Tick Creek Massacre

Bland Williams Ballard had an adventurous life. He fought in the Revolutionary War as a teenager and served as a Scout in numerous expeditions with George Rogers Clark, when Ohio was still a territory and Kentucky was an extension of Virginia. He was an escort during the Long Run Massacre, and he fought in the battles of Fallen Timbers in 1794 and Tippecanoe in 1811, being noted as a “reliable spy”. He continued his military service into his early fifties, during the War of 1812.

Ballard settled near Tyler’s Station in a log cabin on Tick Creek in the 1780’s, after he was given land grants by Patrick Henry, presumably for his military service during the Revolution. On March 31st, 1788, fifteen to twenty Delaware Indians attacked Bland’s little cabin just six miles east of Shelbyville.

Depending on the storyteller, Ballard killed anywhere from three to seven of the Indians that day, but not before Bland’s father, stepmother, a brother, and two sisters were murdered. One younger sister was scalped in the attack, but she amazingly recovered and lived to a ripe, old age. Bland had quite a reputation for killing Indians, and even displayed some of the scalps he had acquired over his fireplace.

Historian, Vince Akers, described Ballard as, “One of the bravest and most daring spirits in the early history of Kentucky.” Blandville, KY and Ballard County KY are both named in his honor.  By Bland Williams Ballard’s death in 1853, there were no remaining Native Americans in the area.