Born 20 June 1792 in Orange, Virginia. He married Isabella Thompson. Willis’ brother Jeremiah married Isabella’s sister Juliana.

{West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970,” database, FamilySearch, Willis Ballard and Isabella Thompson, 1813; citing Monroe, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,710,519.}

Children were, Thompson, Elizabeth, George W., William Thompson, Harrison, Susan, Sylvester, Nancy M. and Hugh Ballard.

He attempted to muster in for the war of 1812 but was not selected. He was a Captain in the Monroe Virginia State Militia under John Campbell in 1822.

3 Jun.,1840, Willis bought for $1.00, 61 acres of land from Jeremiah Ballard and John Mann. {FamilySearch, Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1969, Deed book, v. M 1838-1841, image 265, not indexed}

3 Jun.,1840, Willis bought two tracts of land for $1.00, 18 acres and 15 acres of land from Charles Cummins. {FamilySearch, Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1969, Deed book, v. M 1838-1841, image 266, not indexed}

16 Dec.,1840, Willis bought for $1.00, 20 acres of land on Indian Creek from John Mann. {FamilySearch, Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1901, Deed book, v. P-Q 1846-1852, image 308, not indexed}

1840 census, Monroe County, Virginia. {United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch, Willis Ballard, Monroe, Virginia, United States; citing p. 168, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 567; FHL microfilm 29,689.}

Willis and his brother Jeremiah “Jerry” Ballard is mentioned in Robert Cummins will in 19 Dec 1843, on 2 pages. It shows that Jerry Ballard was paid $.50 cents and Willis Ballard was paid $6.00 cash for supplying the Coffin. On the second page “Adjustment to the accounting of the will making exceptions to the pay out”. Willis is mentioned here stating “I think he should have been more explicit for what the money was paid.” His brother Jerry is mentioned on this page again.

22 Jan.,1845, Willis received 280 acres of land on Indian Creek from Gibson Jarrell. {FamilySearch, Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1969, Deed book, v. R-S 1852-1858, image 78, not indexed}

1850 census, Monroe County, Virginia. {United States Census, 1850,” database with images, FamilySearch, Willis Ballard, Monroe county, Monroe, Virginia, United States; citing family 667, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)}

6 Dec., 1856, Willis bought 3 lots in the town of Springfield, Monroe County, No. 2, 3 and 14. {FamilySearch, Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1901, Deed book, v. R-S 1852-1858, image 664, not indexed}

1860 census, Monroe County, Virginia. {United States Census, 1860″, database with images, FamilySearch: 13 December 2017), Willis Ballard, 1860}

31 August, 1862, Willis sold 1170 pounds of beef to the Confederate Army for $70.20. {United States Civil War Confederate Papers of Citizens or Businesses, 1861-1865,” database, FamilySearch, Willis Ballard, 1861-1865; from “Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-1865,” database, Fold3.com; citing NARA microfilm publication M346 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 38.}

1870 census, Monroe County, Virginia. {United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch, Willis Ballard, West Virginia, United States; citing p. 29, family 219, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,194.}

Willis signed on the marriage of Moses Miller to Susan Keaton.

Willis died 10 August, 1881 at age 89 in Hunters Spring, Monroe, West Virginia. Isabella and Willis are buried in Keaton Cemetery, Greenville, Monroe County, West Virginia.

End Notes:

A history of Monroe County, West Virginia by Oren Frederic Morton. 1857-1926

Sims index to land grants in West Virginia, Monroe County, West Virginia Auditor’s Office, pg. 515

“Find a Grave”, database and images accessed 30 March 2021) memorial page for Willis Ballard (20 Jun 1792–10 Aug 1881), Find A Grave: Memorial #6160547, citing Keaton Cemetery, Greenville, Monroe County, West Virginia, USA