HALL, David
David HALL. The splendid farm of two
hundred and fifty-four acres on section 2, Evans township, owned
by this gentleman, is a standing monument to his industry,
enterprise and good management. He comes under the category of a
self-made man, as on coming to Marshall county his capital
consisted of but forty-seven dollars, and has succeeded only by
the exercise of steady, plodding labor. At present, however, he
is on e of the prominent representative agriculturists of the
locality.
Mr. HALL was born December 18, 1833, in
Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, of which county his
parents, Isaac and Nancy (MORRISON) HALL, were also natives. The
paternal grandfather, Joseph HALL, came to this country from Scotland,
while the maternal grandfather, Francis MORRISON, though born in
this country was of English and Scotch descent. The latter was a
seventh son, followed the sea during his active life and lived
to the extreme age of one hundred and four years. His wife was
the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. The parents of our
subject always made their home in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in
farming, and where worthy members of the Methodist church. In
their family were eleven children, all still living with the
exception of two. In order of birth they are as follows: David,
Hannah, Rachel, Sabina, Andrew, Olive, Isaac, Eliza Ann, Julius,
deceased, Nancy, and William Ambrose, deceased. Andrew was one
of the brave boys in blue during the civil war.
At the age of eighteen years, our subject
left the home farm in Pennsylvania,
coming to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1851, and for two years worked
on the Illinois Central railroad. It was in 1853 that he married
Elizabeth SMITH, a native of Washington
county, Pennsylvania, and a
daughter of Asbury P. SMITH, who settled in Evans township about
the same time as our subject. For about five years he lived upon
his father-in-law’s farm, and in 1859 was called upon to mourn
the loss of his wife, who died leaving two sons – Will Emmett,
who married Josephine FOSTER, by whom he has five children, and
now lives in California; and Robert C., of Wenona, who married
Addie RYDER, and has two children.
In 1858, Mr. HALL located upon his present
farm, which at that time was nearly all wild land, but he at
once began its improvement and cultivation, and now the entire
tract has been placed under the plow. The buildings there found
have been erected at a cost of eight thousand dollars, and the
land is all now fenced and tiled. The cereals which he raises
are principally corn and oats, he handles a great deal of hay,
and also gives considerable attention to the raising of horses,
cattle and hogs, having for a number of years imported French
draft horses upon his place.
Mr. HALL was again married in 1861, his
second union being with Miss Augusta JONES, a daughter of
Augustus and Elizabeth (PARKS) JONES, who were among the first
settlers of La Salle county, but later became residents of
Marshall
county. Nine children were born to our subject and his estimable
wife – Fannie, wife of George MERRITT; Ross Orville, deceased;
Katie and Susie, twins, the former the wife of Harrison WHITNEY,
by whom she has one son; Reuben; Lura, deceased; Samuel, Nellie
and Jennie.
A firm supporter of our public school
system, Mr. HALL has served for eighteen years as school
director, and gives his aid to every worthy enterprise
calculated to promote the welfare of his fellow citizens. He
donated the land upon which the school house of district No. 3
was erected. In politics he affiliates with the republican
party, and religiously, Mrs. HALL is an earnest member of the
Methodist church. Both are highly esteemed and respected members
of society, and enjoy the confidence and regard of all who know
them.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois,
1896.
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