Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-10-30
Col. f. IL. Ball. OF Lcesburg.

Col. Ebenezer Burgess Ball, of Leesburg,
who has lived in Washington for several
years, attended the unwilling of the Statue
Of Liberty in New York or the 2Sth instant
Ills near relation to Gen. Washington gave
him prominence at that demonstration
The New York World thus speaks of his
visit TO that city
"One of the features of the grand military
and civic parade Oh the day of the unyel-
ing of the statue was the presence of Col.
Ebenezer Burgess Ball, OF the Washington
Continentals, Washington, d. c. Col Bail
is the nearest living relative OF Geo. Wash
ington and bears striking resemblance to
the first President. Col. Ball belongs to one
of the oldest families Of Virginia, from which
Washington's father selected Mary Ball to
he his wife. He is 20 years old and wears
his silver. gray hair after the Continental
style, his clean shaven features resembling
in general contour those CT his ilustrious
ancestor. The uniform of The Washington
Contlnentals is similar TO TINT of the old
Continental army. Col. Bail has had a
somewhat venturesome life. He left his
home in Virginia when he was twenty six
years OLD, and became clerk in the largest
dry goods store in Washington. Here he
met the then familiar faces of Clay, Calhoun,
Webster, Gales and the early Presidents
who were regular customers at the store
firing of the uneventful life Of clerk. Col
Ball soon left the national capital and set.
tied on the banks OF the Usage River
IL Missouri, then thinly settled
country. Still having thirst for adventure
be sold his log cabin, and taking only
his rifle and supply of ammunition he Joined
the first company that settled in the Rogue River
valley The place was swarming with Indians
and 1t was continual fight fcr self preservation
until the outbreak of tho war; when he enlisted
and served until its close. Following the miners
III their explorations West. Col Bali became q
trading agent AID drove through tic unsettled
territory with pack of mules laden with proyis.
lons, tobacco and ammunition. During the late
war col. Ball lost all his savings, and la.er ap-
Piled Tor position as watchnan st the Wasbing
ton Monument. Failing to obtain this he rented
stall in the Pension Department, where he is
now engaged. Col. Ball is the grandson of Col
burgess Ball, who served with distinction in the
Revolutionary war. BE was related to Washing
Ton not only through the latter's mother, Mary
Ball. but marriel Washington's niece Frances
Washington. There ere now living only three of
the direct descendants of Col. Burgess Ball and
Frances Washington. They are Georse Wash
lngton Ball, of Fauquier county, Va. and Mrs
kltty Llttleton, of Loudoun county Va cousins
" ~ ,, eoonb III. Dali. Inc chaln OF relation
ship is therefore from two sources in the case NJ
Col. Bali, who is directly descended from tho
niece of George Washington Col. Burgess Rail-
his grandfather, was very near to the first Presi
dent, being relative, q member of the military
family, aud then marrying his kinswoman. He
was colonel, and won the admiration of his
commanding officer by raising troops for the
Continental army at his private cSpense Tn,
genealogy of both the Bali and the Washington
families have been traced by Col. Balls cousin.
G. w. Ball, and it is ! remarkable fact that bo1b
families have become almost extinct"