Biographical Sketch of Frank D. Ball, Holden, Johnson County, Missouri >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Frank D. Ball, postmaster of Holden, Missouri, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Bloomingburg, Fayette county, Ohio, October 14, 1866. Mr. Ball is a son of John C. and Anna M. (Davidson) Ball, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey and the latter, a native of Pennsyl- vania and both parents were descended from old American stock, the Ball family being one of the oldest of the American families, tracing their ancestry back to colonial times. Members of this family have figured prominently in the history of America for more than 300 years. John C. Ball died in Ohio in 1871 and the mother of F. D. Ball died in 1891, the death of the former parent taking place at the old home at Bloom- ingburg, Ohio and the latter departing this life in Kansas City, Mo. John C. Ball was a Union soldier during the Civil War. F. D. Ball, with whom this review is directly concerned, received his education in the public schools of his native city, Bloomingburg, his early school- ing being supplemented by advanced courses of instruction taken at the summer normal schools where he prepared himself for the profession of teaching. He went to Nebraska in 1884, with his mother, and filed on a homestead claim, in Custer county, which he improved. He taught school in the fall of 1883, and continued teaching for 3 years while farming. In the fall of 1887, he took a business course in the Omaha Business College. In the spring of 188, Mr. Ball removed to Kansas City, Miss- ouri and was employed as stenographer and typist for a period of one and a half years, following which he received an appointment to a posi- tion in the Kansas City postoffice, which position he held for three and one-half years. About 1893, he came to Johnson county and settled on a farm located five and one half miles from Holden. Mr. Ball follow- ed general farming and stock raising with his father-in-law until his death, and operated the farm until he was appointed postmaster of Holden in 1915. He received his commission as postmaster on January 12, 1915 and took up the duties of his office February 2, 1915. Mr. Ball is still interested in farming and supervises his well improved farm near Holden. The consensus of opinion among the patrons of the Holden postoffice is that he is an ideal public official, that he con- ducts the affairs of his office and manages the six rural routes, which serve the contiguous territory, in a capable and painstaking manner for the best interests of hundreds of patrons. Mr. Ball was married on October 5, 1892 to Etta May Graves and to this marriage have been born four children: John G., a student in the Kansas City College of Phar- macy; Lora D., general delivery clerk; Homer B., postoffice clerk; Helen E., who is a sophomore in the Holden High School. All the child- ren are graduates of the Holden High School, excepting Helen E. The mother of these children was born and reared in Johnson county, a daughter of John S. and Jane A. (Bailey) Graves, who were pioneer settlers of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Graves came from their native state of Kentucky to the farm, which Mr. Ball now owns, in 1856. They drove through from Kentucky to Missouri in 1854 and saw the country in all its primitive wildness. Mrs. Graves was accompanied on the trip by a great uncle. While Mr. Graves went to secure an inheritance of $600 with which to begin life in the new country, Mrs. Graves and her kins- man came on and Mr. Graves followed, traveling the long distance on foot. They bought land from the government at seventy-five cents an acre and were among the first comers to settle in the Holden neighbor- hood. The land warrant issued to Mr. Graves was destroyed by fire a few years ago. Mr. Graves died in 1907 and Mrs. Graves departed this life in 1914. They endured all the hardships of the pioneer era and nobly did their part in preparing the way for the settling and building up of a great state and county. Mr. Graves served in the Confederate army. During the war, the Graves home was burned to the ground and the mother and family were left homeless. Mrs. Graves took her few belong- ings and went to the home of an uncle in Henry county where she remain- ed until the conflict was over, after which Mr. and Mrs. Graves return- ed to the site of their former home, rebuilt the house, and made a new start which ended in prosperity and well being for them and theirs. Mr. Graves was a carpenter and builder by trade and many houses which he erected in his home township are still standing. Prior to 1896, Mr. Ball was a Republican in politics, but since that time he has espoused the cause of the Democratic party and has been active in the councils of his party. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Holden and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Ball are members of the Christian Church of Holden and take an active and influential part in the civic and social affairs of their home community. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================