It is painful to chronicle the decease of one who has been called from active service in the cause of God.
Elder Dexter A. Ball departed this life at Lockport, N. Y., on the morning of Feb. 12, 1906, of cancer of the stomach, being 55 years, 10 months, and 24 days of age. Elder Ball was born of poor parents. His father emigrated from Vermont and settled in Cattaraugus County, in southwestern New York, as early as 1826, where he cleared a large farm. Panthers, bears, and wolves were so numerous that sheep and cattle had to be herded at night to protect them. Elder Ball was the seventh of thirteen children. At an early age he worked for near-by farmers, and aided in the support of his father’s large family. He attended school during the winters.
In the summer of 1873, when working as a farm-hand near Sugartown, N. Y., through the power of the Holy Spirit he was converted, and united with the Baptist Church. Immediately after his conversion he felt impressed that he should preach the truths of the gospel, and began to do so as opportunity presented the occasion. In the latter part of 1874 he became acquainted with, and embraced the views of, Seventh-day Adventists. He immediately became active in promulgating his new-found faith, especially through the distribution of the printed page.
In due time he devoted his energies to preaching earnestly the truth in southern New York and in the State of Pennsylvania, as at that time the Pennsylvania Conference consisted of the State of Pennsylvania and a few counties in southwestern New York. He lived in New York. He raised up a number of churches.
In 1876 he united in marriage with Miss Martha Clark, a young school-teacher from New York who was teaching at the time at Roulette, Pa. To this union, in 1879, was born a daughter, now the wife of Elder R. F. Cottrell, at present the Bible teacher in the South Lancaster (Mass.) Academy. Sister Ball was a faithful wife and mother, and being earnest in the faith, was a great help to her husband. Her death occurred in the early part of 1901.
While laboring in the Pennsylvania Conference, he received a call from the Mission Board to open up work in the unentered field of the West Indies. He began labor in that field in 1890, and remained there until the spring of 1892, when failing health made it imperative for him to return. He was so poorly that it seemed doubtful whether he would live to reach home. At that time he had his first hemorrhage of the stomach.
He was the pioneer minister of our people in the West Indies. Brother William Arnold was the pioneer colporteur. He and Elder Ball went together to the islands. They distributed and sold a large amount of literature. Brother Arnold supported himself and paid his own expenses. Brother Ball’s profits on his book sales aided much in his support. He gave hundreds of sermons, and many embraced the truth, and the foundation was laid for success in the future of the work in that island field.
ELDER D. A. BALL
After his return from the islands, he regained to a great degree his health, and began work in the New York Conference. Since then he has worked incessantly not only in preaching, but in selling our books and obtaining subscriptions for our papers. He was a staunch supporter of our schools, publishing houses, and sanitariums. He personally sold hundreds of copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” to aid our schools.
In the latter part of 1902 he united in marriage with Sister Hattie M. Buckland, of Newfane, N. Y. She immediately engaged with him in his work, which he continued to within a short time before his death. He preached his last sermon in the latter part of December, 1905. During his rapid decline everything that a faithful, loving wife and daughter could do was done, but to no avail, as the deadly disease soon terminated his valuable life.
Elder Ball, through the blessing of the Lord, was a self-educated man. He was studious. He was well versed in the Bible, being able to repeat many parts of it, having read it through by course over thirty times. He wrote many articles on Biblical subjects, which appeared in his town paper, in Ellicottville, N. Y. The editor printed Brother Ball’s written comments on the entire book of Hebrews. Thus he presented the truth by pen as well as by voice.
Elders Peabody, Meleen, and Hicks, also Elder I. N. Williams, of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, were present at the funeral. As requested by the deceased, Elder J. W. Raymond and the writer conducted the funeral services, both at Lockport and at Ellicottville. The congregation at the family residence at Lockport on Tuesday afternoon, February 13, was large, consisting of friends and neighbors. After the service at Lockport we proceeded to Ellicottville, and on Wednesday forenoon our large meeting-house was well filled with his townsmen and relatives, who manifested every token of respect. The sermon by the writer and the remarks by Elder Raymond moved the congregation, and hearts were deeply affected as the promise of immortality, through Christ and the glories that shall characterize that life were dwelt upon. We then proceeded to Eddyville, and laid our beloved brother to rest in the family burying-ground until the Life-giver shall come.
He leaves a wife, a daughter and her husband, and six brothers and sisters, and a large circle of relatives to mourn their loss. It can be said truthfully of Elder Ball, He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, and there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness to be received by him when the blessed Master shall come. S. H. LANE.
