Marion and Gayle Ballard were both Barber Countians from pioneer Barber County
  families. Gayle, youngest daughter of Ed and Anna Pfaff, was born August 5, 1908.
  Marion, son of Kirk and Mary Ballard, was born November 22, 1906.
     Marion was born on the family farm west of Hazelton. He had two older brothers,
  Ellis and Charles. He moved to town with his parents at the age of two. He
  attended grade school and high school at Hazelton.
     Probably every farmer in Barber County knew Marion, for hie was manager of
  Bowersock elevator at the tender young age of 19, when he inherited the position
  from his father in 1925. Every farmer knew that "Ballard" would give them a fair
  price for their wheat.
     In those days wheat was hauled to the elevator by team and wagon. Barber County
  usually has the distinction of being where the Kansas wheat harvest starts. It can
  also boast having one of the best authorities on wheat in the state of Kansas.
     No electronic wizardry back in those early days. His moisture tester was his
  arm down in a truckload of wheat or biting into a kernel of it. He could tell you
  a variety of wheat just by looking at it; by examining it he could tell if it was
  dead germ or live germ wheat.
     A far cry from driving to the scales and pushing a button to weigh a load of
  wheat; in those days it was weiged by the old I-beam scales.
     Marion was in the elevator business all his life except for a few years (1930-
  1937) when he engaged in farming. He then went back to Bowersock, first as a 
  helper, then again as manager, until the company sold out to the Farmers Co-op.
  He stayed on with Co-op as Field Man until ill health forced him to retire in
  1965.
     Marion and Gayle had four children, Bill, Jolene, and the twins,Mary Ann and
  Marion Lee (Bud). All four were born and raised in Barber County.
     He was active in community and school affairs, serving as mayor of Hazelton 
  for many years and also as police judge.
     He loved young people and drove a school bus from 1947-1953. His pride and joy
  were his wife, his four children, and five grandchildren. While not an active
  church goer, he supported not only his church but gave to other churches as well.
  He also gave anonymously, not for his glory, but for the glory of God, to those
  less fortunate than he.
     He died on November 26, 1966, four days after his 60th birthday,and was laid
  to rest with his people who passed on before him in Rose Hill Cemetery at Hazelton.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 98 
     Submitted by: Bud Ballard