William B. Hall is owner of one of the leading furniture and household furnishing establishments of New Haven, a business which, however, was started in a most unassuming way but has developed from small proportions until it is today one of the most extensive and important interests of this line in the city, while the William B. Hall Furniture Company is considered one of the strongest, most progressive and most resourceful business firms of Connecticut. Mr. Hall is very popular with those who desire house furnishings, both by reason of his uniform courtesy to his patrons and his upright, honorable business methods. He is a man of admirable character and possesses, moreover, a jovial disposition—two qualities which work for success in the business world.
     Mr. Hall was born in New York city, February 10, 1857, but was only three months old when his parents removed to Huntington, Long Island, where he was reared upon a farm. His father was Scudder Hall and his mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Nossissitter. They were natives of New York and of England respectively, the latter coming to America with her parents when but nine years of age, so that she was reared and educated in New York. After their removal to Huntington, Long Island, Mr. Hall engaged in general agricultural pursuits and for forty years was a successful farmer there, continuing in the business up to the time of his death in 1886. His wife survived him for a few years and passed away at the home of her son, William B., in New Haven. In their family were four children: Charles, who died at the age of twenty-nine years; Emma, who has departed this life; George, who died in 1914; and William B.
     The last named, the youngest of the family, began his education in the schools of Hunt-ington but left high school before his graduation in order to go to work for the Setauket (Long Island) Rubber Company. He afterward became an employe of the Candee Rubber Company of New Haven, with which he remained from 1878 until 1886. In the latter year he received a small amount of money from the estate of his father and decided to invest this in business. He secured a small storeroom on Congress avenue, where he remained in business for two years, by which time his trade had outgrown its quarters and he was forced to secure a more commodious building, which he found on State street above Elm street. After two and one-half years this also proved inadequate, causing him to seek his present location. However, he first had but one storeroom, while today he occupies four large storerooms and two complete buildings, carrying all kinds of high-class furniture and house furnishings. His patronage is extensive. The business has reached very large proportions and the establishment is patronized by the best people of New Haven and the surrounding country. Mr. Hall has never taken in a partner but has ever conducted his interests solely on his own account. He has applied himself most carefully to the work in hand, has studied the markets and the public taste and has sought to link the two in a manner that would result in the acquirement of a substantial business on his part.
     In 1881 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Jennie T. Pardee, of New Haven, a daughter of Noyes and Harriet Pardee, She died in March, 1910, at Atlanta, Georgia, leaving three children. C. Stanley, who is a graduate of the New Haven schools and is in business with his father, married Miss Celie Hotchkiss and they have three children, Jeanette, Virginia and Mary. Mabel L. is the wife of W. H. Brooks, of New Haven, and they have one child, Barbara Brooks; and Percy W. is in business with his father. On the 3d of August, 1914, Mr. Hall wedded Miss Anna Basserman. a daughter of George and Emily Basserman, and they have one child, Billye. Mr. Hall's sons, C. Stanley and Percy W., have been identified with the business since leaving school and have been no small factors in the success of the business since that time.
     Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Hall is identified with several organizations which indicate the breadth of his interests and activities. He belongs to the Furniture Men's Association, to the Chamber of Commerce, to the Racebrook Country Club, and to the Publicity Club. His political endorsement is given to the republican party but he has no wish nor desire for office, preferring to concentrate his energies along other lines. As a leading business man of New Haven he stands high and an analyzation of his career shows that his record is the direct result of his individual effort. He has studied the demands of the trade thoroughly, knows the market and in the conduct of his affairs has ever recognized that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement.