BALL, Smith (1810-1890)

BALL, ADAMS, MOFFETT, GILKISSON, SPENCER, MOTTROM

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 3/16/2004 at 18:18:03

From Portrait and Biographical Album, Jefferson & Van Buren Counties, Pub. 1890, pages 263-264.

Smith Ball…..is a son of John and Nancy (Adams) Ball. His father was a native of Virginia, where he was reared to manhood. Crossing the line into North Carolina, he there ….. married Miss Adams, and subsequently removed with his wife to Kentucky…..His death occurred when our subject was twelve years of age, thus leaving to his widow the care of a family of eleven children, numbering four sons and seven daughters…..Mrs. Ball lived to an advanced age. Our subject is (1890) the only survivor of the once large family. On the 15th of June, 1837, Mr. Ball was united in marriage with Rebecca Moffett, who was born in Fayette County, Ky., February 27, 1814, daughter of George and Rebecca (Gilkisson) Moffett. Virginia was their native State, and in the Old Dominion their marriage was celebrated, but later they removed to Kentucky, and about 1823 became residents of Sangamon County, Ill., where the mother died. Mr. Moffett subsequently removed to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1864. In their family were ten children, of whom three daughters are now living.”

Note: The Balls of Virginia have been closely associated with the history of the country since Colonial days, and have held many positions of honor and trust. SMITH BALL was a direct descendant of Col. William Ball, who was born circa 1615 in England, came to the Colony of Virginia in 1657, located on the Rappahannock River and called his estate “Millenbeck.” He died in November, 1680. The line comes down through Capt. William Ball, Jr., b. England June 2, 1641, d. in Lancaster Co., Virginia, Sep. 20, 1694; Capt. Joseph Ball, b. circa 1680, d. Sept. 1721, m. Mary Spencer, daughter of Col. Nicholas Spencer; Col. Spencer Ball, of Northumberland County, Va., b. circa 1700-5, d. Feb. 11, 1767, m. ___ Mottrom; his son, William Ball (1738-1807), moved to Fauquier County, Va., m. Hannah ____; their children: Joseph, Fauntleroy, Thomas, Angustine, Enoch, Margery Hughlet, John Blackwell, Benjamin, Edward, Jean Smith. John Blackwell Ball married Nancy Adams and was the father of Smith Ball of Jefferson County, Iowa. This family is represented in the Log Cabin Chapter DAR by Miss E. Noble Ball and her sister, Mrs. Mary (Ball) Jay.