BIO: John BALL, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 943 & 944. _____________________________________________________________ JOHN BALL,* who is superintendent of the Victor Coal Mining Company, Acme Slope, and is a leading resident of Morrisdale Mines, was born October 4, 1863, in Adams county, Pa., and is a son of Patrick and Rachel (Stiner) Ball. Patrick Ball was born in Ireland and in early manhood came to the United States and settled in Adams county, where he engaged in farming. He enlisted there for service in the Civil war, and died at the battle of the Wilderness. His widow survives and is now aged seventy-five years. To Patrick Ball and his wife the following children were born: George, who is a resident of Morrisdale; Mary, who is the widow of Samuel Haywood, a native of England, who was formerly proprietor of a hotel at Hawk Run; Maggie, who is the wife of Jacob Conrad, of Nantiglo, Pa.; and John, of the present record. John Ball went to school in boyhood when the sessions were held in an old log structure, but when twelve years of age came to Morrisdale and afterward had no school opportunities. He went to work in the Morrisdale Coal Company's mines, for R. B. Wigton, until twenty-one years old, and then entered the Allport mines and remained for a number of years. He has always been connected with the coal industry and for the past fifteen years has been with the Victor Coal Mining and has been promoted for the bottom until five years since when he was made superintendent and has filled this responsible position ever since. The output of the two mines of this company is about 400 tons daily and employment is given 125 workmen. Mr. Ball was married in 1889 to Miss Malettie Hendershot, a daughter of Stephen Hendershot, of Allport, and they have three children: I. Chauncy, who is a coal miner; and Rosanna and Moncena, who reside with their parents. Mr. Ball and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican and is serving in his fifth term as school director. He is a member of Morrisdale Lodge, No. 161, Knights of Pythias; of the P. O. S. of A., and of the O. A. M. At present Mr. Ball is serving as secretary of the Morris township school board.