In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1848
From History of Greene county, Missouri, ... including a history of its township, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ... biographical sketches and portraits of prominent cit (1883)
JOSEPH W. HALL.
Mr. Hall was born in Southville, Connecticut, January ist, 1848. In April, 1872, he engaged with a civil engineer corps at Carthage, and assisted in the survey of a route to
HISTORY or GREENE COUNTY.
Halstead, Kansas, on which survey the St. L. & S. F. railway is located. In the following year, he went in the freight office of the railroad at Carthage, Mo., as clerk, and two weeks later was promoted to the position of ticket agent, which place he held till June 24, 1881, when he was transferred to North Springfield, and given charge of the freight and ticket depots. He is now acting in the capacity of freight and ticket agent for that station. On March 30, 1876, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Clara E. Starr, of Carthage, Mo. He is a trustworthy gentleman, and adds one more to the class of citizens that tends to give all towns prestige among strangers.
As printed in History of Greene county, Missouri, ... including a history of its township, towns, and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ... biographical sketches and portraits of prominent cit (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.