George W. BALL was born near Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, June 7, 1847, and died at his home in Iowa City, July 18, 1915. He spent his youth on his father's farm in Jefferson County, attended common school, and Wesleyan University, Mt. Pleasant, graduating in 18G7. He also graduated from the law department of the State University of Iowa in 1869. He practiced law a short time in Des Moines and in Mount Ayr, Iowa, and then in Chicago, but in November, 1874, he removed to Iowa City and formed a partnership with Charles BAKER, which continued until Mr. BAKER's death in 1910. Then he formed a partnership with his son, George W. BALL, Jr.

In 1885 he was elected representative and served in the Twenty-first General Assembly. He was county attorney of Johnson County for four years, 1893 to 1896. In 1899 he was elected senator and served in the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth General Assemblies and was mayor of Iowa City from 1905 to 1909. He was vice president of the First National Bank of Iowa City. He was a member of the board of curators of the State Historical Society. He was prominent in the different branches of Masonry, and was grand master of the Grand Lodge of Iowa two terms, 1895 and 1896.

SOURCE: Annals of Iowa Vol. XII, 3rd Series. p. 552. State Historical Society of Iowa. Des Moines. 1915-21.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009