Edwards, John R. (Ballston)

John R. Edwards (Ballston)

 

Ballston, never much more than a crossroads, is now bypassed by the highway without a sign. Located near Sheridan, at the site of an early (1855) schoolhouse, it now has a single convenience grocery. Although Ballston is no longer on the map, it used to be a stop on a narrow gauge railway, which explains how a town of 105 could support a photographic studio.

John R. Edwards was the postmaster and operated a general store there until 1896, when he moved to Oregon City.

Directory Listings

1891 POWI pg. 183 Ballston “Edwards, John R., postmaster and music teacher, photographer”

News Items and Advertisements
1896: “New Store in Town. Edwards Bros., formerly of Ballston, Ore.) are now opening up at Wisharts’s old stand — opposite the City Park on the hill — with a stock of bran (sic) new goods, comprising of calicoes, muslins, shirtings, linings,etc; lanes’ and gents under ware, hats, caps, boots, shoes, stationery, notions, nails, tinware, groceries, tobacco and cigars, and other articles too numerous to mention. … ” Oregon City enterprise, April 24, 1896, pg. 7, col. 5.

1904: “Real Estate Transfers … John R. Edwards et ux to Peter Cook, lot 1, block 1, Ballston, $100. …” Polk County observer. (Monmouth), September 16, 1904, pg. 4, col. 4.

Bibliography

Ralph Friedman, In Search of Western Oregon, Caldwell; Caxton, 1990 pg. 193-194. (source of historical information about Ballston)