From the "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885", pages 773-774.

Augustus V. Ball, farmer, section 23, Steuben Township, is a representative citizen and pioneer of the county. His father, Gideon Ball, was born in Granville, Mass., Dec. 27, 1785, and when a child removed to Eastern New York with his parents, locating at the mouth of the Catskill Creek, on the Hudson River, and subsequently to Ontario County, where he married Lydia Dodge, who was born in Wiscasset, Me., July 6, 1794, and removed with her parents to Ontario County when a child. In 1832 Mr. Ball moved to Sandusky County, Ohio. In 1835 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and entered about 900 acres of land in Otsego and Steuben townships, and moved his family to the county May 20, 1836. He engaged for a number of years in buying and selling land, and his investments were in the main successful, and he acquired a competency. He died in July, 1870. His children were eight in number, all, saved the youngest, born in New York, viz.: Sheldon, Augustus V., Julius, Edwin, Frank, Charlotte, Demia and Emeline. Sheldon was born Jan. 25, 1815, and when fifteen years of age went to Canandaigua to learn the jeweler’s trade. When twenty-one he went to Virginia, where he taught school and became acquainted with and married Emma Lee. He died Jan. 20, 1877, leaving two children, a son and daughter, who are with their mother in New York City. Edwin died at the age of seventeen years; Charlotte married Chester Ladd, and died while her husband was serving in the war of the Rebellion. He died soon after in the hospital at Washington. They left two daughters, who are now living in Chicago, Ill. Demia married Oscar Swift, and died several years ago. Emeline died when five years of age. Augustus V. Ball was born in Ontario County, N. Y., May 24, 1818. The first farm he purchased was in De Kalb County, on which he lived several years, and which he still owns. In 1859 he embarked in the mercantile business at Pleasant Lake, continuing till 1865. In February, 1866, he moved to the farm where he now lives, which contains 212 acres of valuable land. He also owns village property in Pleasant Lake. Mr. Ball married Emeline Stetler, daughter of William Stetler. They have three children – Edwin, Theda and Dora.

Submitted by: David D. Masterson