The Hall Families of Wapello County, Iowa

WALTER T. HALL.

Walter T. Hall is at the head of one of the most important productive industries and business enterprises of Ottumwa, being senior partner in the confectionery manufacturing firm of Walter T. Hall & Company. Under his direction and capable management this business has grown steadily from a small beginning to one of extensive proportions and is a source of benefit and profit to the city as well as to the individual stockholders.

Mr. Hall is a native of Wapello county, and his record is one in which his fellow townsmen feel pride. His birth occurred in 1857, upon the old home farm ten miles north of Ottumwa, his parents being James and Evelyn (Worley) Hall, both of whom were natives of Ohio, born near Portsmouth. The Hall family came from England and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of Walter T. Hall. The Worley family is of German lineage and both families were established in Ohio during pioneer times. It was in 1823 that Evelyn Worley was born and in early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to James Hall. In 1853 they left that state for Iowa and established their home upon the farm in Wapello county upon which occurred the birth of their son Walter. There the father carried on general agricultural pursuits for five years, or until 1858, when his life's labors were terminated in death. His widow continued to reside upon the farm for many years and then removed to Quincy, Illinois. She afterward returned to Ottumwa, however, in 1880 and now resides in Agency with a daughter. She is a well preserved woman of ninety-one years, having excellent health for one of her age, while her mind is clear and bright. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born four children: Victoria, now deceased; Carrie, the wife of F. C. Byers of Summerville, Oregon; Julia, the wife of John Connelly of Agency. Iowa; and Walter T.

The last named remained upon the old home farm until ten or twelve years of age, when he accompanied his mother to Quincy and there resided until January, 1880. He then returned to Ottumwa, where he has since made his home. His education was completed by a high-school course in Quincy, and early in his business career he entered the employ of T. H. Mason & Company, manufacturers of baking powder, extracts, spices, etc. He removed to Ottumwa to enter business with H. M. Cockerill under the firm name of Cockerill & Hall, manufacturers of and wholesale dealers in baking powder, extracts, teas and spices. Their business proved a growing one and the partnership was continued until 1885, when Mr. Hall purchased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor, conducting the business alone until 1890, when he was joined by his brother-in-law, W. S. Vinson, while in 1892 J. W. Coen was admitted to the firm and remained a member for about three years. The last named had been with the house as traveling salesman for a number of years.

At the time the firm of Cpckerill & Hall was dissolved Mr. Hall began the manufacture of candy, of which that firm had been jobbers for a few years. He started the manufacturing business in a two-story building on Third street. His trade grew steadily and in order to meet the demands of the business he added other space from time to time in the same block until eventually he was occupying a half block, consisting of three fronts. Later he extended the rear to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet and thus had a half block of buildings which he occupied entirely — three floors and basement. Still the business continued to grow until it exceeded the quarters occupied and a few years ago Mr. Hall and his partner Mr. Vinson purchased the entire block between Market street and the alley, with a frontage of one hundred and thirty-two feet and a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The building is three stories and basement and he occupies the entire building save a room of about forty feet in with. Something of the growth and extent of the business as it is today is indicated in the fact that employment is now furnished to one hundred and twenty-five people in the factory, while twelve traveling salesmen are kept upon the road, their territory being largely Missouri and Iowa. The business, constantly increasing, has become one of the most important manufacturing interests of Ottumwa and this section of the state. Mr. Hall also has other interests. He is the vice president of the Citizens' Savings Bank and a director of the First National Bank. He also owns a controlling interest in the firm of Connelly Brothers & Hall, manufacturers of gloves in Chicago. Thus his interests have constantly broadened and, reaching out along ramifying lines, have covered a wide territory. His plans and purposes are always well defined and promptly executed and he possesses a spirit of enterprise that carries him easily over the difficult places in his path and enables him to reach the goal of success.

In 1886 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M. Vinson, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Stephen Vinson. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Adine V., who graduated from Smith College of Massachusetts with the class of 1914; and Evelyn May, who will complete a course in the high school of Ottumwa in 191 5.

Mr. Hall gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He is without ambition for office, although he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his social nature finds expression in his membership in the Country Club and the Wapello Club. He is also president of the Commercial Association and is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of that organization, which seeks the material benefit of the city and also progress along many civic lines. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is an active, earnest church worker, serving as elder in the First Presbyterian church. He is a director in the Open Door Mission, organized for evangelical and benevolent purposes. Manly and sincere in action, honorable in purpose, his life has been one of signal usefulness to the community in which he makes his home, for his business activities have been of a character that have contributed to the general prosperity as well as to individual success.

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

THOMAS J. HALL.

Industrial activity in Ottumwa finds a worthy representative m Thomas J. Hall, a well known contractor and builder, who since the spring of 1866 has resided continuously in this city. His acquaintance is naturally wide because of his long residence here, and his business prominence and the many sterling traits of his character have gained for him a creditable and enviable position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He was born on the 3d of October, 1839, in Machias, Maine, a son of Thomas and Mary (Kinney) Hall. The father was a native of Norfolk, England, and the mother of Machias, Maine. Her father. Captain Kinney, was lost at sea. He came of a family of seafaring men, and Thomas Hall was also a seafaring man, who acted as pilot on coasting vessels. Before coming to the new world Thomas Hall served for eleven years and nine months in the English army. He was engaged in military duty at the time of the battle of Waterloo, but did not participate in that conflict. In 1822 he deserted and came to the United States. He was married in Maine and in 1847 the family removed to Hempstead, Long Island.

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