George Washington Ball (Iowa Republican) Explained

George Washington Ball (Iowa Republican) should not be confused with George Washington Ball (Iowa Democrat).

George W. Ball
State Senate:Iowa
District:2nd
Term Start:1917
Term End:1920
State House1:Iowa
Term Start1:1888
Term End1:1892
District1:19th
Term Start2:1915
Term End2:1917
Birth Date:March 6, 1848
Birth Place:Hancock County, Virginia, U.S.
Death Place:Fairfield, Iowa, U.S.
Party:Republican

George Washington Ball (March 6, 1848 – March 14, 1920) was an American businessman and politician from Iowa who represented Jefferson County as a Republican in the state legislature as representative and senator.

George W. Ball was born in Hancock County, Virginia (now West Virginia), the son of Joseph and Margaret (Longfitt) Ball. He was descended from the family of which belonged Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington. He came with his parents to Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1854 where he attended the public schools and Fairfield University. He engaged in farming, banking and manufacturing, was a director in the Iowa State Savings Bank, the Iowa Loan and Trust Company and the Fairfield Gasoline Engine Company, all of Fairfield. In 1887 he was elected representative and re-elected two years later. Again elected in 1914, he served as representative in the Twenty-second, Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth General Assemblies. In 1916 he was elected senator from the Jefferson-Van Buren district, and served in the Thirty-seventh and Thirty-eighth General Assemblies.[1] He vigorously proposed repealing the law for extending and improving the capitol grounds.[2]

Ball was married to Maggie Laughlin on October 31, 1872, and with her had five children.[3] He died at Fairfield, aged 72.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George W. Ball . . 29 April 2022.
  2. George W. Ball . . January 1921 . XII . 7 . 557 .
  3. Book: Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa. 1890 . Lake City Publishing Co. . Chicago . 596–597 .