DEATH OF ERASMUS BALL.
Was the First Station Agent at Chesterton for the Lake Shore Railway.
Erasmus Ball, one of Porter county's oldest and most respected citizens, died at his home in Valparaiso Wednesday morning, October 10, at 8:30 o'clocl. A short time before he had been out in the yard with his son, Charles, cutting kindling and had gone into the basement of his residence to attend to the furnace. His son followed him shortly afterwards and at the entrace of the basement found his father lying on the steps, dead. Heart disease was the cause of death.

Mr. Ball was born in Warren county, Ind., Feb. 16, 1832. He was married in 1856 at Michigan City to Mary Ann Doty, who died Jan. 11, 1865, leaving two daughters. On Feb. 12, 1866, at Graton, New York, he was married to Henrietta B. Clark, who survives him, together with three children.

Mr. Ball moved with his parents to Laporte in 1832, and after a residence of about two years acame to Valparaiso. In the '50s he was associated with the late S. R. Bryant in the drug business in Valparaiso. In 1860 he came to Chesterton, and became the first station agent for the Lake Shore Railroad company at Chesterton station. In 1862 he was appointed agent of the old Pittsburg, For Wayne & Chicago railway at Valparaiso, which position he held nineteen years, when he was elected cashier of the First National bank, which position he held until three years ago, when he resigned, owing to ill health. He was one of the oldest members of the Presbyterian church in Valparaiso, being an active member all his life. The funeral was held Friday afternoon from the Presbyterian church and was very largely attended. The services were conducted by Revs. Robert Beer, C. Boyd Beckes and Martin Luther. The interment was at Graceland.

Source: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; October 18, 1906; Volume 23, Number 29, Page 1, Column 6.