Document text
Redfield, Georgia B.
CHARLES I. BAIIARD
Words 940
9/16/38
Pioneer Roswell Cowboy, 1880.
Stock and Ranch Owner 1890.
Used Eight Yoke of Oxen to Plow on
Work of Pioneer Irrigation Ditch.
Veteran of Spanish American War 1898.
SEP 1919V!
Cc
Charles L. Ballard, born in Texas in 1867, came to New Mex-
ico with his father J. L. Ballard and settled at Fort Sumner in
1878.
He was eleven years old at the time of his interesting jour-
ney across the plains in a covered wagon. He and the other older
ones of his six brothers and sisters were excited over the antici-
pation of seeing thousands of buffalo that had roamed the plains
east of the Pecos River during the years 1875-1876 when his father
had been a buffalo hunter on the Llano Estacado (Staked Plains)
near Roswell.
While they did not see as large bunches as they expected, for
the buffalo were fast being exterminated, they were thrilled over
the sight of herds in which thereltVeral hundreds.
The travelers suffered for lack of water during the last days
of their journey across hot, sun baked, trAless plains.
While traveling in those days was hazardous because of hos-
tile Indians, and many lost their teams and stock, the Ballard fami-
ly was not molested. On the last night of their journey, on see-
ing smoke and dim forms, they thought might be Indians, around a
camp fire, they were filled with dread and were afraid to stop
to make camp, until Charlie Ballard and his father walking quietly
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ahead of the wagons were delighted to find friendly Mexican people
who shared their camp at what is Portales Spring, which furnished
fine cold water for the teams and all the travel worn campers.
The next day, on arriving at Fort Sumner Mr. A. J. Ballard,
the father, decided to establish a home at that place for his fami-
ly. Here they remained a few months, until their home was demol-
ished by an explosion caused by "a drunk" shooting into a keg of
gunpowder, kept in a store, on the plaza around which the houses
were built. After the loss of their home Mr. Ballard moved his
family to the town of Lincoln where there was a school for his
children to attend. During their residence at, Fort Sumner Charlie
Ballard had boarded at Anton Chico in order to attend the only
school in that part of the country.
At Lincoln Charlie Ballard knew William BOT14, known as Billy
the Kid, who was making history as both an admired and feared out-
law leader of the feudal battles of what was called the Lincoln
county War.
Mr. Ballard remembers "The Kid" as not being an outlaw in man-
ners. He speaks of the youthful desperado, as being "quiet, but al-
ways active and doing something interesting. He was a leader in
sports and games. That is the reason for his having had more friends
than enemies in those turbulent days." This was the secret of the
popularity of the outlaw, who was loved as well as feared, by many.
'Tie was small for a youth of his age, said Mr. Ballard, a-
bout nineteen he was the -16e weighed only about a hundred and
twenty-five or thirty pounds, and was quick and active as a cat.
He was a very fine rider. We often rode and raced our ponies
together. He was credited with more killings than he ever
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did. However there are plenty that could be justly counted again-
st him. I am one of the many who appreciated his good qualities
in spite of his career as a two -gun -man and killer." This is
Chaie Ballard's only criticism of the once notorious outlaw he
was not ashamed to call,"my friend".
In 1880 Mr.Ballard moved to Roswell where he worked as a
cowboy for Captain Joseph C. Lea. Later he launched into stock
raising for himself, continuing in ranching and the cattle busi-
ness for twenty years or more.
In 1881 his father moved the rest of the family from Lin-
coln to Roswell and Charlie Ballard assisted them in opening up
a farm home, three miles out east, on East Seconcl: Street. While
attending the first school, in or near Roswell, taught by Asbury
C. Rogers, Charlie Ballard drove eight head of oxen to a plow, or
scraper, on work of the pioneer irrigation ditch, known to the
early settlers as the "Ballard Cunningham Ditch".
In 1893, while serving as sheriff, he made a record for him-
self 'or bravery by capturing the Cook brothers who were members of
the Dalton gang of murderers and desperadoes operating in the Pecos
Valley.
In 1898, Governor Otero, Territorial Governor of New Mexico
wired Charlie Ballard asking if he would accept a commission in
the regiment to be mobilized at San Antonio, Texas to serve in the
Spanish Americmi War. On accepting Ir. Ballard was made Secona
Lieutenant of the Second Squadron of the famous hough Riders with
Lieutenant Cdlonel Theodore Roosevelt in command, under Colonel
Leonard Wood, commander.
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Mr. Ballard, after hostilities were suspended, was invited
with four of his military companions to visit the Roosevelt family
at Oyster Bay, where they were entertained at dances, fishing par-
ties, and dinners given in their honor. The five entertained by
"Teddy" Roosevelt were John C. Greenway whose wife, Isabelle
Greenway, served as Congresswoman of Arizona two terms David
Goodrich, chairman of the board of the Goodrich Rubber Company,
Hal Sayre, Robert Ferguson and Charles IA. Ballard.
Mr. Ballard was one of the forty of the Rough Riders who
formed the Guard of Honor at the Presidential Inauguration of
Theodore Roosevelt.
Charles Ballard has been twice married and bereaved by death
of both wives. Three girls and three boys, Syble, Mable, Willie,
(deceased) Theodore, Jack, and Katherine are the children born to
Mr. Ballard and the wife of his first marriage, to Minty (Corn)
Ballard, daughter of Martin V. Corn who, with his family lived as
neighbors and friend of the Ballard family during the early days
of settlement of the farming section of the country near Roswell.
Mr. Ballard is the only one of the Rough Riders of the Span-
ish American War from around Roswell, who is known to be living at
the present time.
He has many friends in Artesia where he now lives, and at
Roswell his former home, who appreciate his friendship, and his
important contributions to the unbuilding, progress and improve-
ment of Roswell, and his efforts in maintaining law and order
during the early days of settlement of the Pecos valley, in New
Mexico.
Sources of Information
Charles Ballard, in personal interview, address Artesia, N. M.
Personal knowledge of biographer, Georgia B. Redfield, Roswell, N. M.