James A. Ball Biography


	This biography appears on pages 68-69 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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				JAMES A. BALL. 

	James A. Ball is capably filling the office of register of deeds, 
the duties of which position he assumed in January, 1915. He was born 
in Cambridge, Story county, Iowa, July 17, 1857, a son of Thomas A. and 
Serilda (Ballard) Ball, the former born in Carroll county, Indiana, 
December 30, 1835, and the latter in Illinois, May 2, 1836. The father, 
who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Iowa and settled in Story 
county, where he became a landowner, continuing the cultivation of his 
fields there until 1866, when he went with his family to Nebraska, 
establishing his home near Lincoln. Nebraska was at that time a 
territory. He proved up the homestead, upon which he lived for about 
seven or eight years and shell removed to Saunders county near 
Valparaiso, Nebraska, where he remained until 1878. At the end of that 
time he took up his abode in Thayer county. In 1881 he went to 
Superior, Nebraska, and thence came to the Black Hills, settling at 
Minnekahta, where he lived practically retired with a daughter. He is 
now living at the Soldiers, Home in Hot Springs. He loyally defended 
his country during the Civil war as a member of an Iowa regiment. His 
wife passed away in Edgemont, South Dakota, in 1902. 

	James A. Ball attended the public schools near Lincoln, Nebraska, 
and at the age of eighteen years started out to make his own way in the 
world, working as a farm hand and in other capacities until February, 
1879, when he removed to Furnas county, Nebraska, securing a claim near 
Beaver City. There he resided for five years, at the end of which time 
he sold his property and took up his abode in Nuckolls county, 
Nebraska, residing on a farm there through one season. The year 1885 
witnessed his arrival in Fall River county, South Dakota. He settled at 
Cascade, where he engaged in ranching, farming and in the live-stock 
business, making his home at that place until he removed to Hot Springs 
after his election to the office of county register of deeds. He had 
never left the ranch previous to that time after first locating 
thereon. He operates a half section of ranch land and the labor he has 
bestowed upon the place has led to its substantial development and 
improvement, making his ranch one of the valuable properties of the 
county. 

	Mr. Ball has been twice married. On the 8th of September, 1880, 
he wedded Miss Ida M. Hollett, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of 
William K. and Maria (Angel) Hollett, both of whom have passed away. 
Mrs. Ball died on the 30th of July, 1904. There were ten children born 
of that marriage: Bertha, the wife of D. J. Walker, a rancher of 
Ardmore, South Dakota; Myrtle, the wife of Peter E. Danks, who is 
engaged in ranching near Edgemont; McClellan, who married Miss Anna 
Bowman and resides on a ranch near Cascade; Cora, the wife of Henry 
Plumb, a ranchman of Arvado, Wyoming; Edward, who is engaged in the 
transfer business in Edgemont; Warner, who is conducting his father's 
ranch and resides at Cascade; Inez, the wife of Frank Wilson, an 
engineer of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, living at 
Alliance, Nebraska; Marie, who is attending high school; Orphie, also 
in school; and Lyle, who is living with Mrs. Danks and attends school. 
On the 7th of February, 1906, Mr. Ball was again married, his second 
union being with Mrs. Lucy L. Hawn, a daughter of S. B. and Martha A. 
Sherman. Mrs. Ball was born at Boone, Iowa, and accompanied her parents 
to Nebraska and thence to Cascade, where she became the wife of Mr. 
Ball. Her father is now deceased, but her mother resides in Hot 
Springs. Mrs. Ball had been previously married and by that marriage 
there were three children: William B., now deceased; Ruth S., residing 
in Sioux City, Iowa; and Richard, who is attending the State Normal 
School at Spearfish and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Ball. 

	Mr. Ball has always been a democrat in his political views since 
age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He never sought nor held 
office, however, until he consented to become the candidate for 
register of deeds, to which position he was elected in January, 1915. 
He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and honorable and upright 
principles have guided him in all of his relations with his fellow men.