The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-22

DEATH OF HOMER j. BALL-Elsewher
in this paper we copy from the Omaha
Herald some particulars of the sad death
of Homer ]. Ball. The news Of Mr..
Ball's death by suicide had reached this
city by kilograms to various parties, on
the 14th, the day it was committed, and
there we're many surmises, mostly Of q
sinister character, as to the probable
cause of the desperate act. Inquiries OF
his employers, Aultman, Miller q Co., OF
Akron, threw no light upon the subject,
inasmuch as his transactions for that
house had been entirely satisfactory and
honorable. kilograms in the daily pa
pers stated that he had suicided in con-
sequence of heavy losses in grain specu-
lation. Letters to members of the fami.
ly here, however, state that his losses
were in fact inconsiderable. By three
letters we are informed that Mr.. Ball had
been for some time in failing health, and
was the prey of melancholy, indicating a
well marked type Of insanity. The death
of "a number Of his neaI est kindred with.
in the past few years hadinduced him to
look upon his own feeble health with
that dependency which magni6es, intin-
itely, disappointments that would other
wise have been regarded as Of small con-
sequence. ..s..L
Deceased was about thirty-six years
old, and from boyhood until the last six
wears, had lived in Canton. During most
of that time he was employed in the Of.
fee of Z. Ball & Co.'S agricultural works.
After the failure of his father, and during
1867 8 he managed a business of his own,
in the manufacture of brooms, but the
business proved unremunerative, and he
failed. During 1869 he was an agent for
the Buckeye machine, at Louisville, Ky.
In April. 1871, he was appointed general
agent for Aultman, Miller u Co., of Ak
ron, for Nebraska, Colorado, and part of
the State of Iowa. In this position he
was eminently successful, handling the
large interests entrusted to him with
skill and success, and to the satisfaction
of his employers.
In the early days of the war Mr. Ball
enlisted in the army, as Sergeant in
the 10Th Ohio regiment. He was subse-
uuertly promoted to Lientenancy. He
was with the regiment until the battle Of
Pittsburgh Landing, but Immediately af-
ter that battle was, by reason Of expo
sure, taken so i'll that his life was des-
paired of Shortly after that time he
was honorably discharged by reason of
impaired health The last year of the
war he served three months in his faith
er's regiment, the l62d 0. N. q. as Cap
tain.
The deceased was not without mani
fest weaknesses of character; and these,
taken in connection with his conduct af-
ter his failure in business, rendered him
amenable to severe criticism. But he
had many warm friends who will not
forget that even his weaknesses were apt
to be on the amiable aide. While adj
versity seemed 10 crush the man, in
prosperity his hand was ever wide open.
and his heart busy devising the happi-
ness of his friends. To many who have
had reason to know of his overhowing
generosity, the news ofhis terrible ship
wreck will come with pang of bitter
ness. G
For the widowed mother and surviving
members of the family, there is every
where felt the most profound sy mpathy.
The father, Col. Ephraim Ball, whose
memory is most honorably aud indissol-
ubly connected with the beginning of
Canton's prosperity, survived the decline
of his fortune only a few years. One by
.sone three sons and two daughters, all in
the prime of young man and woman
hood, have gone down before the same
relentless fate. Truly, their bereave-
ment is very great
The funeral of Mr.. Ball took place on
Sunday afternoon, at his home, Council
Bluffs, Iowa, in accordance with his ex-
pressed wishes. 1t is not yet known
whether his widow and two children
will remain in Iowa, or return to their
friends in Ohio. ,...