William Ball (1830 - 1902)

Born 1830 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Powers) Ball — married 14 Apr 1858 (to 27 Aug 1902) in Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1902 at about age 72 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States

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Biography

William Ball was born in 1830, in New York, United States. ^[1] According to a typewritten note that was left by family in an antique sugar-bowl that originally belonged to William's mother-in-law, Sarah Culver, the date and place were around 07 Apr 1830, at Niles, Cayuga, New York, United States, See WikiTree free pages Sarah Culver's Sugar Bowl. However, his death certificate information (1830, New York) has been used in WikiTree. The information differs from his Find a Grave and Wikipedia entries that both cite his birth as around 03 April 1830, at Lawrence, St. Lawrence, New York, United States. According to his death certificate, William died on 27 Aug 1902, at Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States. ^[1] This information also differs from Find A Grave and Wikipedia which give a date of 28 Aug 1902. The death certificate date, 27 Aug 1902, has been used. At the time of his death he was 72 and 5 months old. He is buried at Hamburg Cemetery, ^[2] as is his wife, Catherine Powers. ^[3] Incidentally, his death certificate states he was a widower, however, his wife Catherine did not die until 31 Jan 1916. ^[4] William was the son of Samuel H Ball (1803-1877) and Olive Seeley (1808-1899). ^[1] Samuel & Olive had six children in the 1850 census. ^[5] The eldest child mentioned, Tom, is William, who was born in 1830 (evident in the image):

1. William Ball (abt 1830-abt 1902)
2. Mary Ball (abt 1832-abt 1854)
3. Lorenzo Ball (abt 1834-1905)
4. Esther Ball (abt 1836-abt 1921)
5. Alice Ball (1845-1925)
6. Helen Ball (1849-1938)

There were another two children who died in infancy: ^[6]

1. Julia A Ball (abt 1838-abt 1846)
2. Newland Ball (abt 1842-abt 1843)

William was a teacher, farmer, Mason, member of the Michigan State Legislature and Senate and at one point, acting Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. Information that appears for him publicly is reproduced below:

FIND A GRAVE ^[2]

HON. WILLIAM BALL. Michigan is known among the sisterhood of States as having among her sons many citizens of noble character and high repute, whose public-spirited services and aggressive and far seeing enterprise have raised her to her proud position as one of the most highly cultured and prosperous ommonwealths in the Northwest. To such sons the State owes a debt of gratitude and all who love her delight in reading the record of their lives. The man of whom we write in this sketch has made his mark as a noble son of Michigan and has helped largely in the development of this part of the State. Samuel H. Ball, the father of the Hon. William Ball, whose home is in Hamburg Township, Livingston County, was a farmer and had an excellent education. He was born in Vermont in 1803 and came to New York when but a boy and there in due time undertook the profession of a teacher. After living there for some years he came to Webster, Washtenaw County, Mich., and bought some land to which he afterward added until he secured three hundred acres. Here he built a house and barns and proceeded to improve and cultivate his land. He married Olive Seeley about the year 1829. She was one of nine children in her parental home and was born in New York about the year 1806.

James Ball, the paternal grandfather of our subject, had a family of six children, all of whom have now passed to the other world. The son, Samuel, had five children, William being the eldest of the flock, his natal year being 1830. Samuel Ball died in 1878 in Webster, and had been a prominent man throughout his life, having been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace and a prominent worker in his early life in the ranks of the Whig party and later affiliating with the Republicans. His widow still resides in Webster, Washtenaw County, and makes her home with Charles Rogers.

William Ball has a collegiate education acquired at Albion College and at the University of Michigan. He taught for ten years in the district schools and in the Union School in Otisco, Ionia County, where he occupied the position of Principal. At the age of twenty-one he had started out for himself, buying eighty acres of land in Webster Township about the year 1850. He came to Hamburg Township in 1858 and bought three hundred acres on sections 26 and 27. Since that time he has added by purchase until he now has five hundred acres, much of which he has cleared, and upon it he has built barns and a pleasant house and has set out fine orchards.

The most momentous event in the life of the young man was his marriage in 1858 with Catherine, daughter of David B. Powers, a New Yorker, who had two children of whom Catherine was the youngest, being born in 1838. To her have been born one son and four daughters. Erwin was married in 1884 to Carrie E. Fisk, daughter of Theodore and Edna (Gardner) Fisk. This lady is an only child, born in 1865, and a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, where she completed her course in 1883. They have three children, Edna C., Florence R. and Leland H.

Erwin Ball is Secretary of the Washtenaw County Farmers' Association and Corresponding Secretary of the Farmers' Club at Webster. His college society is the Delta Tau Delta and he has served as both President and Secretary of that fraternity. He is an earnest worker in the ranks of the Republican party and a hearty promoter of every movement which looks to the advancement of the farming community, fully one-half of his time being taken up by his duties as Secretary of the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeder's Association, which office he has held for five years.

The second child of our subject is Sarah, who is the wife of Louis Saunders, of Omaha. Neb., and has two children.

Following her are Julia, Kate, (the wife of Henry Queal, living in Hamburg) and Alice H. Kate has one son. Erwin is a graduate of the Agricultural College. The three older daughters have all taken their diplomas at the State Normal of Ypsilanti. Alice H. the youngest, is now a student in the same institution.

The Hon. Mr. Ball is prominently identified with the Free and Accepted Masons of Howell and is a member of No. 26, Howell Commandery. He was one of the charter members at Ann Arbor of the Delta Kappa Epsilon, and in the State Grange he is a prominent member. For ten years the State Agricultural Society has been favored with his services as one of its Directors, and is one of the Directors of the Central Michigan Agricultural Association. The Michigan Live Stock Association has made him its President and in that office he has shown great efficiency and breadth of view which has brought this association to the front. He has also been President of the Michigan Merino Sheep Breeders' and Wool Grower's Association as well as occupying the same office in the Short-horn Society of this State. Upon the Board of Directors of the State Reform School, of Lansing, he has shown himself most judicious and aggressive.

The record of Mr. Ball as a leader in the Republican party is worthy of note. His early training made him a Whig but after the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has ever since then been identified with it. His services as Supervisor from 1863 to 1864 evinced his more than ordinary capacity as a man of public affairs and his fine superintency of the county schools, to which office he was elected in 1872, made him known to the best men of the county. He was elected to the State legislature in 1864 and reelected to the same office in 1866. In 1880 he was again re-elected to the Michigan State Legislature, was elected Speaker pro tem and was Acting Speaker most of the session (the Speaker being sick). In 1890 he was sent to the State Senate and became President pro tem of that body, and by the death of Lieut. Gov. McDonald he became acting Lieutenant-Governor. In 1890 his party placed him in the field as candidate in the Sixth Congressional District for Member of Congress. He made a fine run personally and came within five hundred of winning his election, but as that was the year of the great land slide, when Michigan went strongly Democratic, he did not meet with success. His popularity, however, is undiminished as it is based upon a thorough knowledge of his really fine character, which is notable for his broad and discriminating judgment, his uprightness and comprehensive reason. Excerpt, Portrat and Biographical Album of Ingham and Livingston Counties, Michigan, Chapman Brothers, Daughters of the American Revolution, Detroit Chapter, Chicago, IL, 1891, pp 462-63.

WIKIPEDIA ^[7]

NB: the page is in German, right click on the text for an English translation option.

William Ball (Politician) William Ball (born April 3, 1830 in New York , died August 28, 1902 ) was an American politician. Between 1889 and 1891 he was acting deputy governor of the state of Michigan .

Career

William Ball attended Albion College and then studied at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He then worked as a teacher in Michigan for ten years. In addition, he acquired larger lands, which he farmed. He became a member and one of the directors of the Agricultural Society of Michigan. He also served as one of the directors of the Central Michigan Agricultural Association and as president of the Michigan Live Stock Association. He was also a member or director of various other agricultural organizations in his homeland.

Politically, Ball was initially a member of the Whig Party. After its dissolution he joined the then new Republican Party. In 1872 he became a school board member in his home district. Between 1864 and 1868 and in 1880 he was a member of the House of Representatives of Michigan. He was then elected to the State Senate. In 1889, he was president of Pro Tempore. Following the death of Deputy Governor James H. MacDonald, Ball became Acting Deputy Governor of Michigan as President Pro Tempore of the State Senate. This office he held between 1889 and 1891. He was deputy to the governor and official chairman of the Senate. In 1890, he ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives. He died on August 28, 1902. He had three children with his wife Catherine Powers Ball. NB: actually, they had five children, see below.

William married Catherine Powers (1837-1916) on 14 April 1858, at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States. ^[8] The marriage ended with William's death on 27 August 1902. ^[1] She died 14 years later, on 31 Jan 1916. ^[4] William and Catherine had five children who are listed in the 1880 census: ^[9]

1. Erwin Ball (1859-1923)
2. Sarah Olive Ball (Saunders, 1860-1932)
3. Julia Adele Ball (1862-1944)
4. Mary Kate Ball (Queal, 1865-1937)
5. Alice Ball (Osborne, Queal, 1874-1952)

William appears by name in the following censuses:

Sep 1850 William Ball appeared in the 1850 Census on 04 Sep 1850, at Webster, Washtenaw, Michigan, United States, "Wm", 20 yrs., b. NY, At school, with 2 parents, 5 siblings, 1 other ^[5]

Jun 1860 William Ball appeared in the 1860 Census on 19 Jun 1860 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States, "William Ball", 30 yrs., b. NY, Farmer, with wife Catherine, 1 child, 1 other ^[10]

Jul 1870 William Ball appeared in the 1870 Census on 10 Jul 1870 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States, "William Ball", 40 yrs., b. NY, Farmer, with wife Catherine, 4 children, 2 others ^[11]

Jun 1880 William Ball appeared in the 1880 Census on 7 & 8 Jun 1880 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States, "William Ball", 50 yrs., b. NY, Farmer, with wife Catherine, 1 child, 2 others ^[9]

Jun 1900 William Ball appeared in the 18900 Census on 19 Jun 1900 at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States, "William Ball", 70 yrs, b. NY, Farmer, with wife Catherine, 1 child, 2 others ^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: William Ball on 27 Aug 1902
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #75306023 William Ball on 28 Aug 1902
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #75305582 Catherine Powers on 31 Jan 1916
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: Catherine Powers on 31 Jan 1916
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} _ 1850 Census at Webster, Washtenaw, Michigan United States
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #58568896 Olive Seeley on 14 Jul 1899
7. ↑ _ William Ball in Wikipedia
8. ↑ _ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: William Ball on 14 Apr 1858
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} _ 1880 Census at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States
10. ↑ _ 1860 Census at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States
11. ↑ _ 1870 Census at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States
12. ↑ _ 1900 Census at Hamburg, Livingston, Michigan, United States

Find a Grave Entries in this Biography

1. William Ball: Find A Grave: Memorial #75306023
2. Catherine Powers: Find A Grave: Memorial #75305582
3. Olive Seeley: Find A Grave: Memorial #58568896