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Note: this memorial updated November 10, 2016 with biography transcription provided by another contributor.
It should be noted that while that one biography stated that William C. Ball died on March 19, 1923, the Jefferson County, Iowa, death record listed the DOD as being March 29, 1923. The death record also listed the DOB location as being West Virginia, but other sources claim Virginia. The boundaries of those two states may have changed over the years - will use Virginia for the DOB location but with that caution.
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"Fairfield Ledger-Journal", Fri., Mar. 30, 1923, Pg. 1, Col. 3
W. C....
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Note: this memorial updated November 10, 2016 with biography transcription provided by another contributor.
It should be noted that while that one biography stated that William C. Ball died on March 19, 1923, the Jefferson County, Iowa, death record listed the DOD as being March 29, 1923. The death record also listed the DOB location as being West Virginia, but other sources claim Virginia. The boundaries of those two states may have changed over the years - will use Virginia for the DOB location but with that caution.
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"Fairfield Ledger-Journal", Fri., Mar. 30, 1923, Pg. 1, Col. 3
W. C. BALL DEAD.... End Comes to Old Citizen Active All His Life in the Affairs of the Community.
Died at the family home, 201 E. Kirkwood St..... He was an eloquent and persuasive speaker and an active participant in community and political affairs. He had many unique experiences in his early day practice of law, western cattle and sheep enterprises, and excursions into the realms of books, and he mingled his experiences and his literature in a way that was full of fascination and charm when he chose to appear upon a program for the delight of his friends. He was an ardent student of Shakespeare and could quote the bard of Avon by the page....
He was born in Brooke County, Va., Mar. 27, 1845, and the family came to Jefferson County in 1854. He enlisted in the army when 18 years old and served until the end of the Civil War, in Co. I, 45th Iowa Vol. Inf..... Married Miss Mary C. CAMPBELL in 1872.
Mrs. BALL survives, with one daughter, Miss Cora BALL, supervisor of music in the public schools...
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From the History of Jefferson County - 1912, Volume II, Pages 288-290.
WILLIAM C. BALL
Iowa offers excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and the man who owns a tract of Jefferson county's rich land has an excellent opportunity to win success if he will but closely apply himself to the task of cultivating the fields and caring for the harvests. This William C. Ball has done and now is living retired in Fairfield, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor, his rest being well earned and well merited. He was born in Brooke county, Virginia, his natal day being March 27, 1846. His parents were Joseph and Margaret (Lengfitt) Ball, who were married in the Old Dominion, which was the native state of the father, whose birth occurred in Loudoun county, in 1803. His wife was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and in March, 1854, they came to Iowa, making their way direct to Jefferson county, where they continued their residence until their death, both passing away in 1875. In his younger days Joseph Ball followed carpentering and afterward engaged in trading on the river, shipping products from Virginia to New Orleans. Subsequently he was identified with farming, which claimed his attention during the period of his residence in Jefferson county. He owned four hundred acres of land five miles west of Fairfield and the care and labor bestowed upon his fields made this a valuable property. Opposed to the system of slavery, he became a stanch abolitionist and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of the slave system into the north, he joined its ranks. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth as a citizen, elected him their representative to the state legislature for one term. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Christian church and he also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Their family numbered nine children. Sarah became the wife of J. B. Freeman but both are now deceased. Martha is the widow of A. D. Burns and resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hannah is the deceased wife of Solomon F. Stever. Cynthia is the wife of A. R. Burns, a resident of Wapello county. Anna H., who married Dr. C. D. Lewis, of Ottumwa, has passed away. John F., who joined Company D of the Nineteenth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war, was killed in the battle of Prairie Grove. William C. is the seventh of the family. Hon. George W. Ball is a resident of Fairfield, and Mary, the youngest of the family, became the wife of Dr. G. A. Spielman, of Ottumwa, but is now deceased.
William C. Ball spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents to Jefferon county, residing upon the old home farm until 1864, when, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted for active service in Company I, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served for one hundred days, or until the close of the war and gave ample proof in his service of his valor and loyalty. He afterward attended the law school of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1869, and the same year was admitted to the bar. He then practiced his profession for two years in Des Moines, but on the expiration of that period returned to the home farm and in addition to the cultivation of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate, he engaged in dealing in live stock, both branches of his business proving profitable. He closely studied the best methods of tilling his fields and kept on hand good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. That his methods were at once practical and progressive is indicated in the excellent results which followed his work. At length he regarded his capital as sufficient to enable him to put aside further business cares and leave the farm, when he took up his abode in Fairfield.
Mr. Ball was married in 1872 to Miss Mary C. Campbell, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, July 10, 1850, but has been a resident of this county since 1856, in which year her parents, John J. and Elizabeth (Templeton) Campbell, brought their family to Iowa. The father, who was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, died in this county in 1870, at the age of fifty-six years. The mother, a native of Highland county, Ohio, who is now living in California, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, retains all her faculties unimpaired. Mr. and Mrs. Ball became the parents of two children but the son, who was the younger and to whom they gave the name of Frank, died in 1889, at the age of twelve years. The daughter, Cora A., is a vocal teacher, now connected with the public schools of Fairfield.
Mr. Ball votes with the republican party, his study of the questions and issues of the day leading him to the belief that its purposes are best calculated to promote good government. He holds membership with the Christian church and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. They have a circle of friends in Jefferson county almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. They have both spent the greater part of their lives here and Mr. Ball has been a witness of almost the entire growth and development of the county, having seen its wild prairie lands converted into good farms, its primitive dwellings replaced by substantial modern residences and its primitive business interests supplanted by large and important commercial and industrial enterprises. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and is authority upon many points of the history of Jefferson county.
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"Fairfield Ledger", Jan. 15, 1942
".... One of Harry G. ("Pat") SHRINER's most outstanding portraits is the life size portrait of the late William BALL, which is still in the possession of his daughter, Miss Cora BALL. Many Fairfield citizens enjoy visiting the BALL residence and viewing this outstanding portrait of one of Fairfield's former well known citizens. William BALL spent many hours posing for the portrait in the studio of Harry SHRINER. The portrait was painted to be shown at the St. Louis exhibition where it received high praise...."
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Note: the following biography information submitted on November 9, 2016 for use on this memorial.
"William C. Ball, 6, born in VA, first appears in the 1850 Census, taken in part of Hancock Co., VA. He was living with his parents, Joseph Ball, 46, born VA and Margaret Ball, 41, born OH and his siblings. By 1860, the family had moved to IA, and he was listed, age 17, living with his parents in Liberty Twp., Jefferson Co., IA. He was still living with his parents in the 1870 census, this time in Fairfield, Locust Grove Twp., Jefferson Co., IA. He was a “saw student,” presumably learning the trade of a sawyer.
On 27 Jun 1872, William married Mary Jane Campbell, age 20, daughter of John J. and Eliza J Campbell, in Jefferson Co., IA. He has not been found in the 1880 Census, although his wife and children are, living with her mother. When the 1885 Iowa State Census was taken, all 4 members of the family were together in Fairfield, William, 38, Mary, 34, Cora, 11 and Frank, 7, both children born in IA. William was a farmer. Frank died in 1889, aged 11, so when the 1900 Census was taken in Fairfield, the family was reduced to 3. It was recorded that Mary Ball had had 2 children, with only one living.
In 1910 the family was living at 201 East Kirkwood St., Fairfield. No occupations was listed for William. In the 1885 Iowa State Census, William was the City Assessor for Fairfield. He had earned $400 for this job in 1914. His property was valued at $5,000. In 1920, they were at the same address. Cora by this time was a music teacher.
William died on 19 Mar 1923 (sic. March 29, 1923, per death record). In the Iowa Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records is the following:
Ball, William C., born Hancock Co., VA, died 30 Mar 1923, Fairfield, IA. Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield IA. Served as Private, Co. I, 45th Regt., Iowa Infantry. Enlisted age 19, on 5 May 1864 as 8th Corp. Discharged Aug 1864. Occupation: Stock dealer. Parents, Joseph Ball and Margaret Langfelt (sic). Spouse: Mary Campbell. Children Clara (sic) Ball, born 26 Jan 1874, died 1949, Fairfield, IA. NOTE: the county of birth, the date of death, and the name of his daughter, in this record do not agree with other records.
WILLIAM C. BALL
Iowa offers excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and the man who owns a tract of Jefferson county's rich land has an excellent opportunity to win success if he will but closely apply himself to the task of cultivating the fields and caring for the harvests. This William C. Ball has done and now is living retired in Fairfield, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor, his rest being well earned and well merited. He was born in Brooke county, Virginia, his natal day being March 27, 1846. His parents were Joseph and Margaret (Lengfitt) Ball, who were married in the Old Dominion, which was the native state of the father, whose birth occurred in Loudoun county, in 1803. His wife was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and in March, 1854, they came to Iowa, making their way direct to Jefferson county, where they continued their residence until their death, both passing away in 1875. In his younger days Joseph Ball followed carpentering and afterward engaged in trading on the river, shipping products from Virginia to New Orleans. Subsequently he was identified with farming, which claimed his attention during the period of his residence in Jefferson county. He owned four hundred acres of land five miles west of Fairfield and the care and labor bestowed upon his fields made this a valuable property. Opposed to the system of slavery, he became a stanch abolitionist and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of the slave system into the north, he joined its ranks. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth as a citizen, elected him their representative to the state legislature for one term. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Christian church and he also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Their family numbered nine children. Sarah became the wife of J. B. Freeman but both are now deceased. Martha is the widow of A. D. Burns and resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Hannah is the deceased wife of Solomon F. Stever. Cynthia is the wife of A. R. Burns, a resident of Wapello county. Anna H., who married Dr. C. D. Lewis, of Ottumwa, has passed away. John F., who joined Company D of the Nineteenth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war, was killed in the battle of Prairie Grove. William C. is the seventh of the family. Hon. George W. Ball is a resident of Fairfield, and Mary, the youngest of the family, became the wife of Dr. G. A. Spielman, of Ottumwa, but is now deceased.
William C. Ball spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents to Jefferon county, residing upon the old home farm until 1864, when, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted for active service in Company I, Forty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served for one hundred days, or until the close of the war and gave ample proof in his service of his valor and loyalty. He afterward attended the law school of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1869, and the same year was admitted to the bar. He then practiced his profession for two years in Des Moines, but on the expiration of that period returned to the home farm and in addition to the cultivation of the crops best adapted to the soil and climate, he engaged in dealing in live stock, both branches of his business proving profitable. He closely studied the best methods of tilling his fields and kept on hand good grades of horses, cattle and hogs. That his methods were at once practical and progressive is indicated in the excellent results which followed his work. At length he regarded his capital as sufficient to enable him to put aside further business cares and leave the farm, when he took up his abode in Fairfield.
Mr. Ball was married in 1872 to Miss Mary C. Campbell, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, July 10, 1850, but has been a resident of this county since 1856, in which year her parents, John J. and Elizabeth (Templeton) Campbell, brought their family to Iowa. The father, who was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, died in this county in 1870, at the age of fifty-six years. The mother, a native of Highland county, Ohio, who is now living in California, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, retains all her faculties unimpaired. Mr. and Mrs. Ball became the parents of two children but the son, who was the younger and to whom they gave the name of Frank, died in 1889, at the age of twelve years. The daughter, Cora A., is a vocal teacher, now connected with the public schools of Fairfield.
Mr. Ball votes with the republican party, his study of the questions and issues of the day leading him to the belief that its purposes are best calculated to promote good government. He holds membership with the Christian church and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. They have a circle of friends in Jefferson county almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. They have both spent the greater part of their lives here and Mr. Ball has been a witness of almost the entire growth and development of the county, having seen its wild prairie lands converted into good farms, its primitive dwellings replaced by substantial modern residences and its primitive business interests supplanted by large and important commercial and industrial enterprises. He relates many interesting incidents of the early days and is authority upon many points of the history of Jefferson county."
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