; we 90
: bewideled, lost all idea of directio
and wandered around long into The
night. A one time our attention WA
i arrested BY strange connection no
t far away from us, but il was too dar
J Il = a,