This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BALLOU, BELLEU, ABBOTT, TROTTER, PLATFORD Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/491.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Linda - You're very welcome, I was happy to assist. And best of the holidays and New Year to you and your family also. In my haste to do your posting last night based on the on-line record research I did last week, I forgot to include citations from resources in my library of publications. In the 1975 Phoenix metropolitan phone book, a phone book that includes all cites and town proximant to Phoenix, on page 73, right column, is the following listing: "Ballou Lester L 2078 E Balboa Dr Tempe 838-0827". This appears to be your research subject. In this same phone book are a few other BALLOU surname listings, some of which may be related to Lester. They are Clifford, E., Phoenix; Fred H. Jr., Scottsdale; Jim, Mesa; Lance C., Sun City; Robert, Phoenix; and Lieutenant Wesley S. BALLOU, USAF, Luke Field AFB, Glendale. Most people who reside in Sun City are older and probably retired. The Fred Jr. is a Jr. so it appears less likely that he'd be related. The Lieutenant wouldn't be a permanent resident because he's a junior grade officer and USAF likes to transfer them a lot from place to place, usually every two years. The others may be more likely candidates to be related to Lester. Mapquest.com shows the 2078 East Balboa address to be an active address, in a residental area southeast of Arizona State University (ASU) and located at the northern most point of the Shalimar Golf Course. As ASU is Tempe's largest employer, perhaps Lester may have worked for the uinversity at one time, If Lester died while residing at the East Balboa address it may be possible to track down his neighbors who still live in the neighborhood if you wanted to try and interview them as to their knowledge about his who relations were in the "Valley of the Sun". I have several cross directory tools that can be used to compile a list. It would be best however to know his last residental address before embarking on that effort. In my 1964 Tempe, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert city directory there is no listing for any BALLOU surname. In the address cross directory East Balboa Drive listings only go as high as 344, there is no 2078. This suggests that 2078 East Balboa Drive was a new subdivision in the era of the late 60's and that perhaps the 1969 deed previously mentioned in another posting is for that property. This also suggests that perhaps this is the general era that your research subject came to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Noting that one of the BALLOU's was living in Scottsdale in 1975, I pulled my 1968 Scottsdale city directory which includes Paradise Valley and hit paydirt!! On page 22, right column is: "Ballou Lester (Lil)(spouse) Treas (occupation - Treasurer - a business comptroller, CPA or internal finance person) Trotter Agency (employer - Trotter Agency, Inc. [Insurance Agents - General Lines] 503 North Brown Avenue, Room 1A, Scottsdale, 947-7645) R (R - resides at) 315 Tonalea Way, Apartment 6". There is no phone listed. Now we know he was in the Phoenix metro area in 1968, probably bought their home in 1969. The directory also gives us the names of five people that worked with Lester. They are: Thomas N. TROTTER, President; Suzanne H. TROTTER, Corporate Secretary; Terri TROTTER, Office Worker; Tina TROTTER, Office Worker all residing at 6207 Maverick Road, Paradise Valley, 948-3622. If any of the four of them are still living they could be interviewed regarding Lester. The fifth person is John PLATFORD, Vice-President residing with his wife Anne in Scottsdale at a place described as "Narbeth Penn" which has no other listing in the directory. It's possible Anne PLATFORD also knew Lester, bringing the number up to 6 possible acquaintenances and/or work associates. Being in the insurance business myself and having started in Phoenix in 1968, it may interest you to know that there are going to be significant public records about this business. First as a corporation, Trotter Agency, Inc. had to be registered with the Arizona Corporate Commission (ACC)along with each officer (Thomas, Suzanne, John and Lester). The ACC may still have on file a personal data form completed by Lester for his Treasurer position. Also anyone that works in the insurance business who solicits, sells, or advises/gives advice must be licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance. Therefore, if Lester were licensed (most agencies license all their employees), public records will exist regarding his licensure. Most Departments of Insurance nationwide require the licensee to notify the Department anytime there is an address or employer change, so both these records could be a rich source of genealogical information for you. Also in the 1968 Scottsdale directory is a listing for a Robert W. BALLOU and his wife Mary C. Robert is also a financial man, working as a Vice-President and Bank Manager in Scottsdale for The Arizona Bank. The directory also notes that Robert is residing in Tempe. The similiarities here are too good to dismiss as it's not uncommon for children to follow in their parents footsteps both as to career or towns or cities of residence. This may be the same Robert (without a middle initial whown however) who is listed in the 1975 directory as living at 4144 North 29th Avenue, Phoenix, phone 249-3341. If this Robert W. BALLOU had a career in banking with the Arizona Bank he's probably retired and could be possibly reached through the personnel department of the bank because of the benefits and retirement income he probably receives from the bank. The SSDI, Maricopa Recorders Office and Knowx.com can give you good clues as to whether these parties are still alive and in the Maricopa County area. If I think of some other resources, I'll leave another posting. Have fun with your research. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer