My Genealogy Hound

F. M. HALL, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Danvers; was born in Todd Co., Ky., March 25, 1833; his father, Young Hall, came with his family to Illinois in 1835, and first stopped in Washington, Tazewell Co.; in 1836, he came to Stout’s Grove, McLean Co., where he engaged in running a saw and corn mill; his son secured to himself a good education for those days; he attended some two or three winters the academy at Stout’s Grove, under the direction of Rev. Cyrus Haines; he received his first certificate from Prof. C. P. Merriman and taught school the winter he was 19 years of age; the following spring, he began breaking prairie with an ox-team; before he was 20, he purchased 130 acres in Dry Grove Township, for which he paid $9 per acre; this he might have purchased two years before at $1 and $1.25 per acre; so successful was he in farming, that the first crop of wheat he raised paid for the land, the breaking and fencing included; he now owns 600 acres in McLean Co., requiring some fifteen miles of fencing to enclose it; Mr. Hall has been very successful in life, and attributes most of his money-getting to the successful handling of cattle; his life has been largely devoted to this branch of business; he was a personal friend and acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, having visited the latter at his home in Washington City; by an extended course of reading, he has kept himself posted on the leading topics of the day and is well versed in ancient and modern history; he has made two trips to Mt. Vernon, Washington City, and spent a week at the late Centennial. He was married in 1855 to Jane E. Barnard, of Illinois; has had eight children — James F., Lydia R. (wife of Bennett Swarely), Young M., Eva J., living; William, Eddie, Jesse, Ella, deceased. Has held the office of School Director.