Lester Duncan Ball
Lester Duncan Ball, a dealer in and shipper of poultry at Xenia, is a native son of Greene county, bom in the village of Spring Valley on November 4, 1886, a son of William G. and Martha (Gartrell) Ball, both of whom also were born in this county and here spent all their lives, the former dying at Xenia on January 6, 1913, and the latter, in October, 1911.
William G. Ball was born on a farm in the neighborhood of Yellow Springs and there grew to manhood. His parents came to this county from Pennsylvania. About 1880, at Spring Valley, he married Martha Gartrell, who was born at Yellow Springs, daughter of Robert Gartrell, and after his marriage began farming on his own account and so continued until about 1895, when he became engaged in the poultry business at Spring Valley and about 1902 moved to Xenia and there opened an establishment in South Collier street, where he continued engaged in the poultry business until his death. His wife had preceded him to the grave about two years, as noted above. William G. Ball and his wife were adherents of the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Halleck, living at Richmond, Indiana, and a sister, Helen M., who is living at Osborn, this county. The other child, Ernest, died in infancy. Halleck Ball married Maude Armentrout and to that union five children have been born, two of whom are living.
Lester D. Ball '"grew up" at Spring Valley, attending the schools of that village, and when eighteen or nineteen years of age became employed in the express company's office at Xenia and was thus engaged for seven years, during which time he rose to the position of local agent for the company. Upon the death of his father in 1913 he left the express company's office and took over the poultry business his father had built up at Xenia and has ever since been engaged in that business, shipping to New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other points East.
On July 14, 1910, at Xenia, Lester D. Ball was united in marriage to Gertrude Shelly, daughter of Frank and Minnie (Mitchell) Shelly, of Xenia, who were married on August 2, 1887, and who have two children, Mrs. Ball having a brother, Gary Shelly, who is now living at New Madison, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have one child, a son, Lawrence Leroy, who was born on August 2, 1913. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Ball is an "independent" voter. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Xenia.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918