Second of two sons and third of seven children born to Willis William Ball and Achsah Kinsley.
Grandson of Stephen Reuben Ball from Virginia 1781-1823 and Mary Harding Ball from Bramshott, Hampshire, England 1783-1883, John Kinsley 1796-1851 from Massachusetts and Achsah Dunn 1791-1856 from New York.
Abraham married Mary Ann Fouche, the daughter of Isaac W Fouche and Eleanor R Saunders. They were married 12 Sept 1861 at Oceola. Their children were:
* Cora Adele Ball, Mrs Michael Ashe 1862-1931
* Achsah Eleanor Ball, Mrs James Sherwood 1864-1944
* Edith Jane Ball 1866-1868
* Isaac Ball R 1868-1944
* Harry Ball 1872-1950
US Civil War Soldier Records state he was born in Indiana about 1829. He mustered from Iowa 06 Oct 1864 as a private to the Union Company G, 13th infantry. He mustered out 21 July 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.
* The 1860 census list Abraham 21, living his his parents, Willis Ball 52, mother Achsah 44, siblings John 27, Sytha 11, Amanda 8 and Emely 5, living in New Hope, Union, Iowa, Afton post office, where his father is a farmer. Abraham's birth is listed as Indiana.
* The 1870 census lists Abraham 31, and his wife, Mary 32, daughter Cara 8, Attie 6, Isaac newborn, living with John and Sarah Steele Washington, Clarke, Iowa, Oceola post office. Abraham and Mary were wed in 1861.
* The 1880 census lists Abraham, now 41, born in Indiana, his wife Mary 40, children all born in Iowa Cora [Adele] 17, Ella 15, Isaac [Roscoe] 11 and Henry [Willis] 8, living in Washington, Warren, Iowa. Abraham's birthplace is Indiana, his father from Virginia, his mother from New York.
* The 1900 census lists Abraham age 62, his wife Mary [Mary A. Fouche] age 64 and children Harry W Ball age 28 and Adele C [Cora Adele] aged 37, all living in a mortgaged home in Fresno's township 2. It gives his birth as June of 1837 in Indiana, and he married in 1861.
* By the 1910 census Abraham 72 and Mary 73, are living with Isaac 41 and his wife, Ida, and their daughter Mary, all living in Fresno's township 2 where Abraham is a retired farmer.
From a 1905 biography by J M Guinn:
ABRAHAM R. BALL. A veteran of the Civil war, Mr. Ball has an army record of which he may well feel proud. Not many men would reenlist in the service after being honorably discharged on account of physical disability, but in the case of Mr. Ball the first taste of war was just enough to spur him on, and as soon as he was able to pass the examination he again went to the front, taking part in the memorable march of Sherman through Georgia. Since the war he has been engaged in tilling the soil, meeting with excellent success in his undertakings.
Born June 22, 1839, Mr. Ball is a son of Willis and Achsah (Kinsley) Ball, the former born near Bowling Green, Ky. At an early age he removed with his parents to Indiana, where he subsequently engaged in farming, later following the same vocation in Iowa. His death occurred in Peoria, Ill. Mr. Ball was a lineal descendant of Col. William Ball, who was a brother of George Washington's mother. The chart containing this valuable information is in the possession of A. R. Ball and is prized as one of his most valued possessions. Mrs. Ball was born in Indiana, a daughter of John Kinsley, the latter a native of New York state who migrated to Indiana, where he was for years engaged in tilling the soil.
Abraham R. Ball is the youngest son in a family of six children. His boyhood and youth were spent in the state of his nativity, but at the age of sixteen he went to Iowa, where he secured employment on a "farm, making his home with his parents until attaining his majority. On starting out in life for himself he worked on farms in Iowa and also engaged in breaking oxen for neighboring farmers. Later he purchased and improved a farm of his own near Osceola, where he was living in 1862, the year of his enlistment in Company H, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Later he was taken ill and was finally given his honorable discharge, it being thought that he was in such poor health that it would be impossible for him to remain in the service. A few weeks at home, however, made a new man of him and soon afterward he reenlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and in this company he served until the close of the war. He was at the front most of the time, being with Sherman during the Atlanta campaign. After the, fall of the Confederacy Mr. Ball remained with his army corps until the grand review at Washington, when he returned to his home in Iowa and there he followed farming until 1884, when he disposed of his farm and came to California.
On arriving here he located in Fresno county, purchasing forty acres of land upon which he took up his old occupation of farming. Later he sold that place and bought the ranch that has since been his home. This consists of two hundred and fifty acres and is devoted to grain and general farming. From time to time Mr. Ball has added to his first purchase, until at the present writing he and his sons, Isaac and Harry, own nearly two sections of land, being among the most extensive farmers in this section of the county. The ranch is equipped with modern appliances, including a combined harvester and other labor-saving machinery.
While residing in Iowa Abraham R. Ball was united in marriage with Miss Mary Fouche, who was born in Indiana and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of that state. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Delia, became Mrs. David Ash, of Iowa; Isaac at home; Harry, also at home; and Achsah, became Mrs. James Sherwood.
Years ago Mr. Ball was made a Mason and he is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of the Atlanta Post of Fresno. Politically a Democrat, he is at all times actively interested in the welfare of his party. Self-made in every sense of the word, he is to be congratulated on the success he has made of his opportunities, as he started without a dollar. Both he and his estimable wife are highly respected for their many excellent traits of character, and that they may live long and enjoy years of happiness is the wish of a large circle of sincere friends.
Abraham originally established a store in Sanger, but eventually traded the business for 250 acres of land on Friant Road, later known as the Ball Ranch.
Second of two sons and third of seven children born to Willis William Ball and Achsah Kinsley.
Grandson of Stephen Reuben Ball from Virginia 1781-1823 and Mary Harding Ball from Bramshott, Hampshire, England 1783-1883, John Kinsley 1796-1851 from Massachusetts and Achsah Dunn 1791-1856 from New York.
Abraham married Mary Ann Fouche, the daughter of Isaac W Fouche and Eleanor R Saunders. They were married 12 Sept 1861 at Oceola. Their children were:
* Cora Adele Ball, Mrs Michael Ashe 1862-1931
* Achsah Eleanor Ball, Mrs James Sherwood 1864-1944
* Edith Jane Ball 1866-1868
* Isaac Ball R 1868-1944
* Harry Ball 1872-1950
US Civil War Soldier Records state he was born in Indiana about 1829. He mustered from Iowa 06 Oct 1864 as a private to the Union Company G, 13th infantry. He mustered out 21 July 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky.
* The 1860 census list Abraham 21, living his his parents, Willis Ball 52, mother Achsah 44, siblings John 27, Sytha 11, Amanda 8 and Emely 5, living in New Hope, Union, Iowa, Afton post office, where his father is a farmer. Abraham's birth is listed as Indiana.
* The 1870 census lists Abraham 31, and his wife, Mary 32, daughter Cara 8, Attie 6, Isaac newborn, living with John and Sarah Steele Washington, Clarke, Iowa, Oceola post office. Abraham and Mary were wed in 1861.
* The 1880 census lists Abraham, now 41, born in Indiana, his wife Mary 40, children all born in Iowa Cora [Adele] 17, Ella 15, Isaac [Roscoe] 11 and Henry [Willis] 8, living in Washington, Warren, Iowa. Abraham's birthplace is Indiana, his father from Virginia, his mother from New York.
* The 1900 census lists Abraham age 62, his wife Mary [Mary A. Fouche] age 64 and children Harry W Ball age 28 and Adele C [Cora Adele] aged 37, all living in a mortgaged home in Fresno's township 2. It gives his birth as June of 1837 in Indiana, and he married in 1861.
* By the 1910 census Abraham 72 and Mary 73, are living with Isaac 41 and his wife, Ida, and their daughter Mary, all living in Fresno's township 2 where Abraham is a retired farmer.
From a 1905 biography by J M Guinn:
ABRAHAM R. BALL. A veteran of the Civil war, Mr. Ball has an army record of which he may well feel proud. Not many men would reenlist in the service after being honorably discharged on account of physical disability, but in the case of Mr. Ball the first taste of war was just enough to spur him on, and as soon as he was able to pass the examination he again went to the front, taking part in the memorable march of Sherman through Georgia. Since the war he has been engaged in tilling the soil, meeting with excellent success in his undertakings.
Born June 22, 1839, Mr. Ball is a son of Willis and Achsah (Kinsley) Ball, the former born near Bowling Green, Ky. At an early age he removed with his parents to Indiana, where he subsequently engaged in farming, later following the same vocation in Iowa. His death occurred in Peoria, Ill. Mr. Ball was a lineal descendant of Col. William Ball, who was a brother of George Washington's mother. The chart containing this valuable information is in the possession of A. R. Ball and is prized as one of his most valued possessions. Mrs. Ball was born in Indiana, a daughter of John Kinsley, the latter a native of New York state who migrated to Indiana, where he was for years engaged in tilling the soil.
Abraham R. Ball is the youngest son in a family of six children. His boyhood and youth were spent in the state of his nativity, but at the age of sixteen he went to Iowa, where he secured employment on a "farm, making his home with his parents until attaining his majority. On starting out in life for himself he worked on farms in Iowa and also engaged in breaking oxen for neighboring farmers. Later he purchased and improved a farm of his own near Osceola, where he was living in 1862, the year of his enlistment in Company H, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Later he was taken ill and was finally given his honorable discharge, it being thought that he was in such poor health that it would be impossible for him to remain in the service. A few weeks at home, however, made a new man of him and soon afterward he reenlisted in Company G, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and in this company he served until the close of the war. He was at the front most of the time, being with Sherman during the Atlanta campaign. After the, fall of the Confederacy Mr. Ball remained with his army corps until the grand review at Washington, when he returned to his home in Iowa and there he followed farming until 1884, when he disposed of his farm and came to California.
On arriving here he located in Fresno county, purchasing forty acres of land upon which he took up his old occupation of farming. Later he sold that place and bought the ranch that has since been his home. This consists of two hundred and fifty acres and is devoted to grain and general farming. From time to time Mr. Ball has added to his first purchase, until at the present writing he and his sons, Isaac and Harry, own nearly two sections of land, being among the most extensive farmers in this section of the county. The ranch is equipped with modern appliances, including a combined harvester and other labor-saving machinery.
While residing in Iowa Abraham R. Ball was united in marriage with Miss Mary Fouche, who was born in Indiana and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of that state. This union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Delia, became Mrs. David Ash, of Iowa; Isaac at home; Harry, also at home; and Achsah, became Mrs. James Sherwood.
Years ago Mr. Ball was made a Mason and he is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of the Atlanta Post of Fresno. Politically a Democrat, he is at all times actively interested in the welfare of his party. Self-made in every sense of the word, he is to be congratulated on the success he has made of his opportunities, as he started without a dollar. Both he and his estimable wife are highly respected for their many excellent traits of character, and that they may live long and enjoy years of happiness is the wish of a large circle of sincere friends.
Abraham originally established a store in Sanger, but eventually traded the business for 250 acres of land on Friant Road, later known as the Ball Ranch.
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