James P. Ball is now living retired in Delaware, where he holds the respect of all who know him. He owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in this county in addition to land in other states and until his retirement was a well known stockman, buying and shipping stock for the market. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, June 8, 1832, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Ball, and of their three children he is the only survivor.

     James P. Ball received his education in the public schools and when nineteen years of age started out in life for himself. For a time he farmed in his native state but in 1853, when twenty-one years of age, came west, settling in Delaware county, Iowa. He entered eighty acres of government land but from time to time has increased his agricultural possessions until he now owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in this county and also land in Minnesota and the Dakotas. For thirty years he bought and shipped stock and as he was an excellent judge of animals and also kept a close watch upon the market he was able to realize handsome profits from his sales. So lucrative was his business and so well did he invest his surplus capital that fifteen years ago he retired from the cares of business life and has since lived at ease, enjoying the comforts of life which his labor in other years makes possible. He has been an important factor in the up building of the town and erected the first hotel in Delaware, which was the first building there aside from the depot. For a number of years he ran the hostelry but has since sold it.
     Mr. Ball was married in 1851 to Miss Eliza Argabrite, and to them six children were born: Sarah M., who died in youth; Arena, the wife of J. W. Penn, of Oregon; Ida F., now Mrs. J. F. Shade of Oregon; Josie, the wife of Dr. Davis, of New Carlisle, Indiana; Minnie, who married Charles Bradley, of Rock Rapids, Iowa; and Stella, who died when twenty two years of age. The wife and mother passed away March 16, 1867, and on April 6, 1870, Mr. Ball married Ursula M. Wheeler. To this union has been born a son. James W., who is a practicing dentist in Seattle, Washington.
     Mr. Ball is a republican in politics but has never desired to hold office. The family attend the Baptist church and can always be counted upon to do everything in their power in support of all movements tending toward the material, moral or social welfare of their community.