This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Ballard, Decker, Brensdel, Kjetland, Owens Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gFC.2ACI/1265 Message Board Post: William J. Ballard, proprietor of Big Spring Farm, in Sections 15 and 16, town of Weston, was born on this farm May 21, 1884, son of Henry G. and Isabelle (Decker) Ballard. William J. as a boy attended district school in the town of Weston and resided on the home farm, helping his father to improve and cultivate it when he was old enough. He was 21 years old when he took over its managementship in 1905, and from that time until his father's death he operated it on shares. Then when the father died he received 80 acres which the latter had deeded to him and which constitutes the present farm. He is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying, and has further improved the place by erecting a new barn in 1922, measuring 34 x 60 feet in ground plan. He is a stockholder in the Peoples State Bank at Elmwood. Mr. Ballard was married Dec. 10, 1920 to Mrs. Sina Brensdel who in maiden life was Sin Kjetland, having been born in Norway July 18, 1875, daughter of Andres and Trina (Instefjord) Kjetland. Both her parents died in Norway and she came to the United States in 1899, spending several years in South Dakota. In 1912 she came to reside at Forest Center in Dunn County and in 1915 moved to Weston. She was first married to John Brensdel in 1896, and of that marriage there are two children born: Ole, now deceased; and Anton, who married Vernice Owens. He operates a garage in Fall City, Dunn County, and has one child, June Marie. Source: The History of Dunn County (Wisconsin), 1925, p. 717