THE BALL FAMILY 100 YEARS IN MICHIGAN
Article from the Decatur Republican, Thursday, August 27, 1936:
(Note: Items in parentheses are comments by Mrs. Louisa Ball, whose husband, Jacob Dillman Ball, was a nephew of Mrs. Dine. Some of the “history” cited by Mrs. Dine, unfortunately relied on data collected and published by Gustave Anjou, who “created” a large number of false genealogies, this one for Mr. Frank Ball, of the Ball Canning Jar Company, Muncie, Indiana, circa 1906. It was entered in the FRAUD INDEX by Mr. Harold Oliver, Director, America’s First Families, fairly recently. It seems to have been the source of the “Six English Brothers coming to America Together in about 1635, who were sons of the Rev Richard Ball, Vicar of St Helen’s Church, Bishopsgate, London. In Mrs Dine’s recital of our ancestry back to colonial times, many sources including the DAR, have accepted it back at least through Edward Ball of New Jersey, Approx 1642 - 1724, but to my knowledge there is nothing before Edward which is provable, and MANY folks have been looking hard! And, there is no provable connection of our family to the George Washington’s Mother legend, either.
Therefore, this article is presented as it was written in 1936 - spelling as well, and the reader should accept only those pieces of data having to do with Mrs. Dine’s personal recollections of her family as fact, beginning with Davis Ball of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio, who died in a ferry accident in 1819, on his 61st birthday. Anything prior to that time is relatively unproven to my satisfaction at this time. Davis F. Ball, Son of Jacob D. Ball)
THE BALL FAMILY 100 YEARS IN MICHIGAN
Stephen Ball settled in Wayne Township (Cass Co., MI) a century ago and the Event was recognized by the Ball Reunion at Twin Lakes (Northeast of Dowagiac) August 9th. This article is based on the history read by Mrs. Delia Ball Dine, of Dowagiac, Mich., to whom the Republican is indebted for this story.
The Ball reunion was held at Twin Lakes the ninth of August. It was the one hundredth anniversary of the coming to Michigan of Stephen Ball, grandfather, great grandfather, and three-great grandfather of the Balls now living. Mrs Delia Ball Dine, granddaughter of Stephen Ball, during the afternoon gave an interesting history of the family from which these notes are taken.
“Stephen Ball settled in Wayne Township on the farm that Uncle Billy Van Hise later owned, and that is now (1936) the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Rank.
“There is nothing much to mark their entry here [other than] the open fields, the worn out soil, and perhaps a few virgin trees still standing on the east side of the old farm, which at one time joined that of my father. (We later found the old log cabin of Stephen Ball, which had been covered with siding and lived in for many years. Recently it was torn down, but we saw it first. There is a picture of Davis and his eight grown children in existence now, 1991. LCB)
“There are some here today who have, stored away in memory’s storehouse treasured thoughts and mental pictures of once dense forest, the first cleared and cultivated fields, the log barns and houses, the first sawmill, the old roads zigzagging through the woods and other landmarks too numerous to mention.
“It seems to me that there is a great danger in our modern times of forgetting what has been done for us; of not giving proper credit to the pioneers who have made it possible for us to enjoy the blessings and privileges of the present.
“How we thoughtlessly assume that our success is the work of our own creation. Let us give credit and praise to our worthy ancestors. It is a glorious thing to be well-born, to be worthy children of worthy parents. I believe that among the sublime virtues there is none grater than that of father and mother. May their memories be long cherished by us and their principals of honesty and integrity abide with us through life’s journey.
“We, the members of the Ball family, have no occasion at this time to be ashamed of our family tree. Rather we may regard it with pride and admiration. It is one that dates back to the Richard Ball family of Wiltshire, England, who had six sons who came to America and started this family of Americans. They were Alling, John, Samuel, Richard, Francis and William. (Nicholas and his sister Rebecca stayed in England.) These sons settled in what was then known as “Virginia in 1630 -1640. From there they branched out and located in what is now New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts. This tree’s mighty and many branches reach out to the uttermost parts of the earth. It may be of interest to trace back our father’s lineage. He was the son of Stephen and Susan Berry Ball who came to Michigan from Trenton, Butler County, Ohio, in the fall of 1835, and in the spring of 1836 settled in Wayne Township, Cass County on a farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Rank.
“Stephen Ball was the son of Davis, who was the son of Nathaniel, who was the son of Thomas and Sarah Davis Ball, a superior woman, and greatly loved, whose name has been carried down as a namesake. Thomas was the son of Edward, who was the son of Alling who was the son of Reverend Richard Ball, DD., Vicar of St. Helen’s Church, Northampton, England, at Wiltshire, England. Our cousins, Verna Holmes, Edna Durham, and Lena Ball are children of Albert who was the son of Daniel who was a son of Abner, who was a brother of Stephen, our Grandfather.
“We proudly claim relationship to Mary Ball Washington, George Washington’s mother. It would be only just to prove it by statistics, so here they are. Mary Washington’s father’s name was Josseph, who was a son of Alliing. Alling Ball and Col William Ball, our forefather, were brothers.
“There are many, many descendants scattered throughout these United States, in Australia and many countries of Europe whose lineage goes back to the six original brothers, sons of Reverend Richard Ball of England.
“I might mention one branch of this noted tree we are quite familiar with. They are the Balls of Muncie, Indiana, the manufacturers of the Ball Fruit Canning Jars (so well known in southern Michigan, the fruit canning center of the mid-west). They are the lineage of Alling Ball the oldest brother of the first six who came from England.
“Going back to my father, Davis W. Ball, who was ten years old when he came to Michigan from Butler Co., Ohio. He well remembered the falling of the stars of November 13th, 1833, one of the waymarks down the stream of time mentioned in Matt. 24:29. It was very vivid in his mind and he took great pleasure in relating it to us children.
“He enlisted at 20 years of age, and served the entire duration of the Mexican War under Gen. Scott, who had charge of the force that went down the Ohio River from Cincinatti and the Mississippi River, across the Gulf of Mexico to Vera Cruz. General Scott led the army north (from Vera Cruz) to the city of Mineo. General Taylor led the forces from the north by land. It was in 1846 - 1848.
“Father, Davis Ball, was married in 1860 to Mary Earle, a daughter of Henry and Lovina Earl, early settler in Van Buren County (next county north of Cass), and once lived in Decatur, when it was once but a hamlet, about where Emory Squires now lives. To this union were born eleven children, 6 girls and 5 boys. All lived to manhood and womanhood but one girl, who died in infancy (Phebe). All are still living except the oldest child, Sylvester and the youngest, Ira.
“Father owned at one time four 80-acre tracts of land covered with dense virgin timber of Birch, Maple, White Wood, and Ash. Some of this timber was made into lumber, but the major portion was slashed down and cut into lengths convenient to draw together by a yoke of oxen into log heaps and burned, just to have the land cultivated. (These farms were on a hill that was the edge of a prehistoric lake that had dried up to a swamp, which bordered on the land the Balls owned. It might have been part of their land as they were growing peppermint, then later celery and now a few corn fields are left in cultivation.)
“Father was a famous ox-team driver, but he was very awkward with a team of horses. In fact, I never knew him to harness a team of horses. He was an honest, industrious, upright man and would be 111 years old if still living. He lies in the Crane Cemetery resting from his labors, but “His works do follow him.””
Mrs. Dine writes in closing that the reunion was a delightful affair. About 60 persons were present. There was a wonderful cooperative dinner and a good program - - plenty of ice cream just before leavinig for home.
Orlando Ball was elected president to succeed his brother, Clem, and Mrs. Lide (Delilah) Goble was elected secretary and treasurer to succeed her sister, Mrs. Dine. It was decided to meet next year at the cottage of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Goble at Gravel Lake.
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| Stephan Ball born in New Jersey then lived in Ohio
and came to Cass County between 1833 & 34 and settled in the area of
Decatur, where he and his family lived. His wife was Susan Berry, (Married: 21
JAN 1813 in Butler Co., Ohio) Ball, Stephan b. Jun 30, 1783 d. Feb 14, 1851 Michigan Pioneer - Vet of war of 1812 |
Buried in Crane Cem (Wayne Twp) |
| Ball, Susan (Berry) b. Apr 9, 1795, d. June 26, 1853 " Wife of Mich Pioneer" | Buried in Crane Cem (Wayne Twp) |
| Stephan & Susan's children were - according to an internet source: | |
| Isreal Ball b: circa 1815 in Ohio - m. 1. Mar. Wright Teresa m 2.
MOSHER, Martha Ann June 23, 1844 and he d. June 16, 1887 Sarah Ball b: ABT. 1822 m. Dr. John Pinkerton Davis W. Ball b: 19 APR 1825 in Butler Co., Ohio m. Catherine Clark. - (See our listing of Crane Cemetery) Eliza Ball b: ABT. 1826 - m. VANHISE, William O. April 30, 1840 Mahala Ball b: Ohio ABT. 1828 m PERRY, Joseph Warren October 27, 1842 - family went to Wisconsin Esther Ball b: ABT. 1830 Squier Ball b: ABT. 1831 m. Mary Sergent Thomas G. Ball b: Ohio ABT. 1832 - wife was Ann Susan Ball b: Michigan ABT. 1833 to 1835 Orlando Ball b: Michigan ABT. August 1841 - lived in Jackson Co., MI There were two other children listed on site, but I had no evidence of them. D. West. Cass Co., Genweb hostess |
|
| Davis W. Ball, came to Cass County with his father, Stephan and settled near Decatur, on what is now called Valley Road. Most of the farms along that road, mainly east of the Decatur Road, were owned and operated by the Ball families. | Crane Cem |
| Ball, Davis W. b. Apr 19, 1825 d. Jul 14, 1916 "
Mich Pioneer - Vet of Mexican War When it came time to enlist in the Mexican War he returned to his state of birth, Ohio, where he enlisted for the Mexican War. |
Crane Cem |
| His first wife was Catherine M. Clark she appears in the 1850 census with Davis and many of his siblings. She died April 18, 1858 | Crane Cemetery |
| His second wife was, Mary Evelyn (Earle) b. Nov 22, 1840 d. Feb 5, 1905 | Crane Cem |
| Davis and Mary Evelyn children were: | |
| Sylvester P. b.1861 and died 1932 | Crane Cemetery |
| Clement L. b. aNovember 1863 went to Van Buren county and married Lucy J. Sloan in 7 November 1888 | |
| Cordelia b. February, 1866 - married Charles Dine -Cordelia died in Los Angeles, Ca, on July 3, 1950 | |
| Delilah b. abt 1868 | |
| Orlando b. 18 AUG 1869 and died 4 January, 1956 m. Sarah M. Lille | SOUTH WAYNE CEMETERY AKA WAYNE CHAPEL CEMETERY |
| Susan b. abt 1872 | |
| Ellen either stillborn and did not live long. One date shows on the gravestone as November 7, 1873. | |
| Asa Davis b. Dec 3, 1874 d. Nov 12, 1958 , his wife Ball, Grace Nancy (Dillman) b. Sep 22, 1883 d. Apr 11, 1959 | Lakeside Cem (Decatur) |
| Eunice b. abt 1877 | |
| Ira E. b. 1879 and d. 1912 | Crane Cemetery |
| Jacob Dillman Ball, Son of Asa Davis Ball, Grandson (Davis W. Ball) and greatgrandson (Stephan Ball) of Michigan pioneers is buried in the Dewey Cemetery, south of Dowagiac. Jacob was b. Jan 4, 1910 d.Apr 16, 1969, Died of Cancer Pfifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles | Dewey Cemetery |
| AFTER 1970: Ball, Susan Dianne b. May 28, 1949 d. Jul 29, 2003 | Dewey Cem Died of Cancer Hoven Funeral Home, |
| Buchanan Ball, Louisa Chloe Reiske b. Nov 21, 1916 d. Sep 4, 2007 | Dewey Cem Congested Heart Brown Funeral Home, Niles Wife of Jacob D. Ball |
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The following lineage starts with (-4), becauseThe people with the (-) numbers cannot be proven to be our ancestors, although for most purposes (DAR, SAR, Pilgrims, etc.,) it has been accepted as a valid ancestry line. Due to a lack of credible records, it cannot yet be proven to my satisfaction, however.
(-5) Although Rev Richard Ball has been advanced as an ancestor, Edward Ball's ancestry has never been found or confirmed. The confusion created by Gustave Anjou's fraudulent genealogy (apparaently made for Frank Ball, of the Ball Mason Jar Company) has made a great many genealogists stop looking for a valid ancestry (aside from the Rev Richard story) prior to Edward. The puzzle of Edward's origins is compounded by his obvious wealth and education exhibited by the community offices he held. A "poor or uneducated man" would never have been appointed or elected to them.
(-4) Edward Ball, b. 1642-1644, ??; d. About 1724 , Newark, NJ
m. Abigale Blatchley, 1662, Guilford, CT; b. Abt 1644, Guildord, CT?? d. 1699, Newark, NJ
(-3) Thomas Ball, b. 1687/88, Newark, NJ; d. Dec 18, 1744, Newark, NJ
m. Sarah Davis, 1710 (Prob Newark, NJ); b. 1690, (Prob Newark, NJ.); d. Feb 1, 1778, Newark, NJ
(-2) Nathaniel Ball, b. 1715, Newark, NJ; d. 1790, Newark, NJ
m. Esther Osborn, Sept 10, 1746, Newark, NJ; b. Betw 1713 - 1739, d. Betw 1762 - 1826, Newark NJ
(1) Davis Ball, b. Newark, NJ, Mar 27, 1758, d. Trenton, Butler Co., OH, Mar 27, 1819 (the only one of my family line who didn't die in bed of old age!!)
m. Mary Hatfield, Newark, NJ, 1780; b. 1764; d. May 18, 1835
(2). Stephen Ball, b. June 30, 1783, NJ; d. Cass Co., MI, Feb 14, 1851,
m. Susan Berry, Jan 21, 1813, Butler Co., OH b. Newark NJ, Apr 9, 1795; d. Jun 26, 1853, Cass Co., MI
(3) Davis W. Ball, b. Apr 19, 1825, Butler Co., OH; d. July 14, 1916, Wayne Twp, Cass Co., MI
m. Mary Evelyn Earle, Nov 22, 1860, Decatur, Cass Co., MI; b. Nov 22, 1840 MI; d. Wayne Twp, Cass Co., MI Feb 5, 1905
(4) Asa Davis Ball, b. Wayne Twp, Cass Co., MI, Dec 3, 1874; d. Nov 12, 1958, Dowagiac, Cass Co., MI
m (2) Grace Nancy Dillman, June 3, 1908; b. Sep 27, 1883, Pokagon Twp, Cass Co., MI d. Apr 11, 1958, Twin Lakes, Cass Co., MI
(5) Jacob Dillman Ball, b. Jan 4, 1910, Wayne Twp Cass Co., MI; d. Aug 16, 1969, NIles, Berrien Co., MI
m. Louisa Chloe Reiske, (living) 1937, So. Bend, IN; b. Nov 21, 1916, Queens, NY; d. Sept 4, 2007, Niles, Berrien Co., MI
(6) Davis F. Ball, b. 1938, Dowagiac, Wayne Twp., Cass Co., MI d. living
m. Helen M. Franz Rasmussen, living San Antonio, TX; b. living, San Antonio, TX; d. living