(1805?-1905) A black daguerreian, he reportedly first learned the process in 1845 from a photographer named John B. Bailey, in White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. An alternate source, relying on other secondary sources, places Ball and Bailey (also black), in Boston, Mass., in 1845.
In the same year Ball opened a studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the spring of the following year, penniless, he closed his gallery and moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and then to Richmond, Virginia, taking a job as a hotel waiter. When he accumulated a little money, he opened daguerreian rooms there.
In 1846-1847, he traveled as a daguerreian in Virginia and Ohio, and in 1847 opened Ball's Daguerreian Gallery of the West in Cincinnati, Ohio.
On New Year's Day, 1851, he opened a second gallery in Weed's building, on Fourth Street, between Main and Walnut, occupying rooms on three floors. This address was probably 28 W. 4th St. He did not appear in the individual directory listings. In 1851-1852 James P. Ball was listed as a daguerreian at 10 West 5th Street, and lived on Sycamore Street. He was also listed in partnership as Ball & Brothers at this address. J.P. Ball was also listed at 28 West 4th Street. In 1853 he was listed as a daguerreian at 28 West 4th Street, in the firm of Ball & Brothers, including himself, Robert and Thomas Ball. He remained with the firm until 1856.
About July 1, 1854, Robert G. Ball and James F. Ball dissolved their partnership. The reason given was that there was so much business they each needed to attend separate establishments. A wood engraving of the gallery was published in Godey's magazine, and Ball advertised he employed nine "artists" at his 28 West Fourth Street address.
In 1855, James P. Ball was listed alone as a daguerreian at 28 West 4th Street. In the same year, he published Ball's Splendid Mammoth Pictorial Tour of the United States
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He remained at the same business address in 1856, and opened a second gallery at 30 West 4th St. on September 18. He also traveled to Europe during this year, and returned about November 1. In 1856-1857 he was listed as daguerreian at the two addresses, in business as J.P. Ball & Co., with R. Harlan. He advertised he had recently added the second address, and offered ambrotypes, photographs and daguerreotypes.
About September, 1857, it was reported that Ball and Thomas (A.S.) had entered into partnership in the daguerreian business. In December, Ball was referred to as being "formerly" of Ball and Harlan.
In 1858-1859 Ball was listed in the firm of Ball & Thomas at 120 West 4th Street. He lived at the same address. One source indicated the firm started in 1852 and lasted until about 1874, with a second gallery in Hamilton, Ohio in 1866.
In 1859, Ball was listed at the same address. A newspaper notation in July reported Thomas was the "clerk" of Ball's Daguerreian Gallery, and that he had gone east with E. Ball, a noted artist and J.P. Ball's brother, to acquire daguerreian goods.
In 1859-1860, this was probably the same J.P. Ball listed as a daguerreotypist and ambrotypist in Lebanon, Ohio. In 1860 he was listed as a a daguerreian at the 120 West Fourth Street address. From 1862 to 1868 he was listed as a photographer at 30 West Fourth Street. In 1869 he was listed at 154 West 4th St.
In 1870 he was listed as a photographer at 160 West 4th Street. He added his son James P. Ball, Jr. to his employ.
Ads cited from the St. Paul Western Appeal newspaper, presumably of St. Paul, Minn. reflect the presence of J.P. Ball Sr. and J.P. Ball, Jr. in that area in 1887. In November, the pair aparently moved to Helena, Mont., where they were reported in 1894. In 1899 a newspaper notice recorded them back in St. Paul, having also been located in Minneapolis. By April, 1900, J.P. Ball Jr. was in Seattle, Wash, and expected his father to arrive soon from Montana. In June, 1901 a newspaper noted that J.P. Ball Sr. was about to visit Portland and then Arkansas' Hot Springs.