On
Wednesday, November 23rd, death claimed one of the oldest remaining
pioneers of the township of Windham, in the person of Mr. William Ball,
who passed peacefully away at his residence, in the eighty-first year of
his age, after an illness of two weeks. The latter seven days of which he
had lingered in a state of unconsciousness, borne up only by his
remarkable vitality.
The
deceased was well known in Delhi
and the whole surrounding country, and was highly respected by his many
acquaintances. He was an affectionate father, a kindly charitable
neighbor, and a zealous Christian of the old school.
Mr. Ball
was born in Germany in 1830, and came to Canada when twenty-four years of
age. He was a miller by trade, and for a number of years was employed in
that capacity by the late Jacob Sovereen of Delhi, settling later on his
farm in Windham, which he occupied up to the time of his death. In 1858 he
married Miss Sarah Jane O'Neill, who predeceased him 24 years ago.
The
funeral took place on Friday, 25th November, from his late residence to
St. Mary's Church, LaSalette, towards the erection of which the late gentleman had done so
much. The services were conducted by Rev. Father Brennan, who delivered a
very impressive and exalted funeral oration to the large concourse of
people who had assembled to pay their last respects to the memory of their
departed friend, in which he testified to the sterling qualities and
Christian character of the deceased.
Those
left to mourn his loss are Joseph and James of Delhi; John of Chicago;
Leo. of Duluth; Agnes at home; Mrs. L. Bealton of Bookton; Mrs. B.
Dertinger and Mrs. J. W. McCaulay of Delhi.
