1 A look into Healdsburg’s Marshals and Nightwatchmen From 1867-1899 Volume 1 2 Special Police Eldridge Boyd Ball Eldridge Boyd Ball was born in about 1844in Missouri to John W. Ball and Eliza Mary Miller. In 1852, he is found on the California State Census making his home in Solano County, California. On the 1st November 1864, he enlisted as a Private in Company F of the 7th California Infantry Regiment while living in Santa Rosa, California. On the 19th November 1865, he was discharged in San Francisco, California. In 1866, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Mendocino Township, Sonoma County, California working as a Blacksmith. When the 1870 Census was taken he is making his home in Cache Creek, Yolo County, California working as a Junior Blacksmith. In 1871, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Mendocino Township, Sonoma County, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1873, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Spring Valley, Colusa County, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1878, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Dayton, Butte County, California working as a Farmer. When the 1880 Census was taken he is making his home in Dayton, Butte County, California working as a Laborer. In 1882, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1886, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Vacaville, Solano County, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1888, he is found on the Voter Register making his home at 742 Tehama Street in San Francisco, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1892, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Selma, Fresno County, California. “Boyd Ball is now temporarily located in San Francisco.”1 “Boyd Ball returned to Healdsburg last week after a brief absence. He was the guest of San Francisco relations.”2 In 1896, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Healdsburg No. 1, Sonoma County, California working as a Blacksmith. In 1898, he is found on the 1 Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar 1st December 1892 2 Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar 29th December 1892 3 Voter Register making his home in Healdsburg No. 2, Sonoma County, California working as a Blacksmith. “Boyd Ball, who has been residing in Geyserville for some time past, has returned to Healdsburg.”3 “B. Ball, special police $3.00.”4 On the 4th August 1900, he passed away in Vacaville, California. Obituary 15 VACAVILLE, Aug. 4.— A shooting affray occurred to-day in the cardroom annex of the Elite Grillroom, resulting in the fatal wounding of Eldridge Boyd Ball by Jefferson Dobbins. Ball and Dobbins were playing cards for money. Ball had just won and was in the act of drawing the stakes toward himself, at the same time talking to Dobbins. Dobbins called Ball a liar, who in turn applied the same epithet to Dobbins. Dobbins arose from his chair with his hand in his front right pocket. Fred Pena, one of the witnesses, placed his hand on Dobbins' shoulder, saying, "Don't do that, Jeff," thinking he was about to draw a knife. Dobbins instead drew a pistol and fired two shots at Ball, who was still seated in the chair. One bullet struck Ball in the right shoulder, disabling that arm, and the other took effect in his abdomen. The latter bullet the doctors have failed to locate by probing. After the shooting Dobbins coolly walked out on the street and up to his room in the Opera-house building and locked the door. 3 Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar 16th February 1899 4 Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar 10th August 1899 5 San Francisco Call 5th August 1900 4 Deputy Sheriff Stadtfeld arrested Dobbins later and was obliged to force him into the carriage in waiting to take him to Fairfield. It is not expected that Ball will live through the night. Obituary 26 Vacaville, August 4. — A shooting affray occurred here today that will probably result fatally. Eldridge Boyd Ball, who has lived here for several years, was playing cards in a private room in John Burns’ saloon with Jeff Dobbins, son of a well- known rancher and a fruit-grower, Dr. W.J. Dobbins. A quarrel over the game caused the shooting. Dobbins tired two shots, one taking effect in Ball’s right shoulder, and the other entering the body below the heart. Robert T. Ball of this place received a telegram from Vacaville Monday saying that his brother died Sunday and was buried Monday and that current opinion blamed Dobbins. The young man who did the shooting is a brother of Mrs. D.D. Dodson of this place. Mrs. Dodson started on the delayed express Monday for Vacaville. Obituary 37 Eldridge Boyd Ball, for many years a resident of Healdsburg, was fatally shot at Vacaville Saturday. He was playing cards in a private room in a saloon with Jeff Dobbins, son of a well-known rancher and a fruit-grower of Vacaville. A quarrel over the game caused the shooting. Dobbins fired two shots, one taking effect in Ball’s right shoulder, and the other entering the body below the heart. Ball died Sunday morning from the effect of the wounds. He left a daughter, Mrs. Joe Baker, residing in Dry Creek Valley. 6 Red Bluff Daily News 7th August 1900 7 Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar 9th August 1900 5 Constable/Marshal William Perry Ball William Perry Ball was born in February 1843 in Missouri to Earl Ball and Clementine House. When the 1852 California State Census was taken he is making his home in Solano County, California. On the 1st July 1863, he registered for the Civil War Draft in Mendocino Township, Sonoma County, California working as a Wagon Maker. On the 1st September 1866, he married Mary Elizabeth Pickle8 in Sonoma County, California. When the 1870 Census was taken he is making his home in Cache Creek, Yolo County, California working as a Carpenter. In 1871, he is found on the Voter Register making his home in Mendocino Township, Sonoma County, California working as a Wagon Maker. “W.P. Ball was appointed to the office of Constable for Mendocino Township.”9 “On last Friday some tools were stolen from the blacksmith shops of Goddard & Skillman and Hendrick & Hicks. They consisted of hammers, braces, wrenches, etc. A man lately from Ukiah whose name is John Taggett, was suspected of taking the property, and Constable Ball went in search of him. He arrested Taggett Saturday morning near Windsor and recovered nearly all of the tools. At the suggestion of Judge Toombs. Mr. Taggett will suspend his petty larceny operations for the space of twenty-five days.”10 “A crowd of railroad hands had a “bit of a spree” at the Island Saloon last Monday. They took possession of the bar, beat the barkeeper and kicked him out. drank all the liquor, broke the bottles, and robbed the till of $13. They then went to their boarding-house, near Grant's and continued their deviltry. Their cook an Indian. was treated to a beating, but he succeeded in escaping to town. Constable Ball went over to the camp, but the rioters had disappeared.”11 8 Daughter of Christopher Jones Pickle and Susannah “Susan” Cook 9 Russian River Flag 18th May 1871 10 Russian River Flag 22nd June 1871 11 Russian River Flag 20th July 1871 6 “Wm. P. Ball is hobbling about with two canes--the effect of an accidental cut in the knee last Saturday with a hand ax.”12 In 1875, he is found on the Voter Register living in Analy, Sonoma County, California working as a Farmer. “Wm. Ball arrived in Healdsburg Tuesday from Chico. His appearance on our streets was somewhat of a surprise at first, but was partly explained by a glance at one of his arms which was held in a sling. Mr. Ball met with an accident to his arm as follows: A heavy team was attached to the engine to move its location, and he caught hold of the off fore wheel to assist in starting; the team, giving a “haw” pull, became suddenly frightened and running the other way brought the off wheel against the boiler, catching Mr. Ball’s arm and crushing it between the elbow and wrist, cutting and burning it and breaking one of the bones. Being thus disabled, he placed his machine in charge of his brother John and came home to his family. He will return, however, next Monday. He reports the weather cool at Chico, and all hands in good health and excellent working trim. Mrs. Hasbrouck and Mrs. Truitt, who accompanied their husbands, were in good health. There was not much work done during the heated term, and what sickness there had been was not caused by the sun so much as from drinking too much water. About twenty-five persons died, however, in the neighborhood of Chico during the hottest weather, mostly those of dissipated habits (a warning to excessive drinkers of alcoholic beverages). Fifteen horses died during the same time from the sun's heat, but would have been saved doubtless had head protections been used. Mr. Bill’s large machine threshes eight hundred sacks per day, and the small one seven hundred sacks in the same time. The whole tract of 25,000 acres will average fifty bushels to the acre; one field of ten thousand acres of Propher wheat stands five and a half feet high, and will average seventy-five bushels to the acre.