He had a common school education that he got from short times at winter with a local clergyman when his father would let him leave his tough labors at the farm.

When William Powers died Deborah continued to run the factory and hired Ball as foreman who at that point left his law practice.

[2][3] In the spring of 1833 McLoughlin tried to convince the American to continue running the school, but Ball desired to begin practicing agriculture.

[3] Ball and a friend departed in March to the Salem, Oregon area and temporarily resided with retired HBC employee Jean Baptiste Depatie McKay.

[3] To afford passage back to the United States of America, Ball sold his wheat crop to McLoughlin to travel aboard a HBC vessel, the Dryad.

He opened a law office and partnered with, among others, the George Martin, formerly Chief Justice of Michigan and Solomon Lewis Withey, late United States District Judge.