Edward Hyde Ball

Narrative:

     Edward Hyde Ball was born on 29 May 1825 in Ogden, Monroe Co., New York.^8,9,10
     He was probably one of the two males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Joseph Ball, in the 1830 Federal Census of Ogden, Monroe Co., New York.¹⁶ He was probably one of the two males age 10 to15 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Ogden, Monroe Co., New York.¹⁷
     He attended public schools and one year at a select school.⁴ He worked at the store of Church & Ball in Spencerport, one of the largest mercantile establishments in western New York in his youth. He continued there seven years before moving west.⁴
     Edward moved to Wisconsin in 1846 to open his own business.⁴ He opened a store in East Troy. Being on the frontier he had to extend credit to the settlers who depended on their crops for their income, but "won a substantial measure of success." He was the postmaster for the town, presumably in his store, from 21 May 1849 until 23 Jun 1853.^4,18,19,20
     Edward married Sarah Euselia Cobb, daughter of Dr. John Cobb and Sarah Robbins, on 26 Aug 1847.^11,12,13
     They appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of East Troy, Walworth Co., Wisconsin, enumerated 1 Aug 1850, reporting real estate valued at $1,000. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them, as were Albert Ball, relationship unknown, age 18 and listed as a clerk, and Isaac Bangs, age 19 and also listed as a clerk.³
     Edward and Sarah appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of East Troy, Walworth Co., Wisconsin, enumerated 20 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $16,500 and personal estate of $500. Their children Elizabeth, Helen, Sarah and Edward were listed as living with them, as were Ann McKake, age 20 from Ireland, a domestic servant, and Mary Brownlee, age 14 from Canada, with no occupation listed.²¹
     Edward sold his business in East Troy and he and Sarah moved to Milwaukee in 1862, living at 360 Milwaukee St.^22,23
     He and John R. Goodrich joined the wholesale grocery business of John A. Dutcher, at 103 and 105 E. Water St.. The firm was then known as Dutcher, Ball, and Goodrich.^24,25,26 The firm moved to 301 & 303 East Water St. about 1865.²⁷
     Edward registered for the draft for the Civil War, appearing on the register dated in Jun 1863, while living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reporting he was employed as grocer.²⁸
     The family moved to 496 Jefferson St. about 1863 and to 594 Jefferson St. about 1865.^29,30
     They moved to 610 Jefferson St. about 1867, where the family lived for many years.³¹
     About 1870 Dutcher withdrew from the firm and went into the stove business. The grocery firm was known after that as Ball and Goodrich until about 1884, with Edward's widow taking his place after his death. About 1885 Goodrich found a new partner and the firm was then known as Goodrich & Wagner.^32,33
     Edward and Sarah appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin, enumerated 1 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $15,000 and personal estate of $100,000. Their children Elizabeth, Helen, Sarah, Edward and Mary were listed as living with them, as were two domestic servants, Ellen O'Connel, age 20 from Massachusetts, and Kate O'Malley, age 25 from Wisconsin.³⁴
     Edward left a will dated 31 Aug 1878 stating he was of Milwaukee, in which he left his sister, Catherine Gott, for her lifetime the use of premises she occupied in New York and $150 per year, his brother Albert $200 per year for his life, and all his other property to his wife. He appointed John W. Dennison of Whitewater, Wisconsin, and Benjamin K. Miller of Milwaukee as executors.³⁵
     Edward died on 7 Sep 1878 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at age 53.^14,9 He was buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin.¹⁵
     His will was probated on 12 Oct 1878 by the County Court in Milwaukee Co.³⁶
     An inventory of his estate was filed on 31 Mar 1879 showing a total value of his property as $106,000. It listed his residence, valued at $10,000; his furniture, library, four horses, three carriages, two sleighs, and equipment at $5,000; a parcel in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin valued at $12,000; his 5/8 share of the firm of Ball & Goodrich, valued at $16,800; cash and credits in the firm at $45,000; a half interest in property in Monroe Co., New York on which his father was living, estimated at $600; and various notes due him, stock and other items.³⁷
     The final settlement of the estate was filed on 7 Oct 1879. The executors had received $83,400 as recorded in the inventory (excluding the real estate) and had collected an additional $2,200 in interest. They had paid out $11,600 to the widow for burial expenses, settlement of debts, and living expenses; $3,700 to pay off the mortgage on the Wauwatosa property; $325 to the brother and sister; $1,000 commission to one of them, and a small amount on probate expenses, leaving a balance of $68,700. The court approved the accounting, ordered that all real and personal property remaining be assigned to the widow, and dismissed the executors.³⁸