A Ballinger Disposes of His Bank Stock and other Interest to J.M. Whitmore Figures on Mercantile Line

J. M. Whitmore and A. Ballinger have been trading again, with the result that Mr. Whitmore becomes the owner of the Price Trading company office build and the ground on which it stands between the First National Bank building and L. Lowenstein's dwelling. Mr. Ballinger in the deal also parts with his stock in the bank organization. Twenty-five hundred to three thousand shares of the capital stock.

Mr. Ballinger is thinking seriously of again engaging in the mercantile business at Price, but will not fully have matured his plans for several days yet. If the proposition now under consideration matures, as he thinks for he will erect a modern brick building and put in his stock ready for the summer trade by the first of July.

His plans call for the investment of something like fifteen thousand dollars. The bank stock is understood to have bought a figure considerably above par.

Mr. Ballinger had the misfortune to get his new buggy smashed into smithereens. The horse was hitched at the charcoal pits, west of town, and at the approach of a train the animal became frightened and broke away, steering straight for the track which the horse succeeded in crossing all right, but the engine struck the buggy with the above results.

A. Ballinger and W. W. Goodman hold the record, each in their own line, for dog and rabbit shooting. Mr. Ballinger has the proud distinction of having shot Twelve times at a howling dog the other night, without harming him, in the least, while Goodman when out after rabbits Sunday, shoot eight times with his trusty automatic at a little cottontail, only to see it disappear over the hill with a ______ flirt of it tail. Good man says that if the rabbit had not taken a mean advantage by putting the hill between it and him he would have beaten Mr. Ballinger's record.

Telephone service in Price when first introduced comprised only a direct line between the home of the late Alpha Ballinger and the Price Trading Company, in which he was then interested.

Small Blaze at the home of A. Ballinger

Fire broke out in the coal shed and wash house at the home of A. Ballinger yesterday and by the prompt arrival of citizens a disastrous blaze was averted. The origin of the fire is not known, but it is supposed it was caused by some of the children playing with matches. A strong wind was blowing at the time and by hard work and good supply of water the fire was soon under control. Mr. Ballinger's loss is small, fully cover by insurance.

A. Ballinger and Levi N. Harmon have been awarded the contract for hauling the government freight out of Price at eighty-five cents a hundred pounds. The last contract was taken off Mr. Ballinger's hands by the Gilson Asphaltum Company.

Says Ballinger Is Prejudiced

County surveyor R. J. Turner, charged with misappropriating county funds, last Friday filed an affidavit declaring it to be his belief that he could not secure justice in the court of Justice Ballinger, and his preliminary hearing will be held in the near future before Police Justice Harmon, he being the nearest justice to the court from which Turner asks a change of venue.

Married in Zion

Two of Price's best known and most respected families were somewhat surprised yesterday afternoon to learn that they had become related by marriage. The families are those of A. Ballinger and Thomas Fouts, and the parties who brought about the new relationship are Stanley Ballinger and Miss Alice Fouts, who were united in marriage at Salt Lake yesterday noon by Dr. Short of the First M.C. Church of that place. None of the relatives of the contracting parties were aware that the young people contemplated an immediate marriage, but there was no parental objection thereto. The first intimations of what had occurred come from Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Ballinger yesterday afternoon, via telegrams to both families. The telegrams stated that the young people were leaving for a short trip to the northwest and that they would return to Price soon.

Reception for Bride & Groom

Under the leadership of a number of their lady friends Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Ballinger were tendered a reception and miscellaneous shower at the Savoy Hotel Tuesday evening and the event proved one of the social successes of the season. There were between fifty and sixty of the friends of the newly wedded pair at the reception and all were given an evening of pleasure Dancing in the hotel dining room was a feature of the evening's amusement, the High School orchestra furnishing the music.

Mr. and Mrs Ballinger received scores of handsome and costly presents as mementoes of the occasion and many of their friends met them for the first time since their return from their honeymoon trip and congratulated them on the step they had taken.

Punch was served during the evening.

The resignation of A. Ballinger as Justice of the Peace was accepted and his appointment as county treasurer followed immediately. He at once qualified by filing an ___________ and he is now the duly accredited treasurer of Carbon County.

Stanley Ballinger has decided to launch out in the automobile and garage business and has already made arrangements for the taking over of two excellent agencies, the new Dodge and the Haynes. Mr. Ballinger has not as yet made definite plans as to the location of his garage but will within the next week or so.

Stanley Ballinger returned Tuesday from Salt Lake with his Light Six Haynes car. He was accompanied as far as Colton by A. W. McKinnon, who went up to Zion last Saturday. The roads were very hairy but Mr. Ballinger's car made the journey without trouble or mishap. The new car has attracted wide attention since its arrival in Price.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Ballinger entertained at a dinner party Sunday, Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Whitmore, Mrs. Gertrude Look, Mr. & Mrs. ______, Fouts, Mrs. F. M. Sanford, Mrs. F. F. Sanford and Mr. Alex Ballinger and family, and Mrs. Chas. Sanford. Besides efficiently carving the duck, Mr. Ballinger treated his guest to joy rides in his new Haynes.

Ernest S. Horsley musing over his diary the other day, Ernest S. Horsley, Price patriarch, was reminded of a day in February, 1913, when he was appointed county clerk after the one in office had resigned. On the same day, Alf Ballinger was named county treasurer, since the treasurer had also resigned. Mr. Horsley kept the office for six years. Members of the commission who made the appointments included Joe Sharp, Milton Randolph and Will Hamilton.

Mrs. Glen Ballinger is getting along quite well at St. Mark's hospital at Salt Lake City according to Dr. E. F. Chamberlain of Price, who was in the city during the week. While Dr. Chamberlain did not see Mrs. Ballinger, this is the word he brings back.

Word from St. Mark's Hospital at Salt Lake City last night is that all those injured in the wreck at Price are doing well. Mrs. Glen Ballinger of Helper, it is stated, will recover without permanent injury, although her stay there will be prolonged.

At 9:55 o'clock - Dec. 7, 1919, a bullion train of the Denver and Rio Grande ran into the coach of the Sunnyside train at the west end of the Price yard. Two persons killed, one fatally injured and five mangled. The Sunnyside coach was struck at a point about fity feet to the west of the whistling post for the crossing of the road that goes to the old J. M. Millard property in the northwestern portion of the city. Coming this way the engineer of the bullion train had a clear view of the track for at least a mile and a half. It is explained that the brakes of the train were in bad order and that otherwise the accident might have been averted.

Mrs. Althea Harris Ballinger, wife of Glenroy Ballinger of Helper, was on her way to Price to visit with relatives and to attend last evening a meeting of the Eastern Star. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John U. Harris of Grand Junction, Colo., and was formerly town clerk at Helper and cashier of the bank there. Her injuries consists of a compound fracture of one arm, two broken legs and a crushed ankle, besides a sprained back and severe cuts about the head and face. It was at first thought her back had been broken. Her husband is the cashier of the Helper bank.

Mrs. Ballinger was bringing down with her from Helper something like eighty five thousand dollars in canceled county warrants paid recently in the course of business at the bank there. Search was made for these and they were found after the wreck alongside the track neatly done up in a bundle as she had received them. However, the handbag and purse and other articles carried by her in the handbag were missing. It is the theory that some ghoul ran upon the handbag and appropriated to his own use the articles enumerated. No other acts of this nature, however, have been reported.

Dr. F. R. Slopansky of Helper and Dr. E. F. Chamberlain of Price, surgeons for the Denver and Rio Grande accompanied the relief train to Salt Lake City yesterday.

Dr. E. F. Chamberlain who accompanied the relief train yesterday says all of the injured stood the trip well. He has little doubt of the recovery of Mrs. Ballinger, the most seriously injured of the five at the hospital.

Legion Gets Good Start - They're Off

A bunch of returned soldiers gathered at City Hall Tuesday evening and have the local post of the American ___etion a push that will keep it moving until it is fully organized and doing a big work. The first steps were taken at the park on July 4th and enough signers secured to get a charter for the Price post but no formal organization was effected Arthur Horsley, who has had ____ of the correspondence with state headquarters, presided and was chose chairman to act until the constitution and bylaws are adopted and a permanent organization former. Other officers to serve for the same time are S.A. Ballinger, vice chairman; George Richard, secretary, and Dr. Sanford Ballinger, treasurer. The membership committee consists of Clarence Stevenson, S. A. Ballinger and George Anton.

Price Trading Co.

C. Taylor, manager of the Price Trading Co. has been in Provo the past few days.

Esq. C. N. Valentine, was on a flying trip to Brigham City and Ogden last week. He seems to think that Emery County suits him better for a home than the county further north.

Price Trading Co. will open business in its new store on or before Feb. 1st.

The new store building of the Price Trading Co. is nearing completion and when ready for occupancy will be one of the best business buildings in the town. The store building and warehouse having been erected at a cost of over $3,500. The company is composed ...

A. Ballinger, Among First Men Here, Passes

Alpha Ballinger, one of the oldest citizens of the Price River Valley and this city in point of residence, passed away at his home on East Main street at 11:30 o'clock last Wednesday morning of arteriosclerosis. He was in his seventy-first year when the summons came. Deceased had been in a very poor health for several months and because of this was compelled to give up his real estate, brokerage and insurance business some time ago, disposing of it to J. W. Hammond and seeking the seclusion of his home. Deceased was born November 13, 1857, on a creek bearing the family name, about twelve miles from Oskaloosa, Ia, the son of James M. and Ellanora Warner Ballinger. In his early boyhood he attended school at Des Moines in that state. Afterwards he came to Utah, arriving at the then village of Great Salt Lake City on May 5, 1870, later going on to Springville. He remained there a brief time and afterwards located at Ogden, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar by Judge Phillip B. Emerson of the territorial supreme court, November 19, 1883. On account of failing health he came to Price River Valley (the Castle Valley) in April of 1885, locating in Price precinct and taking up a ranch across the river to the west of what is no Carbonville and where he was engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years. For recreation during the leisure months of the year he introduced a number of sewing machines in Emery, Uintah, Grand and San Juan counties, which a gentleman now living in Price says was a great blessing to the housewives of these sections at that time. Terms of payment were made easy and in many instances he took a cow, sheep, steer or calf in partial payment. With some less fortunate in those days he left the machine any way, making the burden to some of the pioneers easier. Having recognized legal ability he soon became popular in the community and many times his advice was sought when difficulties arose to be ironed out. At Ogden on October 30, 1887, he was married to Miss Ella Sanford, daughter of Farmer T. and Elizabeth Henroid Sanford. A short time later they came to the ranch here. He had a partner to help "make the deseret blossom as the rose." This was no easy task, say acquaintances and friends of those days, now living here. He helped to divert the waters of the Price river from where the diversion dam now is to the west of Price to his holdings near the Gourley ranch. Later he was one of the main promoters of the Price Water company canal.

In the election of 1888 he was chose attorney of Emery county, served for several years and was the means of getting tangled things straightened out and affairs generally put in better shape. Many hundreds of dollars that might have been lost came to the county to the south and of which Carbon was then a part. The next year he was named as postmaster at Price, succeeding L. M. Olson. The office then was just west of the Co-Op store, recently torn away to make room for the filing station of Vaught & Johsnon, at the corner of Main and First West. He served the government for several years. This was the first building on Main street. Later he was on the Price town board and about fifteen years ago was elected and served two terms as county treasurer. He was a republican in politics and an active worker in the party. In the fall of 1890 he with J. M. Whitmore, C. H. Taylor and Carl Valentine organized the Price Trading company and the building they then erected later became the home of the Price Co-op and the Eastern Utah Telephone company. Previously this concern built a line as far south as Ferron. This was afterwards absorbed by the Eastern Utah. Besides merchandising the Price Trading did a banking business, but this was discontinued with the coming of the First National. In July of 1892 deceased with J. M. Whitmore, John H. Pace, Henry G. Mathis, Arthur W. Horsley, C. H. Taylor and others made up a committee of citizens locally to consider the advisability of incorporating Price as a town. Petitions were circulated to secure the requisite number and it was found necessary, says one of the good friends of the deceased, "to give some of them a name." These had been born but a few hours before, but they helped make a population of three hundred and eight, exceeding the stated number necessary to incorporate. The petition was presented to the Emery Selectmen by the deceased at a session of the county court convening on the 8th of November, 1892. The officers were chosen. J. M. Whitmore, president of the board; A. W. Horsley, Henry G. Mathis, John H. Pace and Seren Olsen, trustees, and A. Ballinger, clerk. What is now this city then began to grow in size and in beauty. Dwellings were built, fences placed around the lots, flowers were planted around the lots, flowers were planted and orchards began to bear fruit. Alpha Ballinger did much to beautify things by putting out trees and shrubbery, grading the streets and roads and in the building of bridges over the streams.

In January, 1894, A. Ballinger, J. M. Whitmore, A. W. Horsley, J. H. Pace, H. G. Mathis, C. H. Taylor and others brought up the proposition of dividing Emery county into two. Petitions were put in circulation north of what is now Elmo and presented to the territorial legislature. After about six months they were successful in having the legislature enact a bill establishing Carbon, so named by Ballinger for its carboniferous deposits. March 8, 1894, the measure was signed by Gov. Caleb B. West. He and others were instrumental in having Price named as the county-seat. This was on May 1, 1894. The first courthouse was the residence just north of The Sun office, known then as the Jones cottage, but later going by purchase to Joseph Grosso. A stone jail was built on the old Millburn property, now the site of the Sumner apartments. A. Ballinger was name by the selectmen as county clerk. He with J. M. Whitmore, C. H. Taylor, A. W. Horsley, J. H. Pace, H. G. Mathis and G. G. Frandsen were large contributors towards the building of the City Hall. He gave the ground where the high school dormitories now stand to the Methodists when they first established a church and school here.

His companion in life was called from this sphere of station September 1, 1914. The surviving children are Mrs. Lyle Bench, Glenroy, Stanley, Sanford, George, June, Olive, Fern and Bert. Deceased was a member of the Knights of Pythius, being the first chancellor of Onward Lodge No. 15. He also was an Odd Fellow. Funeral services are to be held at Price Community church next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. H. M Merkel is to officiate. Wallace & Harmon, morticians are to direct it. His burial will be in the family plot at Price City cemetery.

A pretty lawn party was given Tuesday afternoon by Fern Ballinger as a farewell for Moeina Miles. Outdoor games were played and refreshments were served by the hostess and her sisters. The guests were Wilma and Elva Forrester, Mildred Fausett, Margaret McDowell, Mardell King, Moeina Miles, Betty McMilan, Lucile Marcusen, Fern and Faun Pace, Leon Jeanselme, Carl Olson, Robert Lee, Ray Abrams, Rufus Horsley and Lee Hills.

A. Ballinger has accepted the local agency of the National Surety company of New York to arrange the execution of fidelity, courts contracts, public official and other surety bonds, and burglary insurance plicies, protected by the company's $8,000,000 capital and surplus.

A. Ballinger is the proudest man in the county for word was phoned down by Glen from Helper Tuesday morning that a girl had arrived and was fat and strong. It is the first grandchild and Grandpa Ballinger is happier than when he word his first red topped toots. Glen is up in the air higher than he ever was while flying in the aviation corps. Mother and baby are getting along fine.

Mr. and Mrs. Glen Ballinger were down from Helper over Sunday. Glen has just received his commission as lieutenant in the reserve corps of the aviation section of the army which means that he will have two weeks drill each summer in his airship. He is greatly interested in the airplane which are coming to price soon.

Glen Ballinger finally found a suitable house in Helper and came down Saturday to move his furniture which had been stored at his father's residence in this city while Glen was in army service.

In the popular girl contest conducted at Wasatch academy at Mt. Pleasant by the Orange and Black, the school paper, Miss Fern Ballinger of Price this week won first place, Miss Mattie Brown of Mt. Pleasant second and Miss Mildred Fausett of Price third. Miss Ballinger is vice president of the junior class and also of the student body.

The youngest of our business houses; is not yet 13 month old.

A little more than a year ago the pines out of which the lumber was sawed to erect the building of the Price Trading Company were waving their plumed tops in the vicinity of Soldier Summit. The formation of a new Mercantile Company, the erection of buildings for its use in carrying on a large wholesale and retail trade throughout the county, were only vague ideas in the winds of the incorporators.

The birth of the institution officially certified to by the Secretary of the Territory on the 8th day of Dec. 1890, and the first two months of its existence were marked by a series of frantic efforts on the part of the managers to supply the wants of its many customers from a small stock of good stored in a promiscuous heap in what is now the granary.

In February of this year the large store building which it now occupies was completed and stocked from cellar to garret with new goods and the old cramped quarters donated to the storage of produce. The directory is composed of the following well known gentlemen: C. H. Taylor, C. H. Valentine, J. M. Whitmore and A. Ballinger.

The business of the corporation is managed by that well known genial and accommodating all round rustler C. H. Taylor which fact is in itself sufficient to insure success to any undertaking. Mr. Taylor is ably seconded by Mr. C. H. Valentine, secretary and book keeper and an experienced corps of clerks who are kept busy in the effort to meet the steadily growing business of the institution.

The capital stock is $40,000 of which $25,000 is paid up.

Dr. Sanford Ballinger was chosen chairman of the Price post of the American Legion at the annual business meeting Tuesday evening. A. S. Horsley is vice chairman, Redd Pace, secretary, and C. H. Stevenson, Jr., treasurer. The counselors are Dr E. F. Chamberlain, Dr. R. E. Cloward, L. R. Fuller, Charles Leger and George Anton. The business meeting was held after the dinner and was cut short on account of the dance the boys were giving for the benefit of the Red Cross. A large sum was realized for the cause by the dance and the sale of the canteen at the depot. Clarence Stevenson was the owner of the canteen Wednesday morning but he has had many orders to purchase it. The boys decided to patronize the dinner being given by the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist church at City hall and the city authorities made them the guests of the city and paid for the dinners for the twenty-seven members who attended.

Local Boys in Army well Liked

One of the finest bunches of men that has gone through Price was the 22nd and 23rd engineers who belonged in Pacific coast states. There were 530 on the train and when they jumped of at Price in the evening this week to drink ice cold lemonade, eat sandwiches and cookies and get fresh cigarettes their praises for the Red Cross was unlimited. They had wired for 20 gallons of milk as they have a large mess found but only 12 gallons could be found in Price on short notice. For this they insisted on paying $23 out of the mess fund so that the Red Cross canteen treasury was helped. The whole 530 were technical men and were volunteers. Many were over draft age. They saw plenty of active service. The 148th field artillery, or so much of it as came from coast states, went through the first of the week. When one of boys heard the name "Ballinger". He was told that it was Jessie Ballinger, a sister of his sergeant, who was handing him a sandwich and the whole bunch immediately got excited. The man had taken a trip to Paris with Stanley only recently Mr. Ballinger found another of whom Stanley had sent a picture. All of the boys also knew Lee Thomas and when they found that two members of their regiment came from Price they wanted to stay and get acquainted with the town. Both the local boys were extremely popular.

A happy crowd of young people left Wednesday evening for a camping trip in the reservation. They will make their headquarters at Duchesne and take trips to the lakes for fishing an picnics. The party is composed of Mrs. Beele Pace, Misses Jessie Ballinger, Zylphia Earl, Ruth Millburn, Alta Acord, Della Fausett, Mildred Lynn, Messrs Lyle Bench, Bert and Scott Lee, Clyde Lloyd, John Forrester and Holly Earl.

Miss Jessie Ballinger left Sunday afternoon for Denver, Colo., to attend the field conference of the Young Women's Christian association. Miss Ballinger was sent as a delegate by the state association. Plans will be made at this convention to further the work in this state.

A pleasant party composed of the A. Ballinger family Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Nelms, Harold and Miss Gladys Nelms, Miss Ida Pace, Mr. and Mrs. Mack and Mr. and Mrs. G. O. Horner enjoyed a day's outing last Sunday. They motored to Indian Head and ate their dinner among the pines, fishing and hunting the remainder of the day.

Judge Holdaway, A. Ballinger, Ed Stewart, Ben Stein and Charley Goldberg composed the first fishing party of the season out of Price, and are somewhere on the reservation this week.

The brick walls of the Price Trading Companies building are about half way up. Manager Bollinger hopes to have his goods on the shelves and doing business by the middle of July.

Alpha Ballinger, County Builder, Called at Home in Price After Brief Illness

Aged Citizen of Price Victim of Arterio-Sclerosis; Is Christener of Price and Carbon County

Organizer of Price Trading Company Here

Many Times an Office Holder at Hands of Republican Party; Survived by Nine Children

Death claimed one of Carbon county's leading citizens and the godfather of the county, when Alpha Ballinger 70, died Wednesday morning of arterio-sclerosis. Mr. Ballinger had followed a life of activity until about three weeks ago, when he became too ill to attend to the work at his office. His health gradually failed until Monday of this week, when he became to weak to leave his bed. The gradual weakening preceded the end Wednesday morning.

Alpha Ballinger was a leading figure of the development of Utah, from the time of his arrival here in 1878. He was a native of Iowa, where he was born in Mahaska county, November 13, 1857, the son of Dr. James M. and Ellnora Warner Ballinger. He received his early education in the public schools of his native state and upon his arrival in Utah, began the study of law in Ogden in the office of the late Col, D. W. _enshaw. He was admitted to the bar, November 20, 1887 and for several years was engaged in the legal profession in Weber county.

Mr. Ballinger settled in Price in the fall of 1887. The following year he was chosen on the Citizen's ticket as prosecuting attorney of Emery county and two years later was re-elected to that office. During his incumbency in this office, Mr. Ballinger drew up the papers establishing the town of Price in 1891. He was a tireless worker for county division and at one time spent sixty days in Salt Lake City lobbying for the division of what is now Carbon and Emery Counties.

Godfather of County

In the latter connection Mr. Ballinger became the godfather of Carbon county. The legislature and the governor had agreed to allow the division of Emery county and Mr. Ballinger as the most tireless worker toward that end was given the privilege of naming the new county. He selected the name "Carbon" and that name was adopted by the lawmakers.

Politically, Mr. Ballinger always adhered to the Republican faith and held office many times as a gift of the Republicans. He was town clerk of Price much of the time, between the time of its establishment as a town, until its incorporation in 1911. He headed the Republican county organization in many campaigns, and was chosen county treasurer in 1912 and re-elected in 1914 and 1916.

In 1892, Mr. Ballinger organized the Price Trading company, the first general store to compete with the Price Co-Operative Mercantile institution. About the same time in company with Whitmore brothers, Mr. Ballinger succeeded in planning the first telephone line into Emery county and the company formed by the three men strung sixty miles of line from Price southward. For many years, Mr. Ballinger retained his interest in the telephone company.

Mr. Ballinger was married October 29, 1887 to Miss Ella Sanford, a native of Nevada in Ogden by the Rev. Josiah McLean. To this union were born ten children, nine of whom survive, Glenroy, and George Ballinger of Helper; Stanley Ballinger of Evanston, Wyo., and Bert and Dr. Sanford Ballinger of Price; Mrs. L. A. Bench of Price; Mrs. B. F. Johnson, Mrs. Stannard Jensen and Miss Fern Ballinger of Salt Lake City, Mrs. Ballinger died September 1, 1914.

Mr. Ballinger was one of the charter members of Onward lodge No. 15 of the Knights of Pythius in this county and was honored by his selection as the first Chancellor Commander of that order. He served also in various capacities in the I.O.O.F. lodge.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Price Community church under the direction of the Rev. H. M. Merkel. Interment will be in the family lot at the Price City Cemetery.

written by Earnest S. Horsley

(This was written for the seventieth birthday anniversary of Alpha Ballinger, November 13, 1927)

"I count myself in nothing else so happy
As in a soul remembering my good friends."
Shakespeare

Alpha Ballinger, born November 13, 1857, on Ballinger Creek, about twelve miles from Oskaloosa, Mehaska county, Iowa, son of James McClure Ballinger and Ellanora Warner Ballinger.

In his boyhood attended the schools at Des Moines, Iowa. Come to Utah, arriving at the then village of Salt Lake, May 5, 1870. Going a little later to Springville, Utah county, staying there a short time thence going to Ogden, where he took up the study of law and graduated there from and was admitted to the bar by Judge Phillip H. Emerson of the territorial supreme court, November 19, 1883. On account of failing health came out to Castle Valley in April, 1885, locating in Price precinct, establishing a ranch west of Carbonville, engaging in a farming and stock raising, which he pursued for a number of years. For a little recreation during the leisure months of the year introduced a number of Singer Sewing machines in Emery, Uintah, Grand and San Juan counties, which was a great blessing to many of the housewives at that time. Terms of payment were made easy and in many instances, took a cow, steer or calf on the payments and some that were less fortunate, left the machine there anyhow, thus making the burdens of the pioneer pleasant. Having legal ability, soon became popular in the community and many times his advise was sought when difficulties arose.

At Ogden, Utah, on October 30, 1887, was married to Miss Ella Sanford, daughter of Farmer T. Sanford and Elisabeth Henroid Sanford. A short time later returned to the ranch with a partner to help him make the "Desert bloom as the rose," and this was no easy task as it took a lot of time and means to divert the water from the river on to the barren waste.

August 6h, 1888, was elected county attorney of Emery county, Utah, and served for several years and was the means of getting many things straightened out and affairs put in a better shape, redeeming many hundreds of dollars and otherwise would of been a los to the county.

In 1889, he was appointed postmaster o Price, succeeding, L. M. Olson and put a building on Main street, just west of the Co-op store and served in that capacity for several years. This building was the first one put up as the business one on Main street.

In the fall of 1890, the Price Trading company was organized with J. M. Whitmore, A. Ballinger, C. H. Taylor and Carl H. Valentine as incorporators and built the building now occupied by the Price Co-operative store, shortly after this came a building of trees a long them; the grading of the roads and streets, the building of bridges over the streams.

In July 1892, Mr. Ballinger with A. W. Horsley, J. M. Whitmore, C. H. Taylor, John Pace, Henry G. Mathis and others formed a committee to consider the advis....

No man is better known in this section of Utah than "the father of Carbon County" Alpha Ballinger, the prime mover in the formation of this county and the man who gave it its name. Old residents will remember how in 1894 the press of the old Eastern Utah Advocate was held for several hours with the article announcing the formation of the county that Mr. Ballinger might return to the city and be given the honor of selecting the name. He was born in Iowa in 1857 but came to Carbon county in 1885 and began his western life as a cow puncher. He has ever since been active in the cattle business, farming freighting or mercantile line but has never ceased to take an active interest in public affairs. He was twice chose county attorney and bought and opened the first books for every one of the county treasurer and state officials say that his books are in the best shape of any books in the state.

He is a heavy taxpayer but his books will reveal that he has always paid full taxes on all his property and that he has always been fair with those of all parties and beliefs. He has collected in old taxes thousands of dollars during his present term, money that had been overlooked purposely or accidently by former officials. His careful administration has been one of the large factors in putting Carbon county's finances in the best shape they have ever been. Carbon county cannot afford not to re-elect Mr. Ballinger.

Alpha Ballinger of Price Given Unstinted Praise

Alph Ballinger, lawyer, merchant and enterprising citizen of Price, is a self made man. He undertook the job at 12 years of age and has succeeded admirably. In youth he selected the law as his profession and entered the office of Colonel D. W. Felshaw of Ogden, admitted to the bar in 1883, after studying for two years and practiced until 1892.

Coming to what was then Emery county, he was elected prosecuting attorney for two years and resigned September 6, 1892, entering the mercantile business and in which he is now engaged, being one of a firm of three men who constitute the Price Trading Company.

It was Mr. Ballinger, who more than any other man conceived the idea of the creation of Carbon county, and which was cut off from Emery in 1894. In this work he spent at one time alone sixty days in Salt Lake City, and when the bill was finally passed it was left to him to bestow the name. He chose upon Carbon, so christened by him by reason of the carboniferous nature of the territory. In 1891-2 he drafted and presented to the County court the petition which resulted in the establishment of the town of Price.

Another thing which few men would have undertaken was put through by Mr. Ballinger and the Whitmore Brothers and that was the building of sixty miles of telephone from Price through the county of Emery, connecting every town and settlement with the railroad on the north.

Mr. Ballinger has been a life long republican and at the present time stands close to the administration. He was county chairman and an active worker for years. Before going to Ogden the subject of this sketch resided at Springville and in later years married Miss Ella Sanford, daughter of F. T. Sanford, of this city.

Mr. Ballinger cannot be classed as a rich man, though ranks as about the fourth largest taxpayer in the county. He has given away more than many so called rich men are worth.. Salt Like Herald, June 24, 1899.

Commenting on the above laudatory sketch, the Eastern Utah Advocate a few days later said:

"Salt Lake Herald of Last Saturday publishes a biographical sketch and the picture of Mr. Alpha Ballinger of this city. The engraving was made from a photograph taken several years ago, and while it is not much like the Ballinger of today, is easily recognized. The article is about five hundred words and recites the principal events in his life and the achievements of the subject of the sketch since he first located in Carbon county. "The half has never been told," however, for it would take volumes to recited his good qualities and traits of character. When the Advocate attempts to biograph Alf Ballinger it will take a special edition about tour times its present size.

Four Brothers in Country's Service

Stanley Ballinger, George, Glenroy and Dr. Sanford Ballinger. Here are the four sons of County Treasurer A. Ballinger who are in the army service. Glenroy, the oldest, formerly cashier of the Helper State bank, was sent from Camp Lewis to the aviation school near Riverside, California and is now a flying cadet. Stanley, former manager of the Price Trading Company, went in November to Camp Lewis and has been in France several months. He has seen front line service. Dr. Sanford graduated this spring from dental college at Los Angeles and would have been serving the soldiers in his professional capacity long ago if he had had his way. He expects to be assigned at any time but is under government orders so he cannot take his own course in the matter. George volunteered in the spring of 1917 and has been in training ever since with some guard duty on the Mexican border. Mr. Ballinger is the only man in Carbon county who can point to four sons in service.

Mrs. Ella Ballinger Answers Summons

Born October 10, 1870 - Died September 1, 1914

The entire community was grievously shocked Tuesday morning when it became generally know that Mrs. Alpha Ballinger had passed away, for few women in Price enjoyed the esteem and friendship of so many people as this most estimable woman.

Mrs. Ballinger was taken ill two weeks ago with a cold that proved very persistent and finally developed into a sever case of pneumonia. Everything that could be done by medical science and modern remedies was employed to save her life but the end came at 5 o'clock Tuesday morning.

Ella Sanford Ballinger was the daughter of Farmer T. Sanford and wife and was born in White Pine county, Nevada, October 10th, 1870. When eight years of age her parents moved to Ogden, where Ella, with her brothers and sisters, attended school, and there she grew to womanhood. On October 29th 1887 she was united in marriage to Alpha Ballinger of this city, Rev. Josiah McLean of Ogden performing the marriage ceremony, and shortly after that time became a resident of Price. To this worthy couple ten children were born, nine of whom survive and reside in this city, as follows: Glen, age 23, Stanley, 21, Sanford, 18, Jessie, 16, George, 14, June, 12, Olive, 10, Fern, 8, and Bert, 2. Their first born, Grace, died in Ogden at the age of sixteen months and was buried in that city.

Besides her husband and children, deceased is survived by her mother, Mrs. Farmer T. Sanford, of Cove, Oregon; four brothers - George, of Vancouver, Washington.; Alpha and Charles, of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Fred of this city; also three sisters - Bertha Sanford Daniels and June and Leah Sanford, all of Cove, Oregon. Mrs. Sanford, the mother, arrived from Oregon Sunday evening and was with her daughter when the end came, as was also Fred Sanford, one of the brothers.

Deceased was one of the most widely known women in Price and Carbon county, where she had, during her twenty-six years of residence, set a most worthy example by her upright life of self sacrificing charity and motherly counsel to those in need of either material assistance or words of advice. She was a loyal helpmate to her husband and helpful companion and mother to her children, as well as a friend to every man, woman and child in the city. Seldom is there such universal grief felt over the calling of an individual as is felt in Price today over the passing of this noble woman.

Mrs. Ballinger was a member of the Price M.E. church and Aid society, and was always one of the most indefatigable workers in these organizations, no sacrifice being too great for her to make in furthering the welfare and happiness of others.

The funeral, which will be hld at the family residence, on East Main Street, will occur at 3:00 this afternoon, Rev. Josiah McLain of Salt Lake (who officiated at the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger, and at the funeral of their first born) preaching the funeral sermon. Interment will be at the Price cemetery.

The pall bearers will be Mssrs C. H. Stevenson, L.O. Hoffmann, W. H. Frye, Thomas Fouts, H.S. Robinett, J.J. Lloyd, J. M. Whitmore and W. C. Benfer.

Alpha Ballinger - builder of Carbon County

written by Frances Cunningham and Arva Smith

There are no Ballinger streets and no Ballinger parks or monuments, but Alpha Ballinger, 1857-1928, left an indelible imprint on Price and Carbon County.

Wearing a dark suit, hat and bow tie and with the dignified demeanor befitting a founding father, he appears in the north panel of the historical mural in the Price Municipal Building. The name, A. Ballinger, appears beneath the figure.

As a young, single lawyer, Ballinger probably cut a dashing figure as he arrived here from Ogden in 1887. The railroad had been completed only three or four years earlier.

He left no record of why he came but The Sun, in an article published many years later, said it was because of failing health.

Ballinger had come to Utah from Iowa as a young man and studied two years, beginning in 1881, in the office of Col. D. W. Fenshaw, an Ogden lawyer.

He was admitted to the bar in 1883 by Judge Phillip B. Emerson of the territorial supreme court and practiced law in Ogden for a short time.

Arriving in Castle Valley, Ballinger found approximately 45 dwellings scattered along Price River along with small farms and ranches.

Buildings in what was to become downtown Price were sparse, although the townsite had been surveyed in 1882.

The most notable downtown structures were a small frame building erected by Fred Grames the same year the railroad was completed and a log meeting house. The Grames building served as both a store and the post office.

Contemporary accounts called the small meeting house located near where the Price Municipal Building stands "a splendid hew log house." At first it was used for church, school, programs and dances.

While the settlement was small, Ballinger perhaps sensed the beginnings of a larger community.

Both Price and Carbon County were soon to be born. He acted as midwife on both occasions.

But first he established his own home and farm along the river in what is now Carbonville. He married Ella Sanford of Ogden Oct. 29, 1887. The ceremony in Ogden was performed there by Rev. Josiah McLean. The young couple - Ella was barely 17 and Alpha nearly 30 - moved to the farm.

Along with farming and stock raising, helping divert the waters of the river and by one account selling sewing machines in Emery and surrounding counties, Ballinger plunged into politics. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Emery County in 1888.

The Sun of March 30, 1928 said, "He was the means of getting things (apparently financial matters) straightened out and affairs generally in better shape."

In July of 1892, Ballinger along with J. M. Whitmore, John H. Pace, Henry G. Mathis, Arthur W. Horsley, C. H. Taylor and others made up a committee of citizens to consider incorporating Price as a town.

Petitions were circulated.

While the 49 signatures obtained seemed to be sufficient, the more difficult problems was having a large enough population. Newspaper articles said it was necessary to give babies born only a few hours earlier a name in order to add them to the list. The population finally totaled 308, a few more than the required number.

The petition was presented to the Emery selectmen by Ballinger at a session of the county court convening Nov. 8, 1892.

Soon dwellings were built in the newly incorporated town, fences placed around lots, streets laid out and flowers and tress planted.

A couple of years later, the same group "brought up the proposition of dividing Emery County in two."

Ballinger wrote the petition which asked the governor and legislative assembly of the Territory of Utah to create Carbon County out of the north part of Emery County.

The petition said Emery County, with 6,000 square miles, was too large to be administered economically and impartially. Also note was the fact that the county seat was 33 miles from the railway.

The Carbon County News of Oct. 29, 1914 said, "It was Mr. Ballinger, who more than any other man conceived the idea of creation of Carbon County which was cut off from Emery in 1894.

"In this work he spent 60 days in Salt Lake City. When the bill finally passed, it was left to him to bestow the name

"He chose upon Carbon, so christened by him by reason of the carboniferous nature of the territory."

Even before Price was incorporated or Carbon County created, Ballinger was becoming involved in many business enterprises.

Ballinger, J. M. Whitmore, C. H. Taylor and Carl Valentine had organized the Price Trading Co., in 1890. At first Price Trading did a banking as well as merchandising business. The building later became the home of the Price Co-Op and the Eastern Utah Telephone Co.

Previously the concern had built a telephone line as far south as Ferron. The first telephone service in Price was a direct line between Ballinger's home and Price Trading. He had an interest in early freighting and coal selling enterprises and later had a real estate, insurance and brokerage business.

A Republican and an active party worker, Ballinger had served on the town board, as postmaster, justice of the peace and in 1912 was elected Carbon County treasurer. He was reelected in 1916 and 1918.

He was one of the large contributors to the building of the first city hall and gave ground to the Methodists when they first established a church and school here.

On Sep. 1, 1914, his wife, who was 43 years of age, died of pneumonia. The funeral was held Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. at the family residence on East Main Street.

The Rev. McLain (the name is spelled differently in different accounts) who had performed their marriage, preached the funeral sermon.

Rev. McLean had also been called on to officiate years earlier at funeral services held in Ogden for the Ballinger's oldest child, a daughter, Grace. Grace died at the age of 16 months.

At the time of Mrs. Ballinger's death, the Methodist Episcopal Aid Society, of which she was a member, passed a resolution said in part, "She was always gracious and kind and never lost an opportunity to lend a helping hand."

The year following his wife's death one of the most dramatic incidents in Ballinger's life occurred. The headline in the Carbon County New of July 2, 1915 said, "Indignant Citizen Wallops Editor."

"Driven to exasperation by the continual jibes directed at himself and members of his family by the Price Sun, County Treasurer Alpha Ballinger last Sunday afternoon seized the editor, R. W. Crockett, threw him to the ground and gave him a sound thrashing.

"Crockett later struck a knife blade into Mr. Ballinger's abdomen and that gentleman has been confined to his bed, on order of a physician, since the cutting."

Although Ballinger suffered cuts on his hands while trying to protect his body and one in the abdomen, none of the wounds were serious, according to the Carbon County News. The only threat to Ballinger's life was the possibility of blood poisoning.

Ballinger said that for 15 years he had been afraid to take any newspaper with which Crockett was connected into his home, lest something appear that will grieve members of his family.

The 11 Ballinger children held positions of prominence in the community. Their names often appeared in the social columns of the newspaper.

Several laudatory newspaper articles were written about the four Ballinger sons who were serving in the armed forces during World War I.

When Ballinger died in March of 1928 at the age of 70, the Carbon County News said, "Alph Ballinger, lawyer, merchant and enterprising citizen of Price is a self made man. He undertook the job at 12 years of age and succeeded admirably."

1893

"who more than any other man conceived the idea of the creation of Carbon county, and which was cut off from Emery in 1894. In this work he spent at one time alone sixty days in Salt Lake City, and when the bill was finally passed it was left to him to bestow the name. He chose upon Carbon, so christened by him by reason of the carboniferous nature of the territory.

DUP, Centennial Echos of Carbon County, 1948 pg 104-105

He was appointed postmaster on Dec. 1, 1890, and continued in office until Oct. 17, 1893. During Mr. Ballingers term the post office was kept in the Price Trading Company Building which stood on the corner of First West and Main Street where the Vaught & Johnson Service Station now stands. This was the first building on main street just west of the Co-op Store.

1 May 1894

"He and others were instrumental in having Price named as the county seat. The first court house was the Jones "collage". A stone jail was built on the Millburn property, now the site of the Sumner apartments. Alpha along with James M. Whitmore & Charles H. Taylor, Arthur W. Horsley, John Pace, Henry G. Mathis and George G. Frandsen were large contributors toward the building of the first City Hall.

8 Nov 1892

A general election was held for the county and territorial officers at which time were also elected the first town officers with J.M. Whitmore, John H. Pace, Henry G. Mathis, Arthur W. Horsley, C.H. Taylor and others made up a committee of citizens ... to consider the admissability of incorporating Price as a town. Petitions were circulated to secure the required number and it was found necessary, to give some of them a name. These had been born but a few hours before, but they helped make a population of three hundred and eight, exceeding the stated number necessary to incoporate. The petition was presented to the Emery selectmen by Alpha Ballinger at a session of the county court convening on the 8th of November 1892. The officers were chosen, J.M. Whitmore, president of the board; Arthur W. Horsley; Henry G. Mathis, John H. Pace & Seren Olsen, trustees; and A. Ballinger, clerk.