Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-02-23
NEAREST OF KIN.

Major Ebenezer Burgess Ball, after a
careful investigation of his genealogy
by the Sons of American Revolution
has been declared by them to be the
nearest living relative OF George Wash
lngton. Aside from this fact in itself
sufficient to awaken the interest OF all
in the man, Major Ball, when dressed
in the uniform OF the continental
army, bears a remarkable personal re-
semblance to the great patriot. Al
first sight his picture Is nearly always
taken for a likeness of General Wash
ington. Mary BAH, the mother OF
Washington, was a cousin OF Col. Bur
ges Ball, the grandfather Of the sub
iect OF this sketch. Washington re-
scmbIed his mothers family, and 1t is
from the same source that Major Ball
gets his likeness to his illustrlous
klnsman,
Major Ban has led varied and ro-
mantle life He was born at the fam
ily home, famous in history as Balls
bluff, not far from Leesburg, Virginia.
When a young man he began CONNER
cial life in Washington; but subse-
quently gave it up, went west and be
came famous as an Indian fighter and
California pioneer At the beginning
of the civil war he returned and fought
i'm the confederate army, for what he
thought were the outraged rights OF
his native state. The close OF the
war found him homeless and destitute
and he secured a small business
privilege in the court of the pension Of
fee at Washington. where he still la
bors. His distinguished bearing and
remarkable resemblance to Washing
ton attracts much attention TO him.
WASHINGTON WOMEN.
When Mary Ben was p years old
she was married to a widower ten
years her seniura man with four
children. His name was Augustine
WASHINGTON and he had considerable
land, which was cheap at that time,
They entered upon their welded life
March 6, 1881. The 22d Of February
following their first child was born
and they named him George. Mary
WASHINGTON had five other children,
and she brought up the entire Hook Oh
teu-four of them another woman's-
SO that none disgraced her, and some
aid her infinite credit one, at least
earning Lord Broughams eulogy that
he was the greatest man OF our own
or any other age.
AN who are entitled 10 nave an
opinion unite in saying that it was
from his mother that this great man
inherited his abilities. He was re
markably like her in feature and like
her family in stature and figure. And,
like her, he did his duty, stopping al
no obstacle Mary Washington was a
woman OF her time and il was a
harder time than this, Her husband
died after twelve years OF married lite
leaving her the land and the children.
The house I'm which they all lived had
three rooms below aud an attic above.
They were simply dressed, the girls In
llnsey- woulsey spun at home, the boys
In sHits OF tow A suit TN those days
cons lStet or % NhAft Nhd bdH o- blp0o-
ers. In summer they were hatless and
harefoated: M Winter they had caps
am shoes. lf they felt cold they put
on another tow shirt ana another pair
of tow pantaloous II they We're still
cold they put on three. Mary Wash
ngtou did the cooking, washing tail
orug and all the rest She had little
help except from the older en- 'ldren
For her one luxury sae smoked a pipe.
George Washington had a good eye.
ana he never used II 70 better adyan-
tage than in looking at pretty girls. He
began 10 fam iii love with them when
ne was Is years old He never fell
ont Of love with them. Ebert Hub
bard calls attention to the fact that he
went a lonr way on, Of his road dur
ing his first Journey westward to see
an Inrran princess rejoicing in the
name Of Alieuippa The Indians
named him Coneianearius or the