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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HERVEY HALL, a leading citizen and business man of Ripley, New York, is a son of Hervey and Sarah (Hull) Hall, and was born in Washington county, New York, town of Granville, February 15, 1812. His ancestors on both sides were natives of Connecticut, near New Haven. Here also was born his father, who in early life transferred his fortunes from that State to northern New York. Later he removed to the city of Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1863, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died a few years later at the age of ninety-two years. In his early life Hervey Hall was engaged in the mercantile business, subsequently became a large farmer, in connection with which, he ran a saw and wool carding and cloth dressing mill. Upon coming to Erie county, Pennsylvania, he purchased a large tract of land, of eight hundred and fifty acres, in which transaction he was unfortunate, as the title to the land was defective. Later in life he retired to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his death. His politics was that of the Whig and Democratic parties, in neither of which parties did he become an aggressive partisan. He was also a member of the Presbyterian church. To his wife were born twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity, two died in infancy and one at the age of fifteen years. His children were Hannah, married to George Hood (deceased) and is now living in Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, at the age of ninety years; Olive, married to John Hood (both dead); George, died in June, of 1890; Samuel H., a tanner and currier, living a retired life in Manchester, Iowa; Hervey, subject; Luther, dead; Sabrina, (deceased); John H., a physician, died in 1846; and Peter, living in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he is a physician and wholesale and retail druggist.

Hervey Hall was educated in the common schools and the academy at Waterford, Pennsylvania. He remained at home on his father’s farm until twenty-seven years of age, when he bought a farm in the town of Ripley, in 1839, and operated it until 1853 when he moved into the village of Ripley. His present business is that of private banker, though he is practically retired. He is a democrat in politics and served some time as supervisor.

In February, 1839, Hervey Hall was first united in marriage to Miss Lavina L. Baird, a daughter of Silas and Hannah Baird, one of the oldest families in Chautauqua county, This marriage resulted in the birth of two children: Louisa L., (died at the age of twelve years); and Alma, died in infancy. In February, 1872, he was again married, this time to Mrs. Elizabeth B. Norton (nee Evans).

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Chautauqua County, New York here: Chautauqua County, New York Map

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