Birth and Early Life
Ballard was born at Logan, Utah to Henry Ballard and his wife, the former Margaret McNeal, on Feb. 3, 1873. His father was a native of England and had immigrated to Utah in 1852 to gather with the saints. Henry Ballard had been aboard the Saluda when it exploded at Lexington, Missouri and had been injured in that incident. Henry Ballard later served under Orrin Porter Rockwell in the Nauvoo Legion working to prevent the entry of Johnston's Army into Utah. In 1858 Henry Ballard was the first settler of Logan, and he served as bishop of the LOgan 2nd Ward from 1861-1900.
Prior to Ballard's birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe her son would be an apostle. In his patriarchal blessing, this was reaffirmed.
Melvin Ballard attended Brigham Young College from which he graduated in 1884.
Read more about this topic: Melvin J. Ballard
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