The Biographical Dictionary of America/Ball, Thomas Henry

BALL, Thomas Henry, representative, was born at Huntsville, Texas, Jan. 14, 1859; son of Thomas Henry and Maria O. Ball; grandson of David Ball, and a descendant of Joseph Ball, father of Mary Ball, who was the wife of Augustine Washington and mother of George Washington. He was graduated at Austin college, 1876, and then worked on a farm until 1878, when he entered the mercantile business. He was mayor of Huntsville, 1884-'88, and upon his retirement studied law at the University of Virginia, where he was elected president of the law class; was admitted to the bar in 1889 and practised in Huntsville, Texas. He was a Democratic representative from the first district of Texas in the 55th, 56th 57th, and 58th congresses, 1897-1905, having been nominated by acclamation.