Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-08-26
THE LEASE EXPIRES
Next Year and q Mexico Man Expects
to inherit Part Of Fifty-Seven
Million Dollars.

John N. Ball, who liveg one block
south of the South Side public school,
this city, ,is one OF the heirs 10 an estate
of fifty-seven million dollars, and fur
thermore he expects to have q settle
ment by July of next year. This is
the way the matter now stands: In
1928 Joseph Ball, brother of John N.
Balls great grandfather, died leaving
an immense estate, which was tied up
in leases. On April 20 of this year the
lease on AN acres Of very valuable
property In the heart of Philadelphia
expired and the lease on some valu-
able New Jersey property will expire
in July of next year, when the heirs,
about 1900 In number, expect to be
able to handle the property.
Joseph Ball, the deceased multi
millionaire, was of Quaker origin and
traced his ancestry back to Mary Ball,
who became the wife of Augustine
Washington. They were the parents
of George Washington. Joseph Ball
was, during his lifetime, engaged In
merchant marine, and 10 the war OF
1912 his vessels were destroyed by
French privateers. He was compelled
TO lease his vast real estate possessions
in order to secure money to build and
equip new vessels. The first lease
was on 471s acres of property which
is now in the heart of Philadelphia,
and was given for "a years, expiring on
April 20 of this year. From time to
time thereafter other possessions lying
near Philadelphia, in Kentucky, In
New Jersey, in Washington City and
other large tracts in different parts Of
the country were leased for long
space of time.
When the United States made the
Louisiana purchase the claims against
the French Government were settled
in the deal. Congress made an appro-
priation to pay for the vessels de-
stroyed, but Joseph Ball died intestate
and the money was allowed to lay In
the treasury because the heirs claims
had never been taken up or establish
ed. During Cleveland's administration
the House and Senate passed a bill
providing for division, but Cleve-
land vetoed it possibly because in
1s48 and '47 a Frenchman had COM
piled records concerning the heirs and
finally turned up at Washington with
a number of quit claim deeds and was
paid $4,000 of the appropriated mon
ey. It was afterwards discovered that
the deeds were forgeries, but the
Frenchman had escaped to France.
Mr.. Ball, of Mexico, and Mrs. Bar
bara A. Coil, nee Ball, of near Perry,
are brother and sister and are being
advised by their cousin, DIR. J. W
Compton,o of Evansville, Ind. The last
time MIR. BAH heard from DR.. Comp
ton there were 254 proven heirs, but
according to later press telegrams
there are 800 or more who claim to
be descendants of the Ball family. The
ones without foundation for claims
are being weeded out and by next
year everything will be In shape tc
prove the heirships. Most OF the
claimants live in Ohio and Virginia.
the two above being the only onef
known of In Missouri. That there II
some validity to the claim is proven
by the fact that all ternas and agree
ments made for property in certain
portion of Philadelphia are "subjeci
to the Ball estate"
Mr.. J. N. Ball, of this city, when seer
by a LEDGER reporter said that h'
would have no trouble whatever IL
proving heirship. He said: 81 wa
born in Breckinridge county, KY.
and am SO years old, lcame to Mis-
souri, overland in 1858 and when
struck Mexico / think 1t was the
toughest place was ever In. There
was one two story house In town.
began farming on place 1518 mile
northeast of Mexico, just this side o
the Monroe county line. I moved t,
Mexico four years ago the 23rd day o
this month. My wife has been deat
for 10 years, and I have seven chill
dren, four daughters and three sons
two of whom, son and daughter
are at home.
'I am one of five children, my faith
er's name being Joseph Ball, who wa
a son of an only brother to the mai
leaving the property, who had six sis
ters. My grandfather married Mar,
Richardson and five SONS were born t.
them. don't think there will be an,
trouble at all in proving my relation
ship. There is regular organization
formed with four attorneys empioye,
to work up the case; Silas Raney, O
Troy, Ohio, is their secretary ant
treasurer. 1 have very little faith II
securing the money which is held il
the United States treasury, but &C
cording to good Eastern authority W
have a valid claim on the real estat,
interests in the East. My younge
brother holds the proof of our de
Scendancy."
MIR. Ball, in talking to reporter
, showed considerable education and /
highly enthused over the prospects
He is strongly opposed to the news
; papers taking the matter up.
Mrs. P. FL. Cullen and Ernest Coil
OF this city, are children of Mrs. Col
: of Perry, who is direct grandchild O
Joseph Balls brother.
/ Stock News.
The following shipments of stocl
have been made since our last report
Il On the 10Th: Lewis, Johnson & 90.
"a hogs to East st. Louis and 20 hog
to st. Louis.