Ball, William Howard – 1866-1941

BALL, FREY, GREGG, PFLAUM

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 6/3/2024 at 15:06:48

W. H. Ball, Colfax Business Man Died After 1 Day Illness
Funeral Services Held Tuesday Afternoon From Methodist Church
W. H. Ball, 75, well known business man of Colfax, died at his home in this city Saturday afternoon following an illness of about twenty-four hours. Mr. Ball was taken sick Friday evening at his home with what was diagnosed as a blood clot, and gradually grew worse until his passing Saturday evening.
Mr. Ball was engaged in the blacksmith business and was considered an expert mechanic. He was of a quiet and kindly disposition and enjoyed a large acquaintance throughout western Jasper county, especially among farmers.
From point of years in business he was the oldest business man in Colfax, buying into a business here in 1885 and has been continuously in business here since that time.
For many years he was chief of the Colfax fire department and gave of his time freely to the community. It was while he was chief that the Colfax fire department received the highest honors in the state for a volunteer fire department.
William Howard Ball was born at Knoxville, Iowa, April 16, 1866 and passed away at his home in Colfax at 4:25 p.m. Sept. 6, 1941, of pulmonary thrombosis, being sick for only one days duration.
He united with the M.E. church of Knoxville at the age of 11 years on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1877. He was united in marriage to Mary Pflaum on Oct. 17, 1886. To this union were born two children, a daughter, Coral, who passed away at one year of age and a son, Earl.
Mr. Ball came to Colfax when about fifteen years of age. Soon after he entered the blacksmith trade in which he continued up until the time of his death, being in this profession for the past 58 years.
Mr. Ball organized the first voluntary fire department in Colfax which he served as chief for 25 years. For six years he served as a member of the city council of Colfax. He also was an honorary member of the Canton Order of the I.O.O.F. lodge, having been a member for fifty years or more.
Howard, as he has been known to his many friends and associates, will long be remembered for his generosity, honesty and fair dealings. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and from the local blacksmith shop where he and his son Earl have been working together for the past number of years.
He is survived by his widow, one son, Earl of Colfax; two grandchildren, Mrs. Harold Frey of Colfax and Earl, Jr., of Santa Monica, Calif., two great-grandchildren, Dennis Gerald Frey and Saundra Lea Ball, two half-brothers, Roy Gregg of Chicago, Ill., and Carl Gregg of Seattle, Wash.
Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. W. M. Doughty officiating, assisted by the Rev. Albert Van der Ploeg.
Music was furnished by Mrs. Earl Plummer, Mrs. George Rinker, John A. Davis and B. F. Van Dyke, with Mrs S. E. Tennant, accompanist.
Pallbearers were L. A. Martin, Earl Plummer, John Luther, M. E. Penquite, R. F. Agar and R. E. Cummings.
Flower committee was Mrs. R. E. Cummings, Mrs. Otto Goodman and Laura Luther.
Burial was in the McKeever cemetery.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; Thursday, September 11, 1941, page 1, col. 1