The son of Calvin Ball 1830-1870 and Barbara (Diamond)Ball 1832-1910.
Rev. Z. Ball, Eastern Kentucky’s oldest and best known minister passes to reward Sun., July 22 (1952).
Born near Louisa, Ky., Bro. Ball was the son of a Scottish Professor and cousin of the great orator, Henry Clay.
After a long life in the service of his Lord, Rev. Z. Ball, one of the best known and oldest minister in Lee county – if not in eastern Kentucky passed on to his reward Sunday, July 20. Bro. Ball as he was generally known was 93 at the time of his death and for almost 70 years has been a minister in the Christian Church.
Rev. Ball started teaching when he was 16 and preaching when he was 23, in an interview about four years ago, he said that he had forgotten how many years he had spent in the schoolroom as a teacher but at the time of the interview, stated that he had been preaching for 66 years.
Bro. Ball was born near the Kentucky-West Virginia border and spent his boyhood around what is now Louisa, Kentucky. He sprang from an illustrious parentage. His father was once a professor in Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother was a cousin of that noted statesman and orator, Henry Clay.
Bro. Ball once stated that his father came to America in search of cheap land. He found the land and bought up a huge acreage in Virginia. When the Civil War came along however, the fiery Scottish professor espoused the Union cause and spent four years in the Federal army. Then during the troubled reconstruction days following the war, he lost most of his fortune and again returned to the teaching profession.
As for his education, Bro. Ball received most of his schooling at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. He was a student in that institution at the time when James A. Garfield, who later became president of the United States, was head of the school.
Because of is colorful character and long years in the ministry, countless anecdotes concerning his work have sprung up around him. W.D. Lucas, and old, old friend of Bro. Ball’s tells that one day Bro. Ball was baptizing a man near the mouth of Frayles Creek. Among the bystanders, worshipers, and curiosity seekers always in evidence on such an occasion, was an overgrown bare-foot lad who was watching the event from a vantage point on tip of a high rock near the middle of the river.
As Bro. Ball led the man down into the water and started to administer the rites of baptism, the boy looked down and yelled, “Drown him Bro. Ball, Drown him, Drown him!”
Naturally this caused a disturbance and afterwards when several persons requested that Rev. Ball prosecute this boy for his impetuosity, he refused by saying, “No, no the boy was probably sincere in what he commanded.”
As minister and orator, Bro Ball had few equals among his contemporaries and it is said by those who were intimately associated with his life and work, that he married and baptized more people than any other preacher in Lee county.
In 1878, Rev. Ball married the former Miss Isabelle McCommis of Louisa, Ky., who preceded him in death in December, 1950. Before she died, they had the satisfaction of celebrating their 71st Wedding Anniversary.
Funeral services for Rev. Ball were held Tuesday afternoon, July 22, at the Beattyville Christian Church, with Rev. Wilson, Rev. Bill Warner, and Rev. George Botner officiating.
The survivors include four sons and four daughters. The sons are Calvin of Holly, Michigan, Boney of Tallega, Fred of Toledo, Ohio and Price of Pontiac, Michigan. Surviving Daughters: Mrs. Ella Barker of Middletown, Ohio, Mrs. Rhoda Palmer of Tallega, Mrs. Mary Richardson, of Pontiac, Michigan, and Mrs. Pearl Palmer of Beatyville.
Burial was in the family cemetery near Monica with Congleton Brothers in charge.
Source: The Owsley County News, July 25, 1952, page 1, col. 1, 2.
Rev. Z. Ball married my parents, Earl Davis and Mary Eugenia Whisman, in St Helens, Kentucky, November 23, 1935.
Marvin Davis
3/6/16
Rev. Z. Ball, Eastern Kentucky’s oldest and best known minister passes to reward Sun., July 22 (1952).
Born near Louisa, Ky., Bro. Ball was the son of a Scottish Professor and cousin of the great orator, Henry Clay.
After a long life in the service of his Lord, Rev. Z. Ball, one of the best known and oldest minister in Lee county – if not in eastern Kentucky passed on to his reward Sunday, July 20. Bro. Ball as he was generally known was 93 at the time of his death and for almost 70 years has been a minister in the Christian Church.
Rev. Ball started teaching when he was 16 and preaching when he was 23, in an interview about four years ago, he said that he had forgotten how many years he had spent in the schoolroom as a teacher but at the time of the interview, stated that he had been preaching for 66 years.
Bro. Ball was born near the Kentucky-West Virginia border and spent his boyhood around what is now Louisa, Kentucky. He sprang from an illustrious parentage. His father was once a professor in Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother was a cousin of that noted statesman and orator, Henry Clay.
Bro. Ball once stated that his father came to America in search of cheap land. He found the land and bought up a huge acreage in Virginia. When the Civil War came along however, the fiery Scottish professor espoused the Union cause and spent four years in the Federal army. Then during the troubled reconstruction days following the war, he lost most of his fortune and again returned to the teaching profession.
As for his education, Bro. Ball received most of his schooling at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. He was a student in that institution at the time when James A. Garfield, who later became president of the United States, was head of the school.
Because of is colorful character and long years in the ministry, countless anecdotes concerning his work have sprung up around him. W.D. Lucas, and old, old friend of Bro. Ball’s tells that one day Bro. Ball was baptizing a man near the mouth of Frayles Creek. Among the bystanders, worshipers, and curiosity seekers always in evidence on such an occasion, was an overgrown bare-foot lad who was watching the event from a vantage point on tip of a high rock near the middle of the river.
As Bro. Ball led the man down into the water and started to administer the rites of baptism, the boy looked down and yelled, “Drown him Bro. Ball, Drown him, Drown him!”
Naturally this caused a disturbance and afterwards when several persons requested that Rev. Ball prosecute this boy for his impetuosity, he refused by saying, “No, no the boy was probably sincere in what he commanded.”
As minister and orator, Bro Ball had few equals among his contemporaries and it is said by those who were intimately associated with his life and work, that he married and baptized more people than any other preacher in Lee county.
In 1878, Rev. Ball married the former Miss Isabelle McCommis of Louisa, Ky., who preceded him in death in December, 1950. Before she died, they had the satisfaction of celebrating their 71st Wedding Anniversary.
Funeral services for Rev. Ball were held Tuesday afternoon, July 22, at the Beattyville Christian Church, with Rev. Wilson, Rev. Bill Warner, and Rev. George Botner officiating.
The survivors include four sons and four daughters. The sons are Calvin of Holly, Michigan, Boney of Tallega, Fred of Toledo, Ohio and Price of Pontiac, Michigan. Surviving Daughters: Mrs. Ella Barker of Middletown, Ohio, Mrs. Rhoda Palmer of Tallega, Mrs. Mary Richardson, of Pontiac, Michigan, and Mrs. Pearl Palmer of Beatyville.
Burial was in the family cemetery near Monica with Congleton Brothers in charge.
Source: The Owsley County News, July 25, 1952, page 1, col. 1, 2.
Rev. Z. Ball married my parents, Earl Davis and Mary Eugenia Whisman, in St Helens, Kentucky, November 23, 1935.
Marvin Davis
3/6/16
The son of Calvin Ball 1830-1870 and Barbara (Diamond)Ball 1832-1910.
Rev. Z. Ball, Eastern Kentucky’s oldest and best known minister passes to reward Sun., July 22 (1952).
Born near Louisa, Ky., Bro. Ball was the son of a Scottish Professor and cousin of the great orator, Henry Clay.
After a long life in the service of his Lord, Rev. Z. Ball, one of the best known and oldest minister in Lee county – if not in eastern Kentucky passed on to his reward Sunday, July 20. Bro. Ball as he was generally known was 93 at the time of his death and for almost 70 years has been a minister in the Christian Church.
Rev. Ball started teaching when he was 16 and preaching when he was 23, in an interview about four years ago, he said that he had forgotten how many years he had spent in the schoolroom as a teacher but at the time of the interview, stated that he had been preaching for 66 years.
Bro. Ball was born near the Kentucky-West Virginia border and spent his boyhood around what is now Louisa, Kentucky. He sprang from an illustrious parentage. His father was once a professor in Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother was a cousin of that noted statesman and orator, Henry Clay.
Bro. Ball once stated that his father came to America in search of cheap land. He found the land and bought up a huge acreage in Virginia. When the Civil War came along however, the fiery Scottish professor espoused the Union cause and spent four years in the Federal army. Then during the troubled reconstruction days following the war, he lost most of his fortune and again returned to the teaching profession.
As for his education, Bro. Ball received most of his schooling at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. He was a student in that institution at the time when James A. Garfield, who later became president of the United States, was head of the school.
Because of is colorful character and long years in the ministry, countless anecdotes concerning his work have sprung up around him. W.D. Lucas, and old, old friend of Bro. Ball’s tells that one day Bro. Ball was baptizing a man near the mouth of Frayles Creek. Among the bystanders, worshipers, and curiosity seekers always in evidence on such an occasion, was an overgrown bare-foot lad who was watching the event from a vantage point on tip of a high rock near the middle of the river.
As Bro. Ball led the man down into the water and started to administer the rites of baptism, the boy looked down and yelled, “Drown him Bro. Ball, Drown him, Drown him!”
Naturally this caused a disturbance and afterwards when several persons requested that Rev. Ball prosecute this boy for his impetuosity, he refused by saying, “No, no the boy was probably sincere in what he commanded.”
As minister and orator, Bro Ball had few equals among his contemporaries and it is said by those who were intimately associated with his life and work, that he married and baptized more people than any other preacher in Lee county.
In 1878, Rev. Ball married the former Miss Isabelle McCommis of Louisa, Ky., who preceded him in death in December, 1950. Before she died, they had the satisfaction of celebrating their 71st Wedding Anniversary.
Funeral services for Rev. Ball were held Tuesday afternoon, July 22, at the Beattyville Christian Church, with Rev. Wilson, Rev. Bill Warner, and Rev. George Botner officiating.
The survivors include four sons and four daughters. The sons are Calvin of Holly, Michigan, Boney of Tallega, Fred of Toledo, Ohio and Price of Pontiac, Michigan. Surviving Daughters: Mrs. Ella Barker of Middletown, Ohio, Mrs. Rhoda Palmer of Tallega, Mrs. Mary Richardson, of Pontiac, Michigan, and Mrs. Pearl Palmer of Beatyville.
Burial was in the family cemetery near Monica with Congleton Brothers in charge.
Source: The Owsley County News, July 25, 1952, page 1, col. 1, 2.
Rev. Z. Ball married my parents, Earl Davis and Mary Eugenia Whisman, in St Helens, Kentucky, November 23, 1935.
Marvin Davis
3/6/16
Rev. Z. Ball, Eastern Kentucky’s oldest and best known minister passes to reward Sun., July 22 (1952).
Born near Louisa, Ky., Bro. Ball was the son of a Scottish Professor and cousin of the great orator, Henry Clay.
After a long life in the service of his Lord, Rev. Z. Ball, one of the best known and oldest minister in Lee county – if not in eastern Kentucky passed on to his reward Sunday, July 20. Bro. Ball as he was generally known was 93 at the time of his death and for almost 70 years has been a minister in the Christian Church.
Rev. Ball started teaching when he was 16 and preaching when he was 23, in an interview about four years ago, he said that he had forgotten how many years he had spent in the schoolroom as a teacher but at the time of the interview, stated that he had been preaching for 66 years.
Bro. Ball was born near the Kentucky-West Virginia border and spent his boyhood around what is now Louisa, Kentucky. He sprang from an illustrious parentage. His father was once a professor in Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, and his mother was a cousin of that noted statesman and orator, Henry Clay.
Bro. Ball once stated that his father came to America in search of cheap land. He found the land and bought up a huge acreage in Virginia. When the Civil War came along however, the fiery Scottish professor espoused the Union cause and spent four years in the Federal army. Then during the troubled reconstruction days following the war, he lost most of his fortune and again returned to the teaching profession.
As for his education, Bro. Ball received most of his schooling at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. He was a student in that institution at the time when James A. Garfield, who later became president of the United States, was head of the school.
Because of is colorful character and long years in the ministry, countless anecdotes concerning his work have sprung up around him. W.D. Lucas, and old, old friend of Bro. Ball’s tells that one day Bro. Ball was baptizing a man near the mouth of Frayles Creek. Among the bystanders, worshipers, and curiosity seekers always in evidence on such an occasion, was an overgrown bare-foot lad who was watching the event from a vantage point on tip of a high rock near the middle of the river.
As Bro. Ball led the man down into the water and started to administer the rites of baptism, the boy looked down and yelled, “Drown him Bro. Ball, Drown him, Drown him!”
Naturally this caused a disturbance and afterwards when several persons requested that Rev. Ball prosecute this boy for his impetuosity, he refused by saying, “No, no the boy was probably sincere in what he commanded.”
As minister and orator, Bro Ball had few equals among his contemporaries and it is said by those who were intimately associated with his life and work, that he married and baptized more people than any other preacher in Lee county.
In 1878, Rev. Ball married the former Miss Isabelle McCommis of Louisa, Ky., who preceded him in death in December, 1950. Before she died, they had the satisfaction of celebrating their 71st Wedding Anniversary.
Funeral services for Rev. Ball were held Tuesday afternoon, July 22, at the Beattyville Christian Church, with Rev. Wilson, Rev. Bill Warner, and Rev. George Botner officiating.
The survivors include four sons and four daughters. The sons are Calvin of Holly, Michigan, Boney of Tallega, Fred of Toledo, Ohio and Price of Pontiac, Michigan. Surviving Daughters: Mrs. Ella Barker of Middletown, Ohio, Mrs. Rhoda Palmer of Tallega, Mrs. Mary Richardson, of Pontiac, Michigan, and Mrs. Pearl Palmer of Beatyville.
Burial was in the family cemetery near Monica with Congleton Brothers in charge.
Source: The Owsley County News, July 25, 1952, page 1, col. 1, 2.
Rev. Z. Ball married my parents, Earl Davis and Mary Eugenia Whisman, in St Helens, Kentucky, November 23, 1935.
Marvin Davis
3/6/16
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