In 1886, Ball and his wife emigrated to Canada, settling north of Toronto in an area then known as Davisville.

In the mid-1890s, he began to work as a journalist for the Toronto World newspaper, and remained with the paper until it terminated operation in 1921.

In 1915, Ball was elected as an Alderman for the city of Toronto for Ward 2 (Cabbagetown and Rosedale), a position he held until 1919.

He and his wife were the parents of six children: Edith Elizabeth (Mrs. Frank Stocker); Ernest George Henry; Herbert Eldridge; Winnifred Mildred (Mrs. Cecil H. Knowlton); Hilda Marion (Mrs. Oliver W. Elmore); and Colston Robert Ball.

Herbert Henry Ball was the great-great-granduncle of English football goalkeeper Mike Hooper.