My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM HALL was born in Wardsboro, Vt., August 17, 1793. He was the seventh of twelve children born to Wm. Hall and Abigail Pease.

Both his parents were natives of Massachusetts, and were characterized by great energy, industry and enterprise. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, holding the rank of captain.

Soon after he attained his majority he started for western New York, where several from his native town had already gone.

He passed his first winter in Chautauqua county, with his older brother James, who had already located in that part of the town of Carroll which is now Kiantone.

He at once began to make shingles, working far into the night with the frow and shave which were the tools then used, instead of the modern shingle-machine.

In the spring he took the products of his labor down the river to a southern market, and thus began his career as a lumber dealer, a business in which he was quite extensively engaged in later years.

In 1816 he came to Jamestown, which then contained less than a dozen families, and was for a time connected with the store and hotel of Elisha Allen.

In the year 1822 he bought of Nathan Kidder, for $300, the lot on the corner of Main and Third streets, where the Prendergast block now stands, on which was an unfinished frame building; this he completed and opened as a hotel, having entered into partnership with Solomon Jones, Esq.

In the year 1828 he removed to the south side of the outlet, where he had purchased a farm, but continued the business of a lumber merchant, buying large quantities of boards and timber, which he sold in southern markets.

In the year 1857 he bought of A. F. Hawley the building and lot on the southwest corner of Main and Third streets.

The building, which was of wood, having burned in 1860, he replaced it with a substantial brick structure now known as the Hall block.

He was identified with most of the various enterprises for improving the business facilities of the town in which he lived.

He was prominent in all efforts to secure railway communication with the outer world.

As director and vice-president of the Erie & New York City Railroad company, which is now merged in the N. Y., P. & O. Railroad, he spent much time and money in the prosecution of that enterprise.

He was a stockholder in the Dunkirk and Jamestown Plank-Road company.

He was also for a number of years a director in the Chautauqua County National Bank, and a stockholder in the Cane-Seat Chair company.

When already far advanced in years he entered into the project of building an alpaca-mill, an enterprise comparatively new in this country. This, from a business standpoint, was the greatest undertaking of his life. Although not the originator of the enterprise, it is safe to say no one contributed more to its success than he.

His knowledge, acquired by long experience in building, his sound judgment and energy, together with his capital, were all devoted to the success of the undertaking.

While yet a young man he attained the rank of colonel in the New York State militia, but being without military ambition, he soon resigned the office.

Although deeply interested in the politics of his country, as every good citizen should be, he had no sympathy with the methods of the politician, and having acceptably filled the office of town supervisor, his political ambition was satisfied.

Personally he was characterized by great physical strength, temperate habits (using neither liquor nor tobacco in any form), untiring industry, indomitable energy and perseverance and unswerving integrity; these, combined with prudence, economy and sound judgment, achieved for him a large measure of success as a business man.

He was a friend of education, of temperance, of human rights and religion.

He contributed liberally for the erection of houses of worship, and for the support of the gospel, and was always, when able, in his seat on the Sabbath, in the Congregational church.

He was greatly attached to his home and his friends, though not wont to make great demonstration of his feelings.

He was married, July 4, 1824, to Julia, daughter of Solomon Jones, Esq., by whom he had five children, three of whom, — William C. J., Clara M. and Elliot C., — together with his wife, survived him. He died July 6, 1880, having been a resident of Jamestown sixty-four years. His wife followed him to the grave January 18, 1888.

William C. J. Hall was born in Jamestown, N. Y., August 8, 1828; graduated from Yale college in 1851; was successively a civil engineer on the Atlantic and Great Western Railway, principal of the Ellington academy, and a druggist and chemist in Jamestown. In 1861 he entered the army as first lieutenant of a company of sharpshooters. He was appointed major of the 23d U. S. Colored Troops, and brevetted colonel. After nearly four years’ service he resigned on account of his health. He was for a time superintendent of the public schools of Meadville, Pa., and afterwards returned to Jamestown to engage with his father in the manufacture of worsted goods. He was a man of extensive knowledge, and his advice was sought on many different matters. He was a member of the faculty of Chautauqua university and professor of microscopy. He died October 30, 1887, leaving a wife and two children.

Clara M., wife of Rev. William A. Hallock, a Congregational minister not in active service in the ministry, now resides in Jamestown. They have two children.

Elliot C. Hall was born in Jamestown, N. Y., April 29, 1838; graduated from Yale college in 1862, and from Union theological seminary, New York, in 1865. After fourteen years’ service in the ministry he was called home on account of his father’s feeble health, and since his father’s death has remained in charge of his business affairs. Mr. Hall was married, July 24, 1867, to Tirzah S., daughter of Prof. E. S. Snell, of Amherst College, Massachusetts. They have three children, and occupy the family homestead.