JOHN M. BALL, mayor of the city of Osceola, was born near
Fairview, Guernsey County, Ohio, August 10, 1837. His parents, John and Charity
(Ridgway) Ball, were natives of Maryland, each going to Ohio when very young
and remaining in that State many years. They were the parents of nine children,
John M. being the sixth child. In 1854 the family removed to Mahaska County,
this State, settling on a farm. The subject of this notice was reared on a
farm, and remained at home until he reached maturity. At the outbreak of the civil war, in 1861, he
enlisted in Company H, Eighth Regiment, Iowa Infantry, serving four years and
nine months in the Army of the Tennessee and the Gulf. He was taken prisoner at
the battle of Shiloh and held six months at Macon, Georgia, the transferred to
Libby prison, at which place he was paroled. He then went to Annapolis, thence
to St. Louis, Missouri, and finally joined his regiment. He participated in the
battles of Grand Gulf, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege
and capture of Vicksburg, the siege of Mobile, and any others. He was mustered
out in May, 1866. Mr. Ball volunteered as a private. He was promoted to Second Sergeant, then First
Sergeant, then Second and First Lieutenant, and was mustered out with the rank
of Captain. He then returned to Mahaska
County, and in the fall of 1866 came to Osceola, when he purchased the livery
stable owned by Murrey. He continued in this business two years, then became
proprietor of an hotel known for many years as the Osceola House. Here he
continued twelve years. Retiring from the hotel he next commenced dealing in
agricultural implements, and took the contract of tiling the Des Moines,
Osceola & Southern Railroad, from Leon to Des Moines. He then formed a
partnership with P. S. Fowler in the real-estate and insurance business, which
he still continues. He served ten years as member of the city council of
Osceola, and was elected mayor of the city of Osceola in March, 1886. In 1868 Mr. Ball was married to Miss Jennie
Burrows, of this city. They have four children – C. Minor, Carrie L., Bessie F.
and Gary L. Mr. Ball is a member of the I.O.O.F., Lodge No. 95.
SOURCE: Biographical
and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago,
Illinois, 1886 p. 245
