Northwest Pioneer, City Founder. He was the son of Levi and Phoebe Anne (McConnel) Ballard, and brother of fellow Seattle pioneer Irving Ballard. He entered into marriage with Estelle Thorndyke on November 12, 1882 in Seattle, Washington. He was a major land developer, and Master of the stern-wheeler Zephyr, which operated on Puget Sound between Seattle and Olympia. He was the founder of the City of Ballard in 1890, a prominent Scandinavian community that served as a major commercial fishing and timber center. He acquired what was thought to be worthless land, losing in a coin flip with his business partner, after a client was unable to pay his bill, offering land in exchange for paying off his debt. At the time of its founding, Ballard was the seventh largest city in the state of Washington. The City of Ballard remained independent until being incorporated into the City of Seattle on May 29, 1907. Interred with wife Estelle and son Stanley.
Northwest Pioneer, City Founder. He was the son of Levi and Phoebe Anne (McConnel) Ballard, and brother of fellow Seattle pioneer Irving Ballard. He entered into marriage with Estelle Thorndyke on November 12, 1882 in Seattle, Washington. He was a major land developer, and Master of the stern-wheeler Zephyr, which operated on Puget Sound between Seattle and Olympia. He was the founder of the City of Ballard in 1890, a prominent Scandinavian community that served as a major commercial fishing and timber center. He acquired what was thought to be worthless land, losing in a coin flip with his business partner, after a client was unable to pay his bill, offering land in exchange for paying off his debt. At the time of its founding, Ballard was the seventh largest city in the state of Washington. The City of Ballard remained independent until being incorporated into the City of Seattle on May 29, 1907. Interred with wife Estelle and son Stanley.
