" Spencer D. Ray was born at Hinesburg, Vt., Dec. 18, 1828, and died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Lewis C.F. Ball, at 9:00 o'clock this evening, aged 80 years 6 months and 17 days. He came to Potsdam when he was about 25 years old and his residence here has been continuous. He married a step-daughter of Philmon K. Brown (who with his wife (Mary Ann died March 27, 1864) is also buried in the same lot, he was at one time a farmer and later a cooper, he died Sept 18, 1887). He has been a useful citizen and has done his part well. Some time ago he suffered a partial stroke of paralysis which made it very difficult for him to walk. We shall never see him slowly wending his way to the store again on his crutches. I wish that we might all leave as good a record"
Grave of Mary Ann Brown, Louisa Ray's Mother
Grave of Philmon K. Brown, Louisa Ray's Stepfather
Philmon and Mary Ann Brown's names on the family headstone
Brown, Ray, and Ball Family Headstone
Spencer Ray's Gravestone
Louisa Ray's Gravestone
Spencer and Louisa's names on the family headstone
Bertha Ray was born Jan 14, 1861 to Spencer and Louisa. On October 24, 1883 Bertha Ray married Lewis C. Ball. In 1885 or 86 they had a son named Ray Lewis Ball. Sadly in January of 1897 Ray died. Here is his obit from the Jan 8, 1897 issue of one of the local newspapers:
"Master Ray Lewis Ball died at his home on Pierpont Avenue Thursday afternoon at 2:30 after a very brief illness of bullous fever, aged 11 years and six months. Funeral Services will be held at the house probably Saturday afternoon. Burial at Bayside. Ray was taken sick on New Years day, and was seriously ill from the first. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their afflications."
Ray Ball's Gravestone
Lewis C. Ball died Dec 28, 1934. Here is obit from the Jan 2, 1935 issue of the Ogdensburg Journal :
" Potsdam, Dec 31-This village lost one of its prominent citizens and a past public official with the death Friday noon of Lewis C.F. Ball, mayor of the village about 25 years ago and retired shoe merchant. Mr. Ball had been in ill-health since he suffered a fall on Mar 1, 1932, on the steps of the postoffice building. At that time he received treatment at the local hospital for a period of six months. Mr. Ball was 83 years old.
Ex-Mayor Ball was born in East Aurora on Jan 13, 1851, the son of Snyder A. and Frances Johnson Ball, and until he came to this village in 1883, was a traveling salesman for a Boston shoe concern. On Oct 24, 1883 he married Miss Bertha Ray of this village, daughter of Spencer and Louise Lyon Ray. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.C. Darling, pastor of the Methodist Church.
During the same year Mr. Ball opened a retail shoe store in the Ives block, later moving to a store at the corner of Elm and Market Streets. He conducted his shoe business for 43 years, retiring eight years ago and immediately assuming new duties as custodian of the Masonic Temple. He performed his duties there for six years, until his injury forced him to retire.
At that time Mr. Ball was standing on the steps of the postoffice when a revolving door caught him and threw him down the steps, fracturing his hip. The injury he sustained at that time was a contributing factor to his death at his home, 7 Pierpont Avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. Ball had two children. A son, Ray was born in 1907 (mistake) and died at the age of 12 years. Besides his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Helen McKay of San Antonio, Tex., who has been visiting her parents in Potsdam, survives.
The former official was a member of the local Masonic Lodge and of the St. Lawrence Chapter, No. 24 RAM, and held the office of Sentinel for a period of five years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, whose pastor, Rev. William J. Prout, officiated at the funeral services Sunday afternoon at 2 at the home. Burial was made in Bayside Cemetery."
Lewis Ball's Grave
Bertha followed Lewis to the grave on April 13, 1937. Here is her obit from the April 16, 1937 issue of the Potsdam Herald Recorder:
"Mrs. Bertha Ray Ball, widow of the late Lewis C.F. Ball, one time mayor of Potsdam, and for many years in the shoe business here, died at her home in Pierrepont Ave., Tuesday morning after a long illness.
Mrs. Ball was born in Potsdam, January 14, 1861, a daughter of Spencer D. and Louisa Lyons Ray, natives of Vermont. On Oct. 24, 1883, she was married to Mr. Ball by Rev. J.C. Darling then pastor of the Methodist church in this village. Up to this time Mr. Ball had been a shoe salesman on the road but that year he opened a retail shoe store in the Ives Block on Market street, later occupying the Raymond block store corner of Market and Elm streets and successfully operated this store for 43 years, retiring about 1926 when he became custodian of the Masonic Temple. About 27 years old he was elected mayor of this village.
In March 1932 Mr. Ball was injured in a fall on the post office steps in which his hip was fractured and from which he never recovered. He died Dec 28, 1934.
Mrs. Ball was a woman of pleasing personality and devoted to her home and family.
A son, Ray Ball, born to Mr. and Mrs. Ball in 1907 (again a mistake) died at the age of twelve years; a daughter, Mrs. Scott McKay of San Antonio, Texas, survives.
Funeral Services were held at the home, Thursday afternoon, Rev. W.J. Prout of the First Presbyterian church officiating with internment at Bayside."
Bertha Ball's Grave
