MRS. SARAH D. BALLARD, 93, PASSES SATURDAY

Mrs. Sarah D. Ballard Dies at the Age of 93 Years

Sarah D. Strong was born near Mt. Vernon, Ohio November 17, 1840, and died at her home near Blair on April 7, 1934 at the ripe old age of 93 years, 4 months and 20 days. Her parents, of colonial and pioneer stock, moved from Vermont to Ohio, then to Millersburg, Iowa when she was eighteen years of age, and later with her parents and her husband, moved to Mount Vernon, Iowa.

In 1861 she was married to Martin Ballard, and to this union four children, two sons and two daughters, were born. One son passing away in 1900 and the husband passing prior to this time in 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Ballard came to Blair in 1869 when the little city was in its infancy and when the country was in a wild state. In coming to Blair, they made their crossing on the ice, settling first in the city and the following year built the home where her life was spent and which has for its setting flowers of the most beautiful and trees and shrubs of rare and special sorts.

In 1898 she joined the Methodist church, and she has lived the life and leaves many pleasant memories in the minds of those dear to her.

Physically she retained her faculties until the last, her mind being keen, and it was a great pleasure to her to review her past experiences much to the delight of her friends who continued to call on her to the last.

In the summer she lived among her flowers which was her greatest delight, and she prized each shrub and bloom and studied them.

The three children left to mourn her departure are Adelbert, Miss Harriet and Miss Grace, all of whom were a great comfort to her in her declining years.

Funeral services were held from the residence on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with Rev. Walter H. Jackson officiating, and interment made in the Blair cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

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