John C. Ball, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of John C. Ball
JOHN C. BALL was born in Warren County, Ohio, July 2, 1815, the son of Luther and Elizabeth (Frey) Ball, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and Maryland, and the parents of four children, of whom only our subject and one sister are living. John C., like his father, was reared a farmer, but through the solicitation of a cousin, Dr. Ball, came to La Porte County, Indiana, in 1835, to act as clerk. On the laying out of Valparaiso, in 1836, Dr. Ball moved his stock of goods to the place, then containing about one hundred inhabitants, John C. coming with him. Dr. Ball erected a frame building on the lot where Wood's grocery store now stands, and here John C. clerked until about 1841. In August, 1842, John C. Ball was elected Clerk of the Courts of Porter County, took his office in the March following, served seven years, and was then elected County Treasurer for three years, and the following fifteen years engaged in improving lands near the village, and since then has been employed in various pursuits. He is now living retired, and owns valuable property in and near the village. He was married in Valparaiso, in 1852, to Susan M. Marshall, who has borne him seven children, viz.; Wade D., who married Lizzie Eason, in 1878, and is the railroad agent at Columbia City; Ivan M.; Grace H.; Mary D., now Mrs. G. E. Stanton; Caryl C., Lizzie and Harry R. The mother was born July 8, 1832, in Dutchess County, New York, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ball is now independent in his political views and does not confine himself to any creed or dogma, but votes in all cases for the competent man, and not for the party.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 233
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook