Portrait of Bland Ballard by Chester Harding, ca. 1820-1830

Major Bland W. Ballard (1759 or 1761-1853) was an early pioneer in Kentucky and quite possibly the toughest looking man of his era. The Filson’s portrait of Ballard by Chester Harding depicts a man hardened by the violence of the Ohio Valley frontier.

http://blog.filsonhistorical.org/tag/bland-w-ballard/

Submitted by: Stephen M. Ballard