Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 469

N.W. BALL, editor and proprietor of the Wapsie Weekly Index, of West Liberty, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1841. He is the son of James A. and Ann (Johnson) Ball, the former a native of Berks County, PA., and the latter of Somerset County. His paternal granfather was Nakan Ball, whose wife was formerly Sarah Alexander, of Quaker parentage. His maternal grandfather was David Johnson, who married Elizabeth Haldeman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.

James A. Ball was born in 1803, and left Pennsylvania for Ohio when thirteen years of age. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed upon a farm, his time being alternately spent in attendance upon the common schools, and assisting in farm work. In early life he learned the potter's trade, which he followed for some years, and also engeged in teaching school in the winter. He was twice married, his first union being with Sarah Baum, of Salem, Ohio. They were the parents of four children: Agnes, who married Charles Stratton, is now deceased; Hannah, now the wife of W. A. Baxter, resides in Malvern, Ohio. The others died in youth. Mrs. Sarah Ball dying, he subsequently married Mrs. Ann (Johnson) Shourds, by whom he had nine children: Elizabeth, now the wife of W. A. Hunter, of West Liberty; David J., a mining expert, now of Empire, CO.; N.W., the subject of this sketch; James M., a hardware merchant of West Liberty; C.A., a carpenter of West Liberty; Eliza, a dry-goods saleslady; Albert A., a banker of West Liberty; Tamar Ann is at home; and Clara M., who died at the age of twenty-five years.

In 1857 the family came to Muscatine County, locating at West Liberty, where Mr. Ball engaged in the grain trade and other business enterprises for several years. Receiving the appointment of Postmaster under President Lincoln, he continued to fill the office for many years satisfactorily to the community.

In early life James A. Ball was politically a Whig, but when the slavery question was brought prominently to the front, being strongly opposed to the institution, he advocated the principles of the Free Soil party. With the latter organization he affiliated until the Republican party was organized. Its principles being in a great measure identical with those of the Free Soil party, he transferred his allegiance to the new party, with which he co-operated until his death, which occurred in 1884, at the age of eighty-one years. His good wife preceded him to the better world some three years.

"Uncle James Ball," as he was familiarly called was a modest, unassuming man, one who never pushed himself forward in any way, or for the advocacy of any measure; the ony notoriety he achieved was that of being a true type of the honest man. While a man of strong will, one well posted upon the affairs of his country, his native modesty forbade him taking that active part and that position in the fromt to which he was really entitled. All the worldly honors received in this life were forced upon him by his friends and neighbors who knew his worth. He was a careful business man, honest and upright in all his transactions, and no man in the community was better known or more universally respected. >From early life he was a devoted member of the Church of Christ, a most sincere Christian, and one who was ever ready to "give a reason for the hope that was in him." In his death the family lost a kind and indulgent father, the church an earnest worker, and the community one of its most highly esteemed citizens.

N.W. Ball was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Muscatine County. In his native State he received a good common-school education, which he supplemented by private study and reading in after years, until he became well informed upon almost every question of public interest. After coming to Iowa he engaged for a short time in teaching in the public schools.

On the 11th of June 1862, Mr. Ball enlisted as a private in Company E, 18th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge and being finally mustered out Aug. 9, 1865 as Quartermaster Sergeant of the regiment. During his term of serivce the regiment operated upon the frontier, being in many skirmishes, but in no historical battle. While its service was not such as to "cover it with glory," yet it was no less beneficial.

After his discharge Mr. Ball went to Waynesburg, Ohio, where he spent one year as clerk in a dry-goods store, then returned to West Liberty, where he engaged in same business, subsequently spending some time at Columbus City, Louisa Co., Iowa, where he was likewise engaged in trade. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Marie Romaine, a native of Muscatine County, and daughter of Jacob D. Romaine, of New York. By this union there were two children: Olive M., a student in Callanan College, Des Moine, Iowa and Bertha, who died at the age of eight years. In 1873 his wife died, and he was again married on the 18th of May 1875, this time to Eudora E. Lewis, a native of Muscatine County, and daughter of John Lewis, one of the pioneers of the county. They have one son, John Austin.

On the completion of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Minnesota Railroad, now the Burlington Cedar Rapids & Northern, to West Liberty, Mr. Ball returned from Columbus City to that place having received the appointment of station agent of the road, which postion he filled for five years. He then engaged in the grocery trade at that place until January, 1888, with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, where he was engaged in mining. He then took editorial charge of the Index, and July 1, 1888, purchased the office, and is now sole proprietor and editor. A glance at the columns of the paper will convince any one that he is well fitted to the editorial harness, the paper under his control taking rank with the best-edited sheets in this section of the country.

Politically, Mr. Ball is a stalwart Republican, one who belives in the principles of the party, and who will not believe that its mission has ended. A party with such a grand record, composed of the best men ot the country, and its ablest statesmen, is not to be cast aside while ther is good to be accomplished and men to be made better. Socially, he is a member of Silas Jackson Post No. 255, G.A.R., of West Liberty, being at this writing its Adjutant.


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