Thomas J. Ball Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1073-1074 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				THOMAS J. BALL. 

	Thomas J. Ball, postmaster of Mitchell, was born in Dublin, 
Ireland, on the 17th of May, 1851, a son of John and Sarah Ball, both 
of whom have passed away. He was educated in the public schools of his 
native land but when fourteen years of age left home and crossed the 
Atlantic to the United States, locating in Jersey City. Two years later 
he removed to Massachusetts and after residing there for a year went to 
Montreal, Canada, where he remained for a year. In 1871 he arrived in 
Chicago and lived in the neighborhood of that city for ten years and 
was there married. His next removal was to Algona, Iowa, but after 
remaining there for a year and a half he came to South Dakota, locating 
near the James river in the vicinity of the present site of Mitchell. 
At that time, however, the city had not been located. He opened a small 
hardware store on the river and when the railroad came through and 
Mitchell was established he moved his stock to the new town, which he 
helped to found. He drove many of the stakes when the streets were laid 
out and was otherwise connected with the development of Mitchell. He 
had great faith in the future of the new town and when he met Senator 
Ed Johnson he immediately told him of the prosperous city that was 
destined to grow up on the prairie. He was engaged in the hardware 
business in Mitchell for two years, but at the end of that time 
disposed of his stock and entered the real-estate field. Six years 
later he was appointed mail carrier by President Cleveland and held 
that position for two decades. He was one of the first carriers in the 
city and was also one of the most efficient and most popular. His long 
connection with the post office familiarized him with many phases of 
work and it was generally admitted that President Wilson made a wise 
appointment when Mr. Ball was made postmaster of Mitchell. He is the 
present incumbent and the mails are handled promptly and accurately. He 
is systematic in all that he does and the work of the office is always 
done at the proper time and in an efficient manner. 

	Mr. Ball was married in April, 1874, to Miss Hattie Christina 
Carlson, and their children are: Dr. W. R. Ball, of Mitchell; Sadie, 
who is now Mrs. Charles Weller; Nellie, the wife of Frank Shepperd; and 
Inez M., who married Judge William Herbert, of Mitchell. 

	Mr. Ball is a democrat and is stanch in his support of that 
party. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the 
Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen, the 
Workmen, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. While operating in 
the real-estate field he erected one hundred and ninety houses in 
Mitchell, which he sold, thus inducing people to settle in the city. He 
owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land and is quite well-to-do. 
He is well known throughout his section of the state and his ability 
and integrity inspire confidence in all who are acquainted with him.