My Genealogy Hound

HALL, PROF. SAMUEL F., residence, Sec. 27; P. O. Camp Point; was born in the city of Oswego, N. Y., on the 14th of November, 1838. He is the third of a family of five sons and six daughters. His parents were John Hall and Elizabeth (Maxwell) Hall, both born in Ireland, but reared in America, their parents having emigrated to this country when they were quite young. John Hall’s parents settled in New York, where he still lives, and engaged in farming. Elizabeth Max well’s parents settled in Canada, where she was living, when John having gone there for a time, formed her acquaintance, and married her. They settled in Livingston county, N. Y.; but soon removed to Oswego. After the subject of this sketch was born they returned to Livingston county, where his childhood years were spent on a farm. His mother died when he was 12 years old, and the home was broken up, and he worked about among the farmers in summer, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood in winter. At the age of 17 an aspiration was awakened in his mind for a more extended education than these rural schools afforded, and he resolved to go Nunda Academy for the purpose of fitting himself for teaching. When he reached the place his entire capital was $1.50, and no books with which to prosecute his studies. He went to the professor and stated the situation. He kindly offered to loan him books, and to wait for the tuition till he could earn the money to pay it. He entered school and cast about to find employment for leisure hours, by which to earn a living. He found people willing to encourage him in his efforts to acquire knowledge, by giving him jobs of sawing wood, and spading gardens. By the close of the term he had earned sufficient to defray current expenses, and pay tuition. He then taught a term, and thereafter alternated from student to teacher until he finished the academic course; but in the meantime that institution had burned, and he finished at Danville, under the tutorage of Dr. Seager, ex-President of Genessee College. Mr. Hall taught five years in his native State, and then came to Illinois and settled in Princeton in March, 1862. The second school he taught he took it on condition that if he succeeded in governing it he was to receive $40 per month, and, if he failed, he was to get nothing, — it being a notoriously bad school. The ruling price then was from $15 to $20 per month. He taught it that year and the next. While engaged in his chosen vocation he became acquainted with Artemisia Burroughs, daughter of Jefferson and Ziltha (Manchester) Burroughs, who was born in Wyoming county, N. Y., Sept. 13, 1841. She was a teacher, and is a lady of superior culture and amiability of character. Their friendship ripened into love, and they were married Sept. 8, 1861. They removed to Princeton, Bureau county, Ill., the next spring after their marriage; they both engaged as teachers in the schools of that place the following fall — he as principal, she as assistant—and retained their positions for five years. During these years the schools were visited by many of the leading educators of the country, and pronounced among the very best.

On the eve of the completion of the Maplewood High School building, at Camp Point (erected at a cost of about $30,000), through the recommendation of Prof. W. H. V. Raymond the local Board wrote to Mr. Hall, and entered into negotiations which resulted in his coming to that place and taking charge of their schools. He organized the schools upon the plan of a thorough graded system. The school grew rapidly in numbers and popularity under his efficient management, until now, in the tenth year of his superintendency, it ranks among the very first in the State, and has had as high as 500 pupils enrolled. He took charge of it in October 1867. At the end of five years he resigned his position and was chosen Superintendent of the Payson school, which position he held for two years, when, at the solicitation of the School Board of Camp Point, he returned to his former charge there. His proficiency as a disciplinarian and instructor is spoken of by leading educators in terms of the highest commendation.

Their marital union has resulted in seven children; six living: Louis A., born Nov.12, 1864; Nina B., born Nov. 1, 1866; Angie E., born July 12, 1869 (died Sept. 26, 1872); Maggie M., born Oct. 25, 1871; Edith E., born Feb. 26, 1874, S. Fred, Jr., born Oct. 7, 1875, and Bessie A., born Oct. 1, 1877.

Prof. Hall was unanimously nominated by the Republican party for County Superintendent of Schools, in 1877, which honor he peremptorily declined. He owns a nice home and eight acres of land just outside the corporate limits of the village.