Ray County, Missouri Obituaries - James E. Ball (1856-1907) Richmond Conservator August 22, 1907 DEATH OF JAMES E. BALL The End Came to the Well Known Attorney Sunday Evening. Surrounded by his family and friends, James Edwin Ball, for years one of Richmond's leading citizens and one of the best known lawyers in Northwest Missouri, breathed his last at his home on East Lexington street, in this city, Sunday evening at 8:40 o'clock. Mr. Ball's condition had been such for several months that he was confined to his home, and while it was known that his condition was critical and that the end was not far, the announcement of his death came as a surprise to the entire community. His condition became alarming Saturday afternoon, when he lost consciousness, and he lingered until Sunday night, when death came to him without a struggle. The deceased was a native of Carroll county, born September 9th, 1856 and lacked only a few days of having reached his 51st birthday. He was a son of Francis Marion and Sophia K. Ball who were among the early settlers of this city, the father who was a native of Ray county, having lost his life in the Richmond cyclone of June 1st, 1878, and the mother died several years ago. in 1865 our subject moved to Richmond with his father and family and made this his home continuously until his death. After completing the course in the Richmond schools he began, in 1873, to read law in the office of J. W. Shotwell, with whom he formed a partnership after his admission to the bar in 1875. Immediately after he began the practice of his profession Mr. Ball rapidly forged his way to the front and soon took rank among the most successful lawyers in this secion of the state. His steady and rapid rise to prominence in his profession was due entirely to his own efforts, for he entered life's battle with only meager educational advantages and was in every sense a self- made man. From his youth Mr. Ball had been a leader in public and political affairs and began his career in the office of city attorney, which he held from 1876 to 1878. In 1882 he entered county politics as a candidate for prosecuting attorney on the Democratic ticket and was elected and served for three successive terms in that office. Since his retirement from official life he devoted his attention exclusively to his private practice until a year or more ago, since which time he had been unable to look after business. He was married January 17th 1877, to Miss Lizzie Shotwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Shotwell, old residents of Lafayette county, and to this union were born nine children, seven of whom, with the widow, survive him. In his home life Mr. Ball was on (sic) ideal husband and father and his widow and children have the heartfelt sympathy of this community in the grief which they are called upon to bear. The funeral was held at the home Tuesday morning at 9:30 o'clock, conducted by Dr. T. H. B. Anderson, of Gallatin, pastor of the Methodist church in that city, and interment (sic) was made in the city cemetery under the auspices of Richmond Lodge, No. 57, A. F. and A. M. of which the deceased had long been a member. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````` `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Unknown newspaper DR. J. E. BALL DIES SATURDAY Dr. James E. Ball, 86 of San Gabriel, Calif., former resident of Richmond, died Saturday, February 22, in San Gabriel. Graveside services will be held at the City Cemetery in Richmond on Wednesday 26 at 2:00 P.M., with the Rev. William Bamman conducting the services. Thurman Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements. Dr. Ball was born in Richmond in 1883. He was married to Edith Wall of Millville in 1906, and she preceded him in death on January 24, 1965. Dr. Ball practiced medicine in Richmond from 1908 to 1917. He then moved to Kansas City, where he practiced medicine for nearly 50 years. Survivors include one daughter Mrs. Fred Schapper, Joplin, Mo.; two brothers Harry Ball, Whittier, Calif.; Milton Ball, Pasadena, Calif.; three sisters; Miss Bess Ball; Miss Ethal Ball, and Mrs. Fannie Ball, all of San Gabriel, Calif., and one grandchild. Besides his wife he was preceded in death by one brother Frank Ball. Two brothers, Harry Ball of Whittier, Calif., Milton Ball of Pasadena CA., three sisters, Miss Bess Ball, Miss Ethal Ball, and Mrs. Fannie Rowntree, all of San Gabriel, CA. and one granddaughter. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 o’clock Wednesday morning at the City Cemetery, with the Rev. William Bamman officiating. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Shirley Brungardt USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and 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 presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------