Henry Lincoln Ballou was born in Wallingford, Vermont, September 22, 1865, and died March 4, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended school in Wallingford until 1882, when the family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. He assisted on a ranch there for two years, attending a business school in Chicago during the winters. On his return to Vermont, he attended Vermont Academy at Saxtons River, graduating in 1888 at age 23. He attended Amherst College for two years and served for two years as principal of Pleasant Hill Academy in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. He attended the Hartford Theological Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, graduating in 1895, and took over the Chester, Vermont, Congregational Church. He served there for twenty-four years, until poor health forced him to retire, though he continued as Pastor Emeritus till his death. Henry also served as as Superintendent of Schools in Chester, Town Moderator, Trustee of the Whiting Library, president of the National Bank of Chester, as a state representative in 1908 and 1909, and as a state senator in 1918 and 1919. He was very active in the Masons, both at the state and national level.
While at Pleasant Hill Academy, Henry married Caroline "Carrie" May Hubbard (1869-1948), who had been a classmate at Vermont Academy. They had three sons, Earle, Paul, and Donald; all of whom are mentioned in both their parents' diaries. Earle went into the ministry, served as superintendent of the North China American Board Mission, and when the Second World War broke out he was interned while in Manila.
From the description of Henry L. and Caroline H. Ballou diaries, 1883-1945. (Vermont Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 589743741
