Wayne County

W.F. HALL

Submitted by Patricia Wilkey Gilstrap

Pat wrote:
This is transcribed by Pat from the "History of Wayne County, Illinois", illustrated, publ.by Globe Publishing, Historical Publishers, 183 Lake st., Chicago, 1884.

Mr. Hall's home was located in the Big Mound Township and his Post Office location was in Boyleston.


W.F. HALL farmer, P.O. Boyleston.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is descended from one of the earliest families that retired in Wayne County.

The subject was born on December 6, 1841, and is a son of David and Mary Ann (Day) Hall.

The grandparents, James and Jane (Chum) Hall, were probably natives of Alabama, (*Note:; 1850 census Wayne Co. Illinois gives No. Carolina as place of birth for James Hall and wife Jane (Chum) Hall. and settled afterward in Murray County, Tenn., where the father (David Hall, husband of Mary Ann (Day), was born November 16, 1818.  When the latter was about eight years old, the grandfather moved to Wayne County and settled on the south edge of Big Mound Township.  In that township he lived for upward of thirty years.  He next moved to Washington County and settled near Nashville.  There he ( Jas. Hall) remained two years, and then returned to this county and settled in Four Mile Township, where he lived until his death on September 1, 1864, the grandmother (Jane Chum Hall) having died some time in the year 1857.

The father (David Hall), b. 1818) grew to manhood in this county, and his schooling advantages were one month in an old subscription school.  He remained on the home farm until about eighteen, and then commenced life on a farm near where his father was then residing.  He afterward moved to his farm in Section 17, of Big Mound Township, where he is now residing.

On August 24, 1836, he was married in this county, to Mary Ann Day, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Frank and Hallie Day, who were also early settlers in this county.  This union resulted in thirteen children, of whom eight are now living, viz.: Hallie Jane (wife of Jesse Garrison), W.F. (our subject), J.S.C., Elizabeth (wife of G. Davis), Thomas, Margaret (wife of S. Farney), Rose (wife of C. Fankle), and Ida Bell.

Of this number, W.F. received his early education from a subscription school, but afterward, when the free schools had been established in his township, he attended a few terms there.  He remained at home with his father until about twenty.

In that time he had learned partially the trade of a carpenter, but did not get to follow it much.

In 1862, he went to Idaho, and remained there about one year.  He returned to this county and settled in the north part of Big Mound Township, and there remained until 1868.

He next came to his present farm, where he now owns about 180 acres, 100 of which are in Sections 17 and 20, and eighty acres in Sections 21 and 33, of Town 2 south, Range 7 east; 100 acres are in cultivation, and about three acres in orchard.

Mr. Hall was married in this county on April 7, 1868, to Emma Normon, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Garrison) Normon.  To this couple have been born six children, three of whom are now living -- Frances M., February 22, 1869, Nellie B., born October 24, 1878, and Walter S.,born July 30, 1881. Of the deceased ones, Charles D., born February 5, 1871, died January 5, 1873, Mary Ann, born February 14, 1873, died January 1, 1875, Chalon S., born May 2, 1871*, died October 2, 1879.

* this date incorrect, believe it is 1874.pwg

Subject has served as member of the County Board of Supervisors, Township Collector, Assessor and Highway Commissioner.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Hall is a Democrat.



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