BALL, Cora Anna 1874 - 1949

BALL, CAMPBELL, BURNS, MCLEAN, VAN NOSTRAND, BOWLING, WELLE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:27

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, October 12, 1949
Front Page, Column 1

CORA BALL, 75, MUSIC LEADER, DIES AT HOME

Cora Anna BALL, Parsons college instructor emeritus and prominent in Fairfield music circles for many years, passed away at her home, 201 East Kirkwood street, last night.

She retired as an active music instructor at Parsons college and the iously ill for the past several weeks (sic).

Last rites will be Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian church with Dr. C. R. Douglass in charge. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

Miss BALL served as a music instructor at Parsons college and the Fairfield public schools over a span of nearly a half century.

A native of Fairfield, she graduated from Parsons college with a bachelor's degree in 1894, and received her music degree two years later. In 1898 she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, after which she started on her long and successful career as an instructor.

Besides her many years of service in Fairfield schools, she also taught music in the academy at Washington, and Huron college at Huron, South Dakota.

She took up her duties as instructor of piano and voice at Parsons college in 1902. From 1903 to 1907 she served as instructor in the Fairfield public schools.

After leaving the Fairfield schools for a short time, she returned to the public schools and taught music in the grade schools until 1926, or for a period of 15 years.

She returned to the Parsons college staff in 1930 and continued as music instructor until her retirement in 1941.

While serving as an instructor, and after her retirement, Miss BALL was an active supporter of Parsons college. She always took an active part in college affairs and edited the college quarterly alumni for many years.

Miss BALL was also widely known in state music circles, and was a charter member of the Chicagoland Music Festival group.

Her efforts were not confined to music however. She was a member of Chapter C, P.E.O., Elzevir Sorority, Woman's club, Presbyterian church, and served the community for nine years as member of the public library board.

Miss BALL was appointed to the board in 1932 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her mother. She was named president of the board in 1938, a position she held until her resignation in June, 1949.

In memory of the former board member, the library will remain closed during the funeral services Thursday afternoon. It will open at 3:00 p.m. instead of 2:00, and will close at its regular hour, 6:00 p.m.

Cora Anna BALL, 75, was born January 26, 1874, in Fairfield, the son (sic - daughter) of the late W. C. and Mary CAMPBELL BALL.

One brother, Frank, precedded (sic) her in death in 1913.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, October 14, 1949
Page Eight, Column 8

Relatives Here For Funeral Services

Several relatives from out of town came to Fairfield to attend the funeral services of Cora BALL. Miss BALL passed away Tuesday night.

Those atending (sic) were Mrs. Frank CAMPBELL, Mr. and Mrs. Robert CAMPBELL and Donald CAMPBELL, who returned to their home in Central City, Nebraska, last evening; Margaret BURNS and Mrs. Robert BURNS and daughter, Roberta, of Ottumwa; Mrs. McLEAN of Mt. Zion; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis VAN NOSTRAND Jr., of Cedar Rapids; Martha VAN NOSTRAND and Mr. and Mrs. Otto BOWLING of Iowa City; and Mr. and Mrs. Marion WELLE and his mother, Mrs. WELLE, all of Newton.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Monday, October 17, 1949
Page Two, Column 4

Ex-Elzevirs Give Cora BALL Memorial

An Ex-Elzevir meeting was held Saturday at Hotel Leggett following the Homecoming luncheon.

The late Cora BALL of the class of '96 was one of the most beloved ex Elzevirs. To honor her memory the group voted to place a memorial book in the Parsons library as well as a small white Bible in the sorority house.

During the business meeting, officers were reelected: Mrs. J. S. Gaumer, president, Mrs. Edgar McConnell, secretary-treasurer. Dues are payable. Anyone who was unable to attend the luncheon is asked to contact Mrs. McConnell.

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"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Saturday, November 12, 1949
Front Page, Column 2, and
Page 7, Column 7

INSTITUTIONS WILL BENEFIT IN BALL WILL

The three institutions which were closest to her during her long and useful life figured prominently in the last will and testament of Cora Ann BALL. They are the Presbyterian church, Parsons college and the public library.

After certain other provisions set out in the will are met, the college and the church will "share and share alike" in the remainder of the estate.

All three institutions played an important part in the life of the former public servant. She was a faithful member of the Presbvterian (sic) church, she was an instructor at the college for several years, and at the time of her death she held a rank of instructor emeritus, and only a short time before her death she had resigned as president of the library board.

The last will and testament of Cora Ann BALL was probated in district court on November 10. It had been filed with the clerk of court on October 14, four days after her death.

Following are part of the provisions in the will. She requested that 10 shares of fully-paid stock in the Jefferson County Building and Loan association be left to the Presbyterian church, the income therefrom to be paid annually to the Women's Missionary society of the church.

The life-sized oil painting of her father, the late William C. BALL, was left to the Jefferson County Bar association. The portrait was painted by the late Harry "Pat" Shriner, former well known Fairfield artist. He died in California in 1942.

A. G. Jordan, president of the bar association, said the picture will be hung in the court room at the court house.

Miss BALL left $150 to the Fairfield public library to be used for the purchase of books in memory of her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. William C. BALL.

Her household goods and personal belongings are to be disposed of according to instructions provided in the document.

The main portion of the estate is to be divided between the college and the church. That one provision states, "Give, bequeath the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, be the same personal or fixed, and wherever situated, share and share alike to Parsons college and the Presbyterian church in Fairfield."

Miss BALL named her cousin, John L. BALL, as executor of the will.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot SDof25-003.