Articles by Kelli Ballard

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” – Robert Frost Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) is still today one of America’s most… Read More

The Territory of Arkansas became the 25th state of the Union on June 15, 1836. “Arkansas” is a French interpretation of the Native American Sioux tribe’s word “acansa,” which means downstream place. The Early Years Thousands of years ago, the… Read More

Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, on November 23, 1804. He was elected to the New Hampshire state legislature at the young age of 24, and then at 26, he became the body’s speaker. Pierce was a… Read More

Arizona was the 48th state admitted into the United States, but its history spans many thousands of years. Over the past 2,000 years, the society developed and became more advanced. This more developed group, now referred to as Native Americans,… Read More

Millard Fillmore (1800 – 1874) was the 13th president of the United States and the last to hold office that was not to be affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. In 1828, Fillmore began his political career as… Read More

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) was the 12th president of the United States. He was born on Nov. 24, 1784 in Orange County, Virginia. The Taylor family moved to Louisville, Kentucky when Zachary was an infant. Although he didn’t have much in… Read More

It’s Independence Day, a time for fireworks, barbecues, parades, and celebrations. But what is the meaning behind this holiday? Why and how do we celebrate it? And did you know, if John Adams had had his way, we’d be honoring… Read More

James Polk (1795-1849) was the 11th president of the United States. He vowed to only serve one term – a promise he kept – but he managed to accomplish much in his time in the White House. James Knox Polk… Read More

John Tyler (1790-1862) became the tenth president of the United States while serving as vice president to William Henry Harrison, who died in office. Tyler was born on March 29, 1790, at Greenway, his family’s plantation in Charles County, Virginia…. Read More

William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) was the ninth president of the United States. He took the office on March 4, 1841, but died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841. Even though he didn’t stay the nation’s leader for long, he lived… Read More

“No matter how tall I grow, I still look up to you.” Though the author remains unknown, this quote – or some version of it – has graced the covers of uncountable Father’s Day cards. In a recent Napolitan News… Read More

Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) was the eighth president and the first to take office who was born an American citizen. He was born to Dutch parents on December 5, 1782 – just six years after the colonists declared independence from… Read More