The Hall Families of Montgomery County, Ohio

JOHN A. HALL, carriage painter, was born in Miamisburg, Ohio, his present place of residence, December 26, 1846, and is a son of Jeremiah and Anna M. (Thompson) Hall, both natives of the Buckeye state and of German and English (Quaker) descent, respectively. His paternal grandfather, William Hall, was a pioneer of Ohio and was for many years a blacksmith in Miamisburg, where he passed his latter days. The maternal grandfather of John A. Hall was a farmer of Butler county, Ohio.

Jeremiah Hall, father of John A., was a machinist by trade and was reared in Miamisburg. During the late Civil war he served as a member of company E, Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, going out as corporal, and for meritorious conduct and bravery in the face of the enemy was promoted successively to be sergeant, lieutenant and captain. After serving four years and six months he was honorably discharged and returned to Miamisburg, where he resumed his trade and followed it until 1894, when he retired to the soldiers’ home, near Dayton, Ohio, where he is quietly passing his declining years.

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After returning from the army, John A. Hall served an apprenticeship of three years at the painter’s trade in Cincinnati with C. W. Miller. He worked for eight years at this vocation in the railroad shops at Zaleski, Vinton county, Ohio, and then for two years with the Bookwalter company, of Miamisburg. He next located at Columbus, Ohio, where he passed ten years, of which time two years and a half were spent as a guard at the state prison and the remainder of the time in working at his trade for the Columbus Buggy company. Since 1895, he has lived in Miamisburg in the employ of the Enterprise Carriage Manufacturing company.

Mr. Hall has been twice married. His first wife was Ada, daughter of Charles and Matilda Gist, of Zaleski, Ohio, and to this union were born four children — Charles J., Jeremiah C., Alice M. (Mrs. Milton Dutcher), and John B. His second marriage was with Miss M. Elenora Scothorn, a daughter of William J. and Lydia (Long) Scothorn, of Jackson county, Ohio, and this union has been followed by the birth of five children, viz: Arthur, Newton, Edward, Mabel and Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally Mr. Hall is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., K. of P. and the G. A. R. In politics he is a republican and socially stands high in the esteem of the inhabitants of his native city of Miamisburg, having, beside, many warm friends in the various other towns in which he has passed so many years of his useful life.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN JAMES HALL.

John James Hall has for some years engaged in the abstract and title guarantee business, while various other interests have also felt the stimulus of his energy and determined business policy. He was born in Dayton, August 7, 1860, and spent his youthful days in the acquirement of an education in the parochial schools, but at the age of fourteen put aside his text-books to provide for his own support, his first employment being in the office of the recorder of Montgomery county, where he occupied a clerical position until eighteen years of age.

In 1894, in partnership with Edward T. Hall, he established an abstract business, in which he has continued until the present time. He soon became recognized for his accuracy, promptness and reliability — qualities which have secured for him a liberal patronage. He has not confined his efforts alone to one line, however, but has sought out other profitable fields and various enterprises have been benefited by his cooperation and sound business judgment. He is now the president of the Phillips House Hotel Company; president of the Miami Land & Title Company; president of the Dayton Saw Mill & Lumber Company; vice president of the American Loan & Savings Association; president of the Enid (Okla.) Development Company; a director in the Enid Street Railway Company; a director in the Dayton Breweries Company; and vice president of the Dayton Street Railroad Construction Company. Llis investments have been judiciously placed and his interests now cover a wide range, so that his financial returns are substantial. In business affairs he manifests sound judgment and keen discrimination being rarely, if ever, at fault in his judgment concerning the value of a situation or its opportunities. He is also connected with the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and is thus allied with many movements for promoting the welfare of the city.

In 1883 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hall and Miss Jennie Crowe, of Dayton, and they now have two children, Adelaide M. and Robert J. Mr. Hall belongs to St. Joseph Catholic church and in politics is a democrat, but not active in the work of the party. He has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and as he has felt that experience has developed his powers he has extended his efforts into various lines and is today recognized as a valued factor in the commercial and financial circles of the city.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD T. HALL.

Various business interests claim the attention and profit by the energy and keen sagacity of Edward T. Hall, who perhaps is best known, however, in connection with the abstract business. One of Dayton’s native sons, he was born November 22, 1863, and his youthful days were here passed, his time largely being given to the acquirement of an education in the parochial schools until he reached the age of fifteen years. Since that time he has been in the business world. Lie first entered a law office in Dayton, where he remained until 1894, or for a period of fourteen years, keeping books and abstracting titles. His long experience gave him thorough knowledge of the business and in 1894 he gave up his position to join his brother, John J. Hall, in the abstract business.. They have since continued in this line and in the fifteen years which have since come and gone have secured a very extensive clientage, the firm sustaining an unassailable reputation for reliability. Mr. Hall is also the treasurer of the Phillips House Company of Dayton, and realizing the opportunities offered in the growing southwest he directed his energies to Oklahoma and became secretary of the Enid Development Company, which is one of the important features in the upbuilding and substantial improvement of one of the enterprising towns in that newly created state. He is likewise secretary of the Enid City Railway Company and secretary of the Thomas Real Estate Company. Other interests of Dayton, too, have claimed his attention and he is now director of the Dayton Saw Mill & Lumber Company and a director of the Dayton Street Railway Company. Preeminently a man of affairs he has wielded a wide influence in business circles and enjoys the entire confidence and respect of his colleagues and associates.

Mr. Hall's study of political questions has led him to the belief that his views are mostly in harmony with the principles of democracy, yet he is not active as a party worker. Pie belongs to St. Joseph’s Catholic church. His marriage was celebrated September 30, 1890, in this city, when Miss Margaret G. McGrath became his wife. They now have two children, James E. and Edward W. Throughout his entire life Mr. Hall has resided in Dayton and that his record is a creditable one is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those ’who have known him from boyhood to the present time. He is a man of well balanced mind, even temper and conservative habits, nor is he lacking in that enterprise which leads to great accomplishments.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

VORUS E. HALL, member of the John F. Hall Coal company, of Dayton, Ohio, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 2, 1861. His parents were John F. and Amanda (Stevenson) Hall, the former a native of England, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Isaac, VorusE.,

William, Charles, Frank and Nettie.

John F. Hall came from England to the United States in 1836, landing in New York and remaining there for two years. In 1838 he came to Ohio, locating in Jackson county, and was there engaged for many years as a miner and shipper of coal. He was a man of enterprise, with correct business methods, upright and honorable in his dealings with his fellow-men. His death occurred in January, 1895, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His wife still lives in Jackson, the county seat of Jackson county, where she and he had lived for so long, and where she now has many friends, who well remember Mr. Hall as a consistent Christian and as a firm supporter of the Christian church of that place, of which he was a deacon for many years, and of which Mrs. Hall is still a member.

The paternal grandfather of Vorus E. was a native of England and was born, lived and died in Derbyshire. The maternal grandfather, Isaac Stevenson, was a native of Pennsylvania, and the son of a German. An early settler in Jackson county, he endured all the hardships and trials of pioneer farm life; but being of a remarkably strong constitution, he lived to be ioi years of age.

Vorus E. Hall was reared in Jackson county, and educated there in the district schools. Early in his youth he began to work with and for his father, and when he became of age was given by his father an interest in the business in which he was engaged. Ever since then he has been engaged in the coal business, traveling for his father for the eight years preceding 1892, in which year he came to Dayton and took charge of the office here. He and his brothers constitute the company of which he is president. This company gives employment on the average to about 500 men. The Dayton office was opened September 2, 1892, and other agencies are located at Toledo, Detroit and Ironton. On September 12, 1895, the Dayton office was made general headquarters, and since then the business has been transacted mainly from this city.

On December 25, 1882, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Hannah Griffith, daughter of Daniel and Mary Griffith. To. this marriage have been born four-children, as follows: Annie, Frederick, Gracie and McKinley. Mr. Hall is a member of Salt Lake lodge, No. 416, I. O.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Well known in local political circles and in business lines as well, Warren Hall, who has served as a member of the board of public safety of Dayton, is now acting as manager of the repair department of the Dayton Motor Car Company. These interests claim the greater part of his attention yet he is also known in other connections which go to produce a well rounded development.

He was born on a farm in Butler township, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 15, 1858, and his youthful days were devoted to the duties of the schoolroom and the labors of the fields. Lessons of industry and perseverance were early impressed upon his mind. At the age of seventeen years he came to Dayton to enter the Miami Commercial College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1877. He then entered the employ of the Stoddard Manufacturing Company, with which he has since been connected. The business has since been reorganized, however, and his official connection is that of manager of the repair department of the Dayton Car Company. Mr. Hall has also been well known for a number of years in political circles and once served on the city board of elections, while in March, 1906, he was appointed by Governor John M. Pattison on the board of public safety as a republican. He served until August 1, 1909, in this capacity, proving capable and efficient in the discharge of his duties. He is recognized as one of the strong and effective workers in the ranks of the republican party in Dayton and stands for all that is progressive in citizenship.

On the 3d of October, 1888, Mr. Hall was married in Xenia, Ohio, to Miss Minnie F. Fleming, and they have three sons and one daughter: Herbert F., Gaines P., Kenneth A. and Margaret N. The parents belong to the First United Brethren church and are well known socially, the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city being freely accorded them.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Electricity in all of its adaptable qualities is such a comparatively new element in the working forces of the business world that it seems astounding when one causes for a moment to consider what has been attempted and accomplished through its dynamic power. There is, however, no hamlet or village so small in all America that has not felt the benefit to be derived therefrom. Mr. Hall is numbered among those who are putting this force to practical use in carefully managed and capable directed business enterprise, being now at the head of the William Hall Electric Company of Dayton.

While Mr. Hall has been almost a lifelong resident of Dayton another of the metropolitan centers of the state was the place of his nativity. He was born in Cincinnati in 1860 and in 1865 was brought to Dayton where his youthful days were passed. He obtained his education as a public-school student, continuing his studies until fifteen years of age when he became connected with electrical work and throughout the entire period of his business life has continued in this line. Undoubtedly one of the strong factors of his success is the fact that he has continued in the same department of labor in which he embarked as a young tradesman. In 1883 he began business on his own account and in 1905 the enterprise was incorporated under the name of the William Hall Electric Company, Mr. Hall becoming president. The concern occupies a prominent place in this department of labor, having a well equipped plant and a corps of competent employes under the able direction of Mr. Hall and his associates who are well versed in the business. He is thoroughly familiar with electrical work from both the practical and the scientific standpoint and is thus competent to judge the worth of an employe or to compute the cost connected with the execution of any contract.

In regard to the interests outside of business which constitute forces in the life of the American citizen Mr. Hall is a democrat, although not active in party ranks, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. In the latter he has taken the degrees of the Commandery and the Consistory and with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine has crossed the, sands of the desert. He is in hearty sympathy with the beneficent spirit of the craft and its recognition of the truth of universal brotherhood. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is recognized as a dependable man about whom there is nothing minister or anything to conceal and who, on the contrary, is ready to meet any obligation of life with a confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability and right conception of things.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Keppele Hall, a contracting engineer of Dayton, whose thorough preparation for his profession, combined with his unfaltering energy, has brought him to a creditable position in business circles, was born in Newark, New Jersey, on the loth of June, 1872. A year later his parents removed to Trenton, New [jersey, where they resided until 1898. In the meantime the son began his education in the public schools and continued his studies in the State Normal and Model School, from which he was graduated in 1889. Splendid educational facilities were offered him, for after leaving that institution he had the privilege of attending Princeton University, where he completed the four years’ course by graduation in 1893, while subsequently he pursued a post-graduate course in electrical engineering, there continuing for a year.

After winning his degree of electrical engineer, Mr. Hall opened an office and remained in Trenton until 1897. He then went to New York city with the Western Electric Company, accepting a position in its electrical laboratory. After spending three years there he went to Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1900 as manager of the Shore Electric Company and the Seabright Electric Light Company. He remained at Red Bank until 1902 and then came to Dayton as consulting engineer for the National Cash Register Company, which position he filled for four years or until 1906, when he began an engineering contracting business on his own account under the name of the Keppele Hall Company. In 1908 the business was reorganized as the Hall-Cronan Company, of which Mr. Hall is the president. This is now one of the profitable concerns of the character in Dayton, the ability of the partners gaining for them first rank in professional circles.

In 1896 Mr. Hall was united in marriage in Trenton, New Jersey, to Miss Fanny Southard Hay, a daughter of Malcolm Hay, of Pittsburg, who was the first assistant postmaster general under Cleveland’s first administration and died while filling that position. Mr. Hall belongs to the Dayton City Club, the Buzfuz Club, the Dayton Country Club and to Christ Episcopal church — associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests. In politics he is independent and does not seek office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon a business for which he has splendidly qualified by educational training and in which he has made steady advance, occupying a prominent place in professional circles.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.