Mr. Hall is of English descent, being the son of William Hall, a native of Yorkshire, and who was born July 11, 1803. The latter remained upon his native soil until after his marriage, emigrating to America in 1830. He made his way directly to this county, and was one of its earliest pioneers, locating on a tract of land west of the present site of Jacksonville, which was then marked by a few rude buildings. He made his mark upon a portion of the primitive soil, building up a good homestead, where he spent the remainder of his life, and departed hence May 14, 1873. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Killam, of Yorkshire, and they became the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Ann married George Exley, of Jacksonville, a saddler and harness maker, and they now live in California; John W. married Fanny Wilkinson, of this county, and lives in Jacksonville, where he operates as a blacksmith and deals in agricultural implements; Martha married Thomas Lee, a farmer of this county; they live near Markham, and are the parents of seven children, five living. Mary married Robert Newby, is living in Morgan County, and is farming.

The mother of our subject, Mrs. Elizabeth L. (Riggs) Hall, was a native of New Jersey. Her parents removed from New Jersey to Brown County, this State, in 1831; she had only two children - our subject and Isaac T., who was born in 1857 and died in 1861. George H., of our sketch, married Elizabeth A. Moody, a native of Morgan County. They settled in this county, and her father died about 1871. The mother is still living, and makes her home in Jacksonville. The family included twelve children, only four of whom are living, namely: John, Sarah, Ulysses Grant, and Mrs. Hall. John married Lucinda Murphy, and is a farmer of this county; Sarah is the widow of Charles L. Newby, and resides in Jacksonville. Ulysses G. married Hannah Hogan of Jacksonville, and they occupy the old homestead.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hall there have been born six children, viz: Flora J., Rachel L., John W., Ritta A., Henry R., and Augustus C. Mr. Hall has occupied his present farm for nine years, and has made all the improvements upon it. It was formerly a part of the Alexander estate, and he purchased it of A. E. Ayers. He has few outside interests, giving his attention closely to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. He keeps himself well posted upon current events, however, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. Aside from serving on the jury, he has had little or nothing to do with public affairs. Mr. Hall is Grand Worthy Secretary of the A. H. F. A. of Illinois.