The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) March 24, 1897 page 7
Robert Ball, a resident of the District since 1834, one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity here, crier of the District Supreme Court since 1882, and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the District, died at his residence, 233 G street, at 11:20 last evening after an illness of several weeks.
Mr. Ball was born in Alexandria county, Va., April 30, 1827, [*see note below] coming to this city seven years later. He was educated at the Rev. Charles Nourse’s School, afterward Ritterhouse Academy, and returning to Virginia in 1848 farmed there until 1853, when he became a letter carrier here. Upon the introduction of the free delivery system in 1862 he was made superintendent, being detailed when postal cars were introduced as chief of the first car run between this city and New York. He resigned his position in the post office in October, 1865, and entered the feed business with the late Wm. M. Galt. A year later he entered the boot and shoe business, conducting at 430 7th street one of the finest stores in the city. He discontinued the business in 1877, and five years later was appointed crier of the District of Supreme Court, which position he held at the time of his death. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the city council.
Mr. Ball became a member of the Masonic fraternity May 10, 1858, when he entered the Dawson Lodge, No. 16, as an apprentice, becoming a fellow craft June 28, 1858, and master Mason, July 30 of the same year. Ten years later he received the capitular degrees in Washington Royal Arch Chapter, the council degrees in Lafayette Council, No. 1, when it was first established here, and the orders of knighthood in Columbia Commandery, No. 2 in 1870. He was past master of his lodge, past high priest of his chapter, past commander of his commandery, past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter and past president of the convention of anointed high priests. He was president of the Masonic choir and one of the founders of the Masonic Mutual Relief Association. He was president of the Masonic Veteran Association of the District, besides holding other high offices within the gift of Masonry, he having been treasurer, captain general and eminent commander of Columbia Commandery and coronated honorable inspector general, thirty-third degree, by the Supreme Council, southern jurisdiction, Scottish Rite, October 24, 1895. He had been registrar of Albert Pike consistory for eleven years. Mr. Ball was a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association and treasurer of the Oldest Inhabitants at the time of his death and many years prior thereto.
Mr. Ball was a man of the highest integrity, and enjoyed the greatest popularity, particularly among the legal fraternity. He is said to have possessed some valuable property. His death resulted from heart disease and he passed away surrounded by his son, Dr. Charles A. Ball, and three daughters, Mrs. Mary Hyatt, and Clara and Florence Ball. Mr. Ball’s wife, who was Miss Elizabeth McElwee, died in 1881, they having been married in 1852. Mr. Ball was a direct descendant of William Ball, a brother of Joseph Ball, the father of Mary Washington.
Contributor: Loretta Castaldi (47472615)
*Robert Ball was born in “Alexandria County,” which at the time of his birth in 1827 was part of the District of Columbia. The Federal government retroceded the 31 square miles of D.C. located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in 1846, and the Virginia legislature accepted it the following year. Alexandria County's name was changed to Arlington County in 1920. Thus - while it could be argued that Robert Ball was born in Alexandria County, Virginia - at the time of his birth it was part of the District of Columbia. - Paul Hays
Robert Ball, a resident of the District since 1834, one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity here, crier of the District Supreme Court since 1882, and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the District, died at his residence, 233 G street, at 11:20 last evening after an illness of several weeks.
Mr. Ball was born in Alexandria county, Va., April 30, 1827, [*see note below] coming to this city seven years later. He was educated at the Rev. Charles Nourse’s School, afterward Ritterhouse Academy, and returning to Virginia in 1848 farmed there until 1853, when he became a letter carrier here. Upon the introduction of the free delivery system in 1862 he was made superintendent, being detailed when postal cars were introduced as chief of the first car run between this city and New York. He resigned his position in the post office in October, 1865, and entered the feed business with the late Wm. M. Galt. A year later he entered the boot and shoe business, conducting at 430 7th street one of the finest stores in the city. He discontinued the business in 1877, and five years later was appointed crier of the District of Supreme Court, which position he held at the time of his death. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the city council.
Mr. Ball became a member of the Masonic fraternity May 10, 1858, when he entered the Dawson Lodge, No. 16, as an apprentice, becoming a fellow craft June 28, 1858, and master Mason, July 30 of the same year. Ten years later he received the capitular degrees in Washington Royal Arch Chapter, the council degrees in Lafayette Council, No. 1, when it was first established here, and the orders of knighthood in Columbia Commandery, No. 2 in 1870. He was past master of his lodge, past high priest of his chapter, past commander of his commandery, past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter and past president of the convention of anointed high priests. He was president of the Masonic choir and one of the founders of the Masonic Mutual Relief Association. He was president of the Masonic Veteran Association of the District, besides holding other high offices within the gift of Masonry, he having been treasurer, captain general and eminent commander of Columbia Commandery and coronated honorable inspector general, thirty-third degree, by the Supreme Council, southern jurisdiction, Scottish Rite, October 24, 1895. He had been registrar of Albert Pike consistory for eleven years. Mr. Ball was a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association and treasurer of the Oldest Inhabitants at the time of his death and many years prior thereto.
Mr. Ball was a man of the highest integrity, and enjoyed the greatest popularity, particularly among the legal fraternity. He is said to have possessed some valuable property. His death resulted from heart disease and he passed away surrounded by his son, Dr. Charles A. Ball, and three daughters, Mrs. Mary Hyatt, and Clara and Florence Ball. Mr. Ball’s wife, who was Miss Elizabeth McElwee, died in 1881, they having been married in 1852. Mr. Ball was a direct descendant of William Ball, a brother of Joseph Ball, the father of Mary Washington.
Contributor: Loretta Castaldi (47472615)
*Robert Ball was born in “Alexandria County,” which at the time of his birth in 1827 was part of the District of Columbia. The Federal government retroceded the 31 square miles of D.C. located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in 1846, and the Virginia legislature accepted it the following year. Alexandria County's name was changed to Arlington County in 1920. Thus - while it could be argued that Robert Ball was born in Alexandria County, Virginia - at the time of his birth it was part of the District of Columbia. - Paul Hays
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) March 24, 1897 page 7
Robert Ball, a resident of the District since 1834, one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity here, crier of the District Supreme Court since 1882, and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the District, died at his residence, 233 G street, at 11:20 last evening after an illness of several weeks.
Mr. Ball was born in Alexandria county, Va., April 30, 1827, [*see note below] coming to this city seven years later. He was educated at the Rev. Charles Nourse’s School, afterward Ritterhouse Academy, and returning to Virginia in 1848 farmed there until 1853, when he became a letter carrier here. Upon the introduction of the free delivery system in 1862 he was made superintendent, being detailed when postal cars were introduced as chief of the first car run between this city and New York. He resigned his position in the post office in October, 1865, and entered the feed business with the late Wm. M. Galt. A year later he entered the boot and shoe business, conducting at 430 7th street one of the finest stores in the city. He discontinued the business in 1877, and five years later was appointed crier of the District of Supreme Court, which position he held at the time of his death. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the city council.
Mr. Ball became a member of the Masonic fraternity May 10, 1858, when he entered the Dawson Lodge, No. 16, as an apprentice, becoming a fellow craft June 28, 1858, and master Mason, July 30 of the same year. Ten years later he received the capitular degrees in Washington Royal Arch Chapter, the council degrees in Lafayette Council, No. 1, when it was first established here, and the orders of knighthood in Columbia Commandery, No. 2 in 1870. He was past master of his lodge, past high priest of his chapter, past commander of his commandery, past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter and past president of the convention of anointed high priests. He was president of the Masonic choir and one of the founders of the Masonic Mutual Relief Association. He was president of the Masonic Veteran Association of the District, besides holding other high offices within the gift of Masonry, he having been treasurer, captain general and eminent commander of Columbia Commandery and coronated honorable inspector general, thirty-third degree, by the Supreme Council, southern jurisdiction, Scottish Rite, October 24, 1895. He had been registrar of Albert Pike consistory for eleven years. Mr. Ball was a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association and treasurer of the Oldest Inhabitants at the time of his death and many years prior thereto.
Mr. Ball was a man of the highest integrity, and enjoyed the greatest popularity, particularly among the legal fraternity. He is said to have possessed some valuable property. His death resulted from heart disease and he passed away surrounded by his son, Dr. Charles A. Ball, and three daughters, Mrs. Mary Hyatt, and Clara and Florence Ball. Mr. Ball’s wife, who was Miss Elizabeth McElwee, died in 1881, they having been married in 1852. Mr. Ball was a direct descendant of William Ball, a brother of Joseph Ball, the father of Mary Washington.
Contributor: Loretta Castaldi (47472615)
*Robert Ball was born in “Alexandria County,” which at the time of his birth in 1827 was part of the District of Columbia. The Federal government retroceded the 31 square miles of D.C. located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in 1846, and the Virginia legislature accepted it the following year. Alexandria County's name was changed to Arlington County in 1920. Thus - while it could be argued that Robert Ball was born in Alexandria County, Virginia - at the time of his birth it was part of the District of Columbia. - Paul Hays
Robert Ball, a resident of the District since 1834, one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity here, crier of the District Supreme Court since 1882, and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the District, died at his residence, 233 G street, at 11:20 last evening after an illness of several weeks.
Mr. Ball was born in Alexandria county, Va., April 30, 1827, [*see note below] coming to this city seven years later. He was educated at the Rev. Charles Nourse’s School, afterward Ritterhouse Academy, and returning to Virginia in 1848 farmed there until 1853, when he became a letter carrier here. Upon the introduction of the free delivery system in 1862 he was made superintendent, being detailed when postal cars were introduced as chief of the first car run between this city and New York. He resigned his position in the post office in October, 1865, and entered the feed business with the late Wm. M. Galt. A year later he entered the boot and shoe business, conducting at 430 7th street one of the finest stores in the city. He discontinued the business in 1877, and five years later was appointed crier of the District of Supreme Court, which position he held at the time of his death. From 1867 to 1869 he was a member of the city council.
Mr. Ball became a member of the Masonic fraternity May 10, 1858, when he entered the Dawson Lodge, No. 16, as an apprentice, becoming a fellow craft June 28, 1858, and master Mason, July 30 of the same year. Ten years later he received the capitular degrees in Washington Royal Arch Chapter, the council degrees in Lafayette Council, No. 1, when it was first established here, and the orders of knighthood in Columbia Commandery, No. 2 in 1870. He was past master of his lodge, past high priest of his chapter, past commander of his commandery, past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter and past president of the convention of anointed high priests. He was president of the Masonic choir and one of the founders of the Masonic Mutual Relief Association. He was president of the Masonic Veteran Association of the District, besides holding other high offices within the gift of Masonry, he having been treasurer, captain general and eminent commander of Columbia Commandery and coronated honorable inspector general, thirty-third degree, by the Supreme Council, southern jurisdiction, Scottish Rite, October 24, 1895. He had been registrar of Albert Pike consistory for eleven years. Mr. Ball was a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association and treasurer of the Oldest Inhabitants at the time of his death and many years prior thereto.
Mr. Ball was a man of the highest integrity, and enjoyed the greatest popularity, particularly among the legal fraternity. He is said to have possessed some valuable property. His death resulted from heart disease and he passed away surrounded by his son, Dr. Charles A. Ball, and three daughters, Mrs. Mary Hyatt, and Clara and Florence Ball. Mr. Ball’s wife, who was Miss Elizabeth McElwee, died in 1881, they having been married in 1852. Mr. Ball was a direct descendant of William Ball, a brother of Joseph Ball, the father of Mary Washington.
Contributor: Loretta Castaldi (47472615)
*Robert Ball was born in “Alexandria County,” which at the time of his birth in 1827 was part of the District of Columbia. The Federal government retroceded the 31 square miles of D.C. located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in 1846, and the Virginia legislature accepted it the following year. Alexandria County's name was changed to Arlington County in 1920. Thus - while it could be argued that Robert Ball was born in Alexandria County, Virginia - at the time of his birth it was part of the District of Columbia. - Paul Hays
Gravesite Details
Certain data from The Ball Family of the Potomac 1654-2004 by Doris LeClerc Ball, Ph.D. and George L Bass, M.S.
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