Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

Elisha and Bertha Ball, Flagler



Elisha Ball was in Burt County, Nebraska in 1900, born May 1865 in Iowa, with Eva April 1868 Iowa. Claud is 14, Walter 12, Myrtel April 1888 Nebraska, Elora 7, Elisha 6, Nana 4, Eva 2,a, and a son born May 1899.

Evalena 1868-1906 is buried in Burt County # 67423356.

Elisha, 47, married Bertha Paulsen in Flagler on June 29, 1910.
He's buried in Flagler 1864-1940 # 1348636, with Bertha 1873-1947.

William Quinn, 20, married Myrtle Ball on July 28, 1909, recorded in Denver.

The following article of early history was written and sent to the News by Mrs. Will Quinn, of Sterling, Colorado. Mrs. Quinn is a daughter of Mr. E. E. Ball:
My father, E. E. Bell, homesteaded 17 miles northeast of Flagler in the second homesteading boom days of 1906 and 1908.
With two walking plows and the help of Billy Quinn, broke up 160 acres of land. They walked behind the plow from sunup until sundown and there were times when the girls would have to bring the lantern out so they could see to put the horses away, and were their feet sore and tired at night? He raised a bumper crop that year, the largest he ever raised on that land. The land agents would bring land buyers out to show them the great piles of corn that was shucked and piled on the ground, as he had no corn crib in those days, and people could see the piles of corn for miles, and no doubt this crop persuaded many of the eastern people to invest in Eastern Colorado land. He also raised 1000 bushels of nice potatoes that same year and it certainly looked like a land of plenty. Those were happy days on the homestead and all seemed anxious to meet their new neighbors. As we would be on our way to Flagler or Seibert the homesteaders would come out, either wanting to ride to town or send in for their mail or other things they might be in need of they all seemed like one large family, willing to help one another. T. J. Huntzinger was one of the oldest settlers in that neighborhood and a kind, pleasant friend to all new settlers and will always be remembered for the many favors that he extended to them.
Now for a bit of early history of my father. His father and mother, Nathaniel Ball and Mary Esther Wickum (actually Wickham), were born and married in the state of Ohio. From there they drove a yoke of oxen on their wedding trip to Franklin Co, Iowa. Years later my father was born May 6th, 1864 at this place. When he was six years old his father took his family and drove two yoke of oxen to the state of Missouri and located close to the county seat of Musser (actually Mercer) County, a little town called Princeton. His father liked to work in the woods but my father did not like to cut wood as he said "the rattle of the ax hurt his head" so he would pile up the brush that his father told him to and when the pile got large enough so he could slip away without being seen, he would go down to the Grand river with his older brother Nate, and swim all day, his father thinking he was still pilling brush. There is where he discovered that he was a swimmer and diver. He had been swimming since he was six years old, as he always said that he did not have to learn to swim, it just seemed to come natural with him and as he grew older he learned that he could sleep on the water he would laugh and say the deeper the better. There were lots of wild hogs in Missouri at that time and he would stay close to the bank of the river and when ever a wild hog would chase him he would jump in, and if the hog came in after him he would get in the deep water, dodge under it and come up behind and hold on until the hog would be drowned. This was great sport for he and his brother.
Later his father moved the family to Monroe (actually Monona) county, Iowa, near the town of Mapleton on the Sioux (actually Maple) river. This county was also new, with wild deer running the prairie; plenty of Indians lived there. My father, being curious as to how they lived, ventured inside their tepee one afternoon - when his two older sisters came hunting for him the squaw said he was not there; at the same time he was hiding beneath the big fur hide that she was sitting on. How the squaws did laugh; they though it a big joke to fool the girls. Another time when he was helping his father chop wood near the river, he managed to get hold of the two axes, and with one in each hand he swam across the Sioux (actually Maple) river with them. His father called angrily after him: "Good heavens, Elisha, you could have dropped the axes in the river." So my father, fearing that he might be punished, ran out in the bush and stayed until he thought it safe to return home. He still laughs about his dad being on one side of the river and his axes on the other.
At twelve years of age his mother died leaving 8 girls and 4 boys. Soon after that he was out doing for himself. At the age of 17, he and my mother Evalena McCleerey, 14 years old, eloped to Omaha and were married. They farmed in Iowa for several years they moved to western Nebraska, in Wheeler county on a preemption. It was then a very new country, the panthers prowling near the windows at night would scream like some woman in distress, then my father would hang a lighted lantern on the corner of the house and frighten them away. The scream of the bald eagle could also be herd and they come very close to the house in day time.
The settlers would have family gatherings in the evenings. My father often took his family and drove 10 to 15 miles in a wagon, then he would furnish the music by playing his accordion while the rest danced. They would et, sing a few songs then drive home in the wee hours of the morning.
Later my father located at Decatur, Nebraska, just 70 miles north of Omaha on the Missouri river, when the country was still new, mostly Indians lived there, the Omaha and the Winnebago tribes. They liked my father's friendly attitude and would greet him with a "How How Mr. Ball." He learned the way to stay friends with them was not let them get indebted to you. If they wanted to borrow from you, either sell or give it outright to them for if you ever asked one about a loan he would be your enemy.
For many years my father raised and shipped fat hogs and cattle to the Omaha market. He often took his family along for a week's stay in the city, which was a great treat for them. Racing horses horses was in sport at that time and he owned several. Tow, Bonnie Bun and Billy Dugan being great favorites of the family. He won many first and second purses and sweepstakes at different fairs in Nebraska and Iowa.
After the death of his wife and mother of his nine children he took six of the youngest at home and settled on his 320 acre homestead in Colorado where he farmed and bought and sold cattle and hogs.
In June 1910 he married Ellen(?) Bertha Paulsen, also a homesteader from Minnesota. They now live on their farm two miles east of Flagler. He will be 74 years old on May 6th, and still enjoys every minute of his life. His seven married children are doing fine in homes of their own, living in four different states, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and California. He has 45 grandchildren and 26(25?) great-grandchildren living.
My father's greatest enjoyment was rearing his family and still likes having youngsters around as they remind him of his own when they were growing up. He was always a kind, jolly father and made friends and he went. He does enjoy his many friends.
We all loved the Eastern Colorado plains and hope the new methods of farming will stop the wind erosion and everyone becomes prosperous and happy and feel the spirit of homesteading days as of old.
My father still enjoys playing his accordion and harmonica at the same time and when the water is warm his chief delight is swimming and diving. He will find his way to the pool like he used to when he was a boy - only he is not running away from his dad now, but swims on his own time.

Myrtle Ball Quinn
529 N. 3rd Street
Sterling, Colorado
(submitted by David Ball)

Elisha proved up two quarters in sections 3 and 10, 7S 50W in 1912.

E. E. Ball, early day settler in the Flagler country, was found dead in his car north of the John Bower place Sunday morning. He passed away while driving the car from town the evening before.
Mr. Ball stopped at the Bower place to get a cow. He started up the lane driving the cow ahead of the car. Mr. and Mrs. Bower noticed a little later that the car was standing by the road but decided that Mr. Ball was driving the cow home on foot and had left the car standing there. The next morning the car was still there and Mr. Bower took his car to drive to the Ball home to help him get his own car home. As he passed the standing Ford he glanced in and saw Mr. Ball slumped back in the seat dead. The car had gradually gone into the ditch and stalled while still in gear.
Funeral services were held from the Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Fred Isler, who has been supplied to the church since Rev. Peterson's illness, gave the sermon, assisted by the pastor. Opal and Ruby Wolfe, former neighbors of the deceased, sand several songs with Mrs. Fager at the piano. Interment was in the Flagler cemetery with the Shaw Mortuary in charge.
Elisha E. Ball was born May 6, 1864, in Franklin Co, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Ball, and was 76 years of age at the time of his death. When he was 6 years old, his father migrated with his family to Princeton, Mo., with two yoke of oxen. Later they moved to Mapleton, Iowa, near the Sioux River, a country that abounded with wild game and still inhabited by Indians. The mother died when Elisha was 12 years old leaving eight girls and four boys.
Mr. Ball was married to Evalena McCleery and they farmed in Iowa for several years before moving to Western Nebraska and later to Decatur, Nebr. The state was still the home of many Indians with whom he became very friendly.
After the death of Mrs. Ball he took six of the nine children and came to the Flagler country, settling on a homestead 17 miles northeast of here in 1907. In June 1910 he was married to Miss Bertha Paulsen who also homesteaded here. They have resided on their farm two miles east of Flagler ever since except for six years spent at Burlingame, Kans., for her health.
Mr. Ball learned to be an expert swimmer at an early age and like to demonstrate his ability every summer. Another hobby with him playing a "one-man ban" and training his collie dog with is shown with him in the accompaning picture. He was converted and baptized in the Baptist church when twelve years of age.
Besides his widow he leaves to mourn his loss seven children, Claude E. and Walter E. of Decatur, Nebraska, Steve of Osage City, Kansas, Mrs. Myrtle Quinn of Sterling, Colorado, Mrs. Elva Hutchens and Mrs. Edith Shon of Oakland, California, and Mrs. Eva Husku of Burlingame, Kans., and a brother Will Ball in Iowa. He also had 66(?) grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren which were his delight.
(submitted by David Ball)


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