My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  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.

* * * *

EPHRAIM HERRICK HALL. By his energy and excellent judgment in the management of his affairs, Mr. Hall has acquired the ownership of a valuable farm in Pettis County. He came here in 1856, without means, but has succeeded in working his way to a position of influence among the progressive farmers of township 44, range 22. Besides the farm on which he resides, he owns two farms of one hundred and twenty acres each, one in Pettis County one and one-half miles from his present farm, well improved, and one in Benton County, partly improved. His residence, situated on section 17, was erected by himself in 1873, and is a substantial brick structure, conveniently arranged and tastily furnished. The brick for this he manufactured, and the foundation for the house he laid, doing the work so carefully and well that the walls have never cracked. The main portion is 20x40 feet in dimensions, two stories in height, and the remainder 20x40 feet, one and a-half stories high, the whole presenting an unusually attractive appearance.

In Erie County, N. Y., December 13, 1832, the subject of this notice was born to the union of Amos H. and Betsey (Adams) Hall. His father was a native of Erie County, and traced his ancestry to one of four brothers who emigrated from Ireland to America in an early day. The mother was born in Genesee County, N. Y. Prior to the age of eleven years our subject spent his entire time upon the home farm, but after that he was often away from home, being in the employ of neighboring farmers. His education was thorough in the common branches, but extended no further. Until he attained his majority his wages were turned over to his father, but after that he became independent.

Deciding to seek his fortune in California, Mr. Hall went to the city of New York for the purpose of taking ship, but the fare was so extremely high, and his parents so greatly opposed to the trip, that, changing his intention, he went to Peoria, Ill., where he took charge of his cousin’s farm of thirteen hundred acres. Two years were thus spent, and he then, with the money he had saved, came to Pettis County, Mo., in 1856, and purchased a half-section of land, for which he paid seventy-five cents per acre under the settlement and graduation act. Not having a sufficient amount of money to enable him to improve his property, he hired out to oversee the negroes on a plantation in Howard County, where he spent the winter. In the spring he entered the employ of a man who lived near his newly purchased land, and there he remained nine months. Later he worked at the trades of plastering, lathing and stone-edging, which he had learned in youth. In this way he made the money necessary for the improvement of his place. He also for a time worked at brick-making near Sedalia.

January 17, 1861, Mr. Hall married Miss Sallie Ann Moore, who was born in Cooper County, Mo., on Christmas Day of 1830, being the daughter of Thomas and Lucinda (Durrill) Moore. Her ancestors were residents of North Carolina, whence her grandparents moved to Missouri and settled in Cooper County in an early day. Receiving a common-school education, she has added to this by careful reading, and is intelligently conversant with the topics of the day. Her only living child, William Ira Hall, was born April 15, 1864, in the house first erected by our subject on the present farm. He attended the common -schools and Sedalia University, and is a well informed young man, a stanch Republican, and the frequent representative of his party in political conventions. Four sons and a daughter (including a set of triplets, two boys and a girl) died in infancy.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Hall settled upon his present place, and here he was residing at the time of the Civil War. He was a strong Union man, and put in the first ticket for Abraham Lincoln in his voting precinct. His home was often disturbed by raiders, and at one time he was taken prisoner by the Confederate State Guard, but was not held long, notwithstanding the fact that he did not yield to them in any particular. His second purchase of land was forty acres of timber, and he has added thereto until he now owns four hundred and forty acres.

As may be inferred from what has been said above, Mr. Hall is a Republican in politics, and is a man who always has the courage of his opinions, though at the same time he is sufficiently conservative to read and study both sides of the great issues of the day. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, and has held various offices in his lodge. He was made a Mason at Hickory Point, Pettis County, and has been an interested and active member of the order for many years. E. D. Baker Post No. 68, G. A. R., at Green Ridge, also claims Mr. Hall as one of its members.

* * * *

This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pettis County, Missouri family biographies here: Pettis County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.