Born in Athens, Vermont, his family moved to Iowa shortly after, where Ball received his early education.

After this he became a professor in the Utah Agricultural College, and commenced graduate work with Herbert Osborn as his mentor.

Specializing in the biology of leafhoppers and related taxa, he received his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1907.

[1][2] Ball went on leave from Iowa State to serve as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for two years, from 1920 until 1921.

Following this, he worked for the Florida State Plant Board, where he researched insect pathogens of celery.