University of Virginia Library

BALLARD PRESTON HUFF

The gentleman whose name captions this article is
a son of Isaac H. and Lucinda Huff, and was born near
Copper Hill, Floyd County, Virginia, January 28th,
1853.

His father came to
Roanoke County in 1863
and purchased a large
farm on the south side
of the city.

Ballard Preston Huff
was educated in the
private schools of Roanoke
County and at the
Agricultural and Mechanical
College at
Blacksburg, being the
first student to matriculate
at that institution
of learning, on October
1st, 1872. This is now
the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, and is one of
the leading educational
institutions in the South.

Mr. Huff came to Big Lick, Virginia, in 1875, and
traveled for a tobacco house for a period of one year.
In 1878 he accepted a position with P. L. Terry in the
general merchandise business and was with him as
clerk and partner for a period of ten years. In 1888,
Mr. Huff organized the wholesale grocery firm of Huff,
Andrews & Thomas. The firm was composed of B. P.
Huff, J. B. Andrews, F. B. Thomas and W. H. Thomas.
This business was conducted successfully for many years
and, in the meantime, the company established seven
other wholesale grocery houses at the following places:
Bluefield, West Virginia; Norton, Virginia; Abingdon,
Virginia; Galax, Virginia; Williamson, West Virginia;
Logan, West Virginia, and Pikeville, Kentucky. For
many years this was one of the largest wholesale
grocery firms in the entire State. In 1897, the wholesale
dry goods firm of F. B. Thomas & Company was
organized by the old members of the firm of Huff,
Andrews & Thomas. This concern occupies handsome,
commodious quarters on Campbell Avenue, opposite
the proposed site of the new city hall. F. B. Thomas
& Company are in command of a steadily increasing
business throughout their trade territory.

Ballard Preston Huff has retired from active business
life and is now engaged in looking after his private
business affairs. He had unbounded faith in Roanoke
and stuck to her during the panic and in adversity.
This demonstrates beyond the shadow of any reasonable
doubt that the men who remained here and kept
eternally at it succeeded in business. As a "builder
of Roanoke," Mr. Huff has contributed a liberal share.