This is a short biography of George C. Ballard, who was an early Adirondack Guide in the Old Forge area in the 1860’s and ‘70’s. 

Unfortunately, history has passed him by because he didn’t grow old in the Adirondacks—he went west and settled in northern Michigan.

He was a lifelong friend of my great great grandfather and an important figure around the Fulton Chain. 

The 1878 edition of E. R. Wallace’s Descriptive Guide to the Adirondacks lists “Geo. C. Ballard” among 30 guides working on the Fulton Chain. Ballard is now largely forgotten in his former hunting grounds, but before 1880, he was one of the leading guides in the region.

George Crogan Ballard was born around 1843 in Jefferson County, NY, to George and Lorenda Ballard. His mother remarried (c.1846) when George was around three and young George was raised in the household of his adopted father Cook Williams.

Along with several step- and half-siblings, George went to school and worked the family farm near Fish Creek in the Town of Lewis, Lewis County NY. Continue reading →