Ball, E, R. 1861-1922 (family history)

BALL, ROSS, WELLS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/25/2020 at 15:17:14

Emmett Reuben ‘E. R’ Ball 1861-1922 Surnames Ball, Ross, Wells

From the Hawarden Centennial Book 1887-1987
“One Hundred Years On the Right Track”

The History of the Ball Family in Hawarden in Hawarden begins in 1888 when E. R. Ball and his wife, Jennie came to Hawarden. He was the depot agent for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway in the era when the new town of Hawarden was rapidly developing as a railroad center serving a large and growing agricultural territory.

E. R. (Emmett Reuben) Ball was born May 6, 1861 at Lyons, Clinton Co. IA, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Ball who were residents of Iowa when it was a territory.

He received a common school education and attended a business college and telegraphers school before embarking on his railroad career at age 19 at Shell Rock WI. He left home with a $5 gold piece to make his own way in life. He entered the employment of the Northwestern and came to Ireton as agent in 1885.

On May 24, 1888 he married Jennie Ross at Ireton and in November of that year they came to the bustling new town of Hawarden where he served as agent until his retirement in 1914. Two sons were born to them: Verne E. and Lloyd R. He was at various times a member of the City Council and the School Board. He was a director of the First National Bank of Hawarden and a director and president of the Chatsworth Saving Bank. He belonged to the Associated Church. He was a charter member of Dale Lodge #456, AF & AM and a member of the Consistory and Shrine in Sioux City. He served on the Sioux County Republican Central Committee for many years. He purchased the Ball residence in 1913.

E. R, Ball died October 30, 1922 at Hawarden. He was eulogized as being the one of Hawarden’s best known and most highly respected citizens. Coming here when the town was in its infancy he attained a place of prominence and took an active part in all the movements for the up-building of the town. Always mindful of the interests of the Northwestern he earned a high place in the esteem of its’ officials and it was to a large extent through their confidence reposed in him that Hawarden acquired it’s prominence as Northwestern division point.

Jennie R. Ball was the wife of E. R. Ball. She was born Mar 28, 1867 in Morefield Ontario Canada and came as a young girl with her parents, James and Elizabeth Ross to Le Mars in 1879 and later moved to Ireton. Her father had emigrated from Liverpool, England and her mother from Perth Scotland. She came to Hawarden after her marriage to E. R. Ball in 1888. She had two sons: Verne E. and Lloyd R. Jennie Ball was always active in club and civic affairs in Hawarden and entertained often in her home.
She was a member of the Associated Church where she was active in the choir and ladies aid. She was a past worthy matron of Loyal Chapter, OES. She was a charter member of the Mutual improvement Club. She passed away at Hawarden on January 29, 1939.
Verne E. Ball was born November 14, 1889 at Hawarden and died January 31, 1939. He graduated from Hawarden High School and married Lulu Stockton Feb 14, 1911 in Greenacres, WA She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stockton, early day residents of Hawarden, who later moved west to Washington. He entered the employment of the American Express Company after his marriage and spent most of his working life with that company. Lulu Ball is also deceased.

Lloyd R. Ball, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Ball was born June 1, 1893, at Hawarden. He graduated from Hawarden High School in 1912 where he was well known as a football and track star. He received his B. A. Degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and his LLB. Degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL in 1920. He enlisted in the U. S. Army on Dec 19, 1917 and served two years at Camp Hancock, GA and Camp Logan TX, He practiced law at Highmore SD from 1920-1922 and in 1922 returned to Hawarden where he practiced law in all courts in Iowa and South Dakota until his death in 1953. He devoted his time and talent to public service, being Mayor of Hawarden three times and city attorney several times. He served as a member of the Sioux County draft board for many years.

He was a charter member of Lambda Chit Alpha fraternity at Michigan. He was a charter member of the Hawarden Rotary Club. He was a member of the Associated Church and served on its boards. He was a Mason and active in Republican politics. He was a director of the Frist National Bank of Hawarden and a director and president of the Chatsworth Savings Bank. He was instrumental in bringing the Central Natural Gas Co. to Hawarden and it was later purchased by the City as one of its utilities. He was always active in American Legion affairs and was a past post commander and one of the founders of the Last Man’s Club and it first president.

He married Helen W. (Wells) Ball on September 22, 1925 and had on son Lloyd Richard Ball both of whom still live in Hawarden (1987) Lloyd R. Ball Died on Feb 1, 1953 and is remembered as one of the town’s ablest attorneys and foremost civic leaders.

Helen W. Ball was born at Greencastle, Indiana, the daughter of E. H. Will and Mary Reed Wells. She grew up on Lincoln Nebraska, where her father was a professor of political science at Nebraska Wesleyan University and she graduated from high school there. She had received a B. A. Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan in 1919 where she belonged to Phi Kappa Phi honorary. She was an instructor in Economics there in her senior year. She was also a member of the Willard Sorority.

She taught history and French at Wahoo and York, Nebraska, before coming to Hawarden in 1922 to teach. She taught history, French and English in the Hawarden schools from 1922-25 and again from 1954-1963 when she retired. Always interested in education she was elected as one of the first women to serve on the Hawarden School Board in 1934 and was its president from 1934-1940. It was during this period that the Hawarden schools firmly established a reputation as one of the outstanding public school systems in the state.

She married Lloyd R. Ball on September 22, 1925 at Lincoln Nebraska. She has on son Lloyd Richard Ball.

She has always been active in civic affairs being a past president of Chapter EM, PEO and a member of that organization for more than sixty years; past president of the Hawarden women’s club and 55 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She served as scholarship chairman on the Hospital Auxiliary Board.

She is a member of the International Platform Association, US Congressional Advisory Board, the Capital Hill Club of Washington, D. C. and is active in Republican circles. She is listed in World Who’s Who of Women, Community Leaders and Notable Americans and the Dictionary of International Biography. She resides at 1025 Ave. M. Hawarden.

Lloyd Richard Ball was born February 12, 1931 at Hawarden, the son of Lloyd and Helen Ball. He graduated from Hawarden High School in 1949 where he was active in debate and public speaking. He received a B. A. Degree from the State University of Iowa in 1953 and a J. D. Degree from the University of Nebraska in 1956. He was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 195. He served to 1st Lt., JAG U. S. Air Force from 1956-1958. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. He has practiced law in Hawarden since 1958. He was Mayor of Hawarden from 1960-1962 and has served several times as city attorney. He is a member of the Sioux County and Iowa State Bar Association.

He is a member of Delta Tau Delta and Delta Theta Phi fraternities. He is a member of the Capitol Hill Club. He is a member of the Associated Church and serves and its board and committees.

He is a member and past master of Dale Lodge #456, AF & AM and a member of the Sioux City Consistory. He is a past President of the Hawarden Rotary Club and a member of the American Legion. He is listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry and the Dictionary of International Biography. His office is at 716 10th St., Hawarden and his residence at 1025 Ave. M. Hawarden.

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See the obits of Jennie Ross, Mrs. Emmett Reuben Ball 1867-1939 and the obit of Emmet R. Ball 1861-1922 as well as other Ball family members on our page, click on the obit icon on the left.