Edward Ball (businessman)

Edward Gresham Ball was an American businessperson. He was a powerful figure in business and politics in Florida for decades, despite the fact that he never held public office and did not own the assets he controlled. He worked for and with his brotherinlaw, Alfred I. du Pont for nine years before running the Alfred I. duPont Testamentary Trusts businesses by himself for another 46 years. He led the St. Joe Company to become a major player in several industries in Florida.

Edward Ball was born at Balls Neck in Northumberland County, Virginia and educated in the oneroom Shiloh Schoolhouse. After completing primary school, he convinced his father to let him quit school and get a job. He had always been obsessed with making money at one time, he prospected for gold in Alaska. However, when Balls older sister, Jessie Ball became the third wife of Alfred I. du Pont in 1921, Edward was given the chance of a lifetime. He began working for his brotherinlaw in 1923 at the lofty salary of 5,000 a year, and moved to Delaware where he was publicly named manager of the Clean Food Products Company. Privately, he was Mr. du Ponts confidential business partner and became a shrewd financier and caretaker of the du Pont de Nemours estate fortune. After Jessie amp Alfred moved to Florida in 1926, Edward joined them.

Source: Wikipedia