BFHA-RC-000017
Research record and source registry for James Edward Augustus Ball. This archive entry preserves the corresponding publication section for website research review.
Publication excerpt:
JAMES EDWARD AUGUSTUS BALL: James GM, William R., Edward, Bartholomew; William, Sr. James E. A. Ball was born 29 March 1831, in Houston County, Georgia. His parents were James Gray Madison Ball and Nancy Boynton. The first record on James E. A. Ball was during the 1850’s when he attended a School of Medicine and received his license to practice. It is thought that he attended Reform Medical College in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. James married Sarah C. Springer 25 November 1856. The place of marriage and Sarah’s parents are unknown. Their only known child was J. J. Loomis Ball, a son, born 21 December 1857. No one knows today for what the initials J. J. stood. The place of birth of Loomis is unknown but it may have been in route to Texas. Sarah Springer may have died on the way to Texas also. The Springer family, with James Ball, his infant son and James’ brother, Augustus Valerius Cincinnatus Ball, arrived in Bowie County, Texas, and was settled and established by 1860. The Springers, who kept Loomis and raised him, settled on land in or near the town of Maud in Bowie County, which was located in the very northeast corner of Texas where it joins the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. Maud is about 19 miles southwest from the city of Texarkana, so named because it overlaps into those three states. August V. C. Ball, who was also a doctor and two years younger than James, busied himself in hanging out his sign and getting set up in business; but not James, who became extremely depressed and despondent over the death of his young wife. There seemed to follow a period of hard drinking and bad times for James. He some how, at some time, acquired 150 acres of land and tried to farm it. James’ brother, Augustus, in the meantime had moved his practice to Texarkana and was doing fine. James finally settled down after the Civil War, even doing a stintof service there. On 25 September 1865, James married Elizabeth Jane Carnes of Franklin County, Mississippi. The marriage took place in Franklin County. How James came to know Elizabeth, what sort of courtship they had, the events that took place between 1865 and 1870, other than James selling his 150 acre farm to Augustus, is a mystery. On 25 December 1866, James sold his 150 acres of land in Bowie County to his brother, Augustus, for the sum of $400. It was filed in New Boston, the County Seat 18 February 1867 in Book of land records, page 566. James, with a new wife and his son Loomis by his side, had sold out in Bowie County and had moved 67 miles west to Lamar County to make a new start. A letter written by Artie Springer 10 November 1870, indicates that Loomis, who is 13 years old, is still living with his father and step-mother in Lamar County. A letter written in 1873 indicates that Loomis is still living with his parents in Lamar County. A letter written by Bettie (Elizabeth Jane), James’ wife, to Argent, Augustus’ wife, living in Texarkana, dated in October of 1877, is written from Baird, Callahan County, saying that Dr. Ball (James Ball) has a good practice started at Baird now. This is the first knowledge of James Ball setting up his medical practice since graduating from Medical School in Macon, Georgia, during the 1850’s. What his occupation was during the years 1865 and 1877 in Lamar County is not known.68 The children of Bettie and James pose some questions, if indeed they are their children. A letter from Bettie in January of 1878, and another letter in February of 1878, refers to Ed (son). Bettie has not heard from him in a month. “He is living at Eli Hancock’s place.” “Loomis is living at home this year – probably his last year at home.” Loomis was 21 years old that year. “Emma is in school.” James and Bettie married in September of 1865; Emma appears to be older than Ed. Emma was born not much sooner than September of 1866. Edward would have been born about September of 1868. Emma, in 1878 would have been 12 years old and rightfully in school. Ed would have been 10 years old in 1878.
[Excerpt; the full publication section is preserved in the BFHA source registry document.]