Bennington

BALLARD, Benjamin

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, p 212 [from the section 
dealing with the history of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont]

Benjamin BALLARD came into town [Peru, Bennington County, Vermont] with his 
family about 1815. His son, Benjamin, married Betsey, daughter of --- 
WARREN, who had come from Dedham [Norfolk County], Massachusetts. Mr. WARREN 
had a large family of children, several of whom have become eminent in the 
callings they have chosen. One son, Samuel Mills WARREN, who is now a 
preacher in England, was, when quite a lad, put to work on a farm with Mr. 
Stowell BARNARD; but neither his head nor his heart were engaged in the work. 
After having worked seven months, he one day, while digging potatoes, became 
so excited, by the thoughts that crowded his brain, he threw down his hoe, 
exclaiming "I will never dig another potato as long as I live!" and he never 
has; but he has ploughed deep in the fields of learning, and from the furrows 
brought forth treasures such as the Mountains of Peru could scarcely yield.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly