Ball, Zella America 1879 - 1918

BALL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/10/2021 at 03:09:05

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 11 Apr. 1918. Strawberry Point column.

Zella America, daughter of Mary Hebron and Japheth Ball, was born in Delaware county, Iowa, the 28th day of August 1879. In 1881 the family moved near Strawberry Point and in the little white school house east of town Zella received her early education. After completing her high school education in the Arlington school, Zella, for one year, attended the Warren Academy at Warren, Ill., after which she began her career as a teacher, her work covering a period of fifteen years, in which relation she was a credit not only to the profession, but to the community in which she lived, her faithfulness and many acts of self-sacrifice, winning her many friends.

At the age of fourteen, she united with the Christian church in Arlington, and was actively connected with this organization until her death. She was also connected with the W.C.T.U. and was ever interested in every good thing. In the fall of 1917 she began her work as teacher of 7th and 8th grades at Maple Hill, Iowa, where she won the love and respect of the pupils, the parents and community at large. That the faculty held her in highest esteem was evidenced by the fact that they attended the funeral in a body and also by their beautiful floral tributes. On Thursday March 28, Zella was taken ill and her brother William and Mr. and Mrs. Davis of Fayette, hastened to her side. On the following Saturday at Armstrong, Iowa, she was operated upon for acute appendicitis. The operation was successfully performed and she seemed to be nicely when her heart, which was ever strong, gave out under the strain, and on Tuesday morning, April 2nd at 5:30 o'clock, her beloved brother, "Billy", by her side, the soul of sweet Zella Ball passed on to the Great Beyond where sickness and sorrow are known no more. Ten years ago, a brother, Wilfred, preceded her to the Life Beyond the Veil, where together they are with God. The funeral was held in the Christian church Thursday at Arlington and was conducted by Rev. S_tter, a former pastor, and friend of the deceased, who also conducted her brother's funeral service. Interment was made in the beautiful cemetery at Strawberry Point.