The Hall Family

Parmer Hall in Past and Present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa

The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.

PARMER HALL.

Among the honored early settlers of the couu - ty who are uow living a retired life is Parmer Hall, a well known resident of Smithland who has borne an active part in the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. A native of New York, he was born July 22, 1831, on a farm in Jefferson county, which region at that time was considered new country. His father, Thomas Hall, was also a native of that county, where the grandfather, Sylvanm Hall, located at an early day. The latter was from New England, probably Vermont, and it is believed that he was either of Scotch, Scotch - Irish or English descent. He was a small man but very strong, Tiaving much endurance and being able to perform more hard work than the ordinary man. He was engaged in the manufacture of potash, which he would carry through the woods, a distance of twenty miles, to a little place now known as Champion, where he would sell it or exchange it for something that was needed at home. He found a ready customer in an old friend who had established a store and brewery at that place and who after- ward became judge of the new county. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nabbie

Hall, was of English descent and was known throughout the surrounding country as Aunt Nabbie. In their family were seven sons and six daughters, among whom were Egbert and Eliza, both .deceased ; Rollin ; Thomas, the fa- ther of our subject; Samuel, who was a carpen- ter of Missouri, where he died ; Gilbert and Pel- tier, who both died near the old home in New York ; Sylvanus, who died during his service in the Civil war; Mrs. Hannah Ellis and Mrs. Mary Blanchard, who died in New York; and Mrs. Liddy Hardy, who is now living in Indi- ana. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Ephraim Parmer, who died in California in 1890, at the age of eighty-seven years. His children were Fenner, John, Joel and Polly, all deceased ; Liddy, the mother of our subject ; Amelia, a resident of Indiana ; Orilla, deceased ; Noah, who is living in California at the age of eighty-one years; and Ephraim, who is liv- ing in Oregon at the age of seventy-five years. Our subject's parents were life-long residents of Jefferson county, New York, and although the mother died when Parmer was only four years old he still holds her in loving remembrance. She was a Quakeress. After her death the fa- ther married again and by the second union had one daughter, Mrs. Liddy Shufty, who liv^d in New York state. The father was never oiit • side his native county but once during his en- tire life. His second wife also died in New York.

Being left motherless at so early an age Parmer Hall had few advantages and was un- able to attend school but little. The nearest schoolhouse was three miles from his home. After his father's second marriage he did nol remain at home and was never under the pa- rental roof a month after he attained his tenth year. At a very early age he became depend- ent upon his own resources for a livelihood. He was the only child by his father's first mar- riage. Although his early life was one of hard- ship, he is, at the age of seventy-three years, a well preserved man, having the strength aid

Ml!. AND MRS. PABMEB HALT.

PAST AND l'i;i>

:v

mi

vitality of one aol over fifty. At the age of fourteen years he began working on the Erie canal as a driver and afterward as a bowsman and was thus employed for three years during the summer months, while during the winter Beason he worked in the pineries.

Mr. Hall finally decided to try his fortune in the west but though his lather said "Yon nol stay a year." it was thirty years before he returned east and then only when the intelli- gence came of his father's last illness. Tn the winter of 1855-6 he went to 1 hi Page county, Illinois, where he secured employment with a man for whom he had previously worked in New York. The following spring he came with several families to Iowa and was a resident of Monona county until the spring' of 1$.">S, at which time he remove,! to Smithland.

Tn the old Pacific House at Sioux City, March 4. 1858, Judge Campbell performed the marriage ceremony thai made Mr. Hall and .Miss Elizabeth Jane Adams man and wife. She is the eldest child of Elijah Adams and a sister of W. II. Adams, whose sketch appears mi another page of this volume. She was born in Boone county, Indiana, October 9, 1839, and in that state acquired the greater part of her education, being sixteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Iowa. She was a very good looking girl, blessed with excellent health and rosy cheeks, and was a good singer, although she had no opportunities for a musical education.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall began housekeeping on a farm belonging to he,- father near Smithland, Mr. Adams having removed to the village where he operated the first sawmill ever brought to the county, except perhaps one at Sioux City. This mill was put in operation by Hiram Smith and Nathan Baker in 1856 and was later sold to Mr. Adams. It was operated by steam pow- er. Here Mr. Smith was killed by falling on the saw and Mr. Adams had his left heel in- jured by the same instrument, crippling him for several rears but not disabling him. Mr.

and Mrs. Hall lived on several dill'erenl farms

near Smithland until November, L901, when they removed to the village, spending thirteen years just previous to their removal on the old Adams homestead where I hey began their married life. Mr. Hall now owns thai place,

11 1.,.

ing now occupied b so owns another l'arn all together two hu

d eigh

rjnto Mr. and Mrs. Hall were bom nine children, six sons and three daughters. Will- iam W., born December 25, 1858, operates the old Adams farm and owns an adjoining place. He was married November 7, 1889, to "Miss .Mary Ann Fox, of Canadian ancestry, and they have six children, Wanda, Lloyd, Vesta, Mar- ian, Russell and Evaline. Thomas A., born March 13, 1861, died September 5, 1886. Bertha R., born August 7, 1863, was married November 13, 1884, to Odes (i. Fnntin and they now live in Oregon. They bad four chil- dren, but Calla, the eldest, died at the age of six years. Those living are Parmer, Dean and Madaline. Louis X., born April 5, 1867, lives in Onawa, Iowa. He married Bertha Morgan, a daughter of Thomas Morgan, of Smithland, who is one of the early settlers of the county, and they have two children, Eddalee and Helen Elizabeth. Edith E., born March 10, 1870, was married November 29, 1894, to Anson Du- vel, of Quimby, Cherokee county, Iowa, and they have three children, Marcus, Dorothy and Ranald. Harry E., born October 4, 1873, died of pneumonia March 4, 1894. Nellie V., born August 26, 1878, was married October 1."., ls'.i:;, to Edward Wendell and they had one child, Bemadine. Fred P., bom February .">, 1882, is employed as a stenographer and type- writer in Sioux ( !ity. Mr. Hall has realized the advantages of a good education and has afforded his children the best opportunities along that line. At the age of sixteen his eld- est daughter won a silver cup as the best speller at a county contest under County Superintend-

ent A. R. Wright. Nellie, the youngest daugh- ter, attended the high school at Oto and the youngest son at Dennison, Iowa. The second daughter is a fine musician and has taught mu- sic, while Mrs. Wendell is also a pianist and all are good singers.

Mr. Hall's father was an old line Whig but our subject has been a life-long Democrat, of the Bryan type, believing in free silver, and he cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. His sons are all Republicans, however. He always attends the meetings of the Old Set- tlers' Association held at Smithland every year and can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life in this locality. In 1903 he erect- ed an elegant eight-room residence in Smith- land — the best in the town — and there he and his wife now reside. Although they now live alone in their well furnished and roomy house, their children and sixteen grandchildren find a hearty welcome there. Mrs. Hall has made a model wife and ideal mother and has reared a family of which she may be justly proud. The family honor is above question and "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." Mrs. Hall is a motherly woman, kind and benevolent and of unusual intelligence, and she enjoys the best of health, showing the rugged, sturdy pioneer stock from which she is descended.

Source: Past and Present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.