newspaperman, b. Richmond, Vt. He was educated in common and private schools in New York, and began his newspaper career as an apprentice with the Lockport (N.Y.) Niagara Democrat in 1840. In 1849 he became editor of the paper and served in this capacity for several years. About 1852 or 1853 he moved to Wisconsin, settling at Green Bay where he served as assistant editor of the Green Bay Advocate until 1854. In the fall of 1854 he moved to Watertown and established the Watertown Democrat, which he conducted until shortly before his death. A Democrat, Ballou supported Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency in 1860, but acquiesced in the election of Lincoln, and consistently supported the administration throughout the Civil War despite an active anti-administration element in Watertown. He was active in the Wisconsin Editorial Association, and served as its president (1861-1862). Watertown Democrat, Aug. 3, 1876; Hist. of Jefferson Co. (Chicago, 1879); Proc. Wis. Editorial Assoc., 1857- 59 (1859), pp. 55-59; Coils. State Hist. Soc. Wis., 8 (1879); WPA field notes.Learn More
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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
