My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. BALL. This highly respected and honored citizen of Coloma, Berrien County, was born in Huntington, Mass., August 24, 1858, and is the son of Sawyer and Susan (Hazen) Ball. His grandfather, Manassa Ball, was in turn a son of Elijah Ball, also a native of Massachusetts, who served in the war for independence. He lived and died in his native State, and reared a family of nine sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to mature years. He passed away in 1837, at the age of eighty-seven years. Manassa Ball was born December 28, 1800. In his youthful days he followed the occupation of a farmer, and afterward operated a carding-machine for a few years. He was the youngest of fourteen children born to his parents, and was married to Miss Clarissa, a daughter of Deacon Andrews, whose wife was a Miss Holt. He was a Whig politically, and afterward joined the Republican party, and was a believer in the Unitarian doctrines. He died in his seventy-second year.

The father of our subject is the fourth in order of birth of a family of six children, namely: Phineas, Caroline, Adeline, Sawyer, Albert and Alonzo. He followed surveying for a few years and then engaged in the wood-turning business. In 1860 he moved to Dowagiac, Mich., where with three others he established himself in the manufacture of wooden eave troughs, theirs being the first factory of the kind in the State. In 1862 he located in Niles, and there opened up a factory, which proved to be a very profitable business, and in 1864 he moved to Coloma, where he continued to follow his chosen occupation for a year. In 1865 he bought a gristmill here and has ever since operated it, receiving a liberal patronage from the citizens of the town, as well as from the farmers in the surrounding country. He also owns a mill in Hartford, and in 1868 made the first fruit-box ever constructed in Coloma. He is a prominent man in political affairs and has held some public offices. The mother of our subject was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., to Goodrich and Susan (Walker) Hazen. The parents were natives of the State of Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively, the former being a merchant and lumberman, who died in Ohio. His wife died at the home of her daughter, leaving three boys and two girls. Mr. Hazen’s father came from Scotland in an early day while his wife’s people were of Irish ancestry.

Sawyer Ball and wife have four children: Ella J., William H., Clara S. and Albert C. William H., our subject, was educated in the common schools of Michigan, and subsequently took a business course in the schools of Valparaiso, Ind., from which he graduated in 1878. After leaving school he engaged in business with his father in the manufacture of flour and eave troughs. When his parents came to Coloma, William came with them and assisted his father in the work, and now owns an interest in the mills, both here and at Hartford.

Our subject was married in October, 1883, to Clara M. Miller, who was born in this State. This estimable lady’s parents are Martin and Sarah (Hamilton) Miller, and since her marriage with our subject she has become the mother of one child, Charles O. Mrs. Ball has been identified with the Congregational Church for fifteen years and is an active worker. Mr. Ball takes an interest in politics and has served as Town Clerk for three years. In the spring of 1893 he was elected Supervisor of his township. A leading and honored Mason, he is now considered one of the best-posted Masons in western Michigan. He is a promising young man of more than average ability, and it is scarcely necessary to add that he is held in high repute by the citizens of Coloma and the adjacent country on account of his good character and pleasing qualities.