Souvenir Edition, The Williamstown Courier, Williamstown, Ky, May 30, 
1901, reprinted September 19, 1981 by the Grant County KY Historical 
Society.

J. WHITNEY HALL.  Few if any boys have gone away from Grant County who
have made a greater success in life than J. Whitney Hall, of 
Bloomington, Ill.  His father came to Kentucky, from near Huntsville, 
Alabama, many years ago, and after drifting around a while located near 
Heekin, in Grant County.  His father was the late J. W. Hall, a Baptist 
preacher, the family was large, and as preachers usually are men of 
small means, the opportunities for an education and a start in the 
world were not flattering for the doctor to be.  But by dint of 
perseverance and "get there" grit Dr. Hall managed to secure a fairly 
good education.  After attending the common schools until nearly grown 
he attended Georgetown College for a number of years and finished his 
literary education.  Coming back to "his native heath" he began life as 
a school teacher, and for the few short years that he engaged in that 
profession, was one of the most successful teachers Grant County has 
ever sent out.  He taught in Grant, Owen and Gallatin Counties, in the 
latter county, at Glencoe, for two years at $100.00 per month.  It was
in this county that he got his first taste of politics.  He became a
candidate for county school superintendent in the Democratic primary
election at the earnest solicitation of his friends, and while he was a
stranger in the county and scarcely twenty-one years of age and running
against a very popular Gallatin County boy, in a big poll, he was beaten
only nine votes.  Deciding to study medicine he began to read under Dr.
J. T. Scott, who became his preceptor.  He later attended the Kentucky
school of medicine, and graduated in the class of 1890.  He located at
Erlanger, and for two years engaged in the practice of medicine at that
place.  Here he met and married his wife, Miss Gertrude Crumbaugh, of
Le Loy, Ill.  In 1892 the doctor removed from Erlanger to Bloomington,
Ill.  There he has resided and has been actively engaged in the practice
of medicine since.  He formed a partnership with Dr. WIlliam Hill, one 
of the leading surgeons of that place, and immediately went into a fine 
practice.  He had not been in the "Sucker State" long when Governor 
Altgeld, a Democrat, appointed him to take charge of the Medical 
Department of the Illinois Soldiers and Orphans' Home, a position of 
much responsibility and fair emoluments.  The doctor, like so many other
Kentuckians, is a born politician, and has been prominent in all the 
party fights in his part of the state of Illinois.  He has been chairman
of the Democratic Executive and Campaign Committees of Bloomington city,
and last year was sent as a delegate to the Kansas City convention from 
the Thirteenth Congressional District of his adopted state.  He was a 
member from Illinois on the committee on credentials and managed the 
fight of Senator Clark before that committee, winning the fight and 
seating the Clark delegates from Montana without hearing the proof.  He 
substantially managed the fight of Adlai E. Stevenson from his state for
the Democratic nomination for Vice-president, personally visiting and 
interviewing every delegation.  Dr. Hall's wife died in July of 1900.  
He owns one of the finest home in his city and is growing rich in the 
land of his adoption.  Big of brain and strong of brawn his future is 
sure to be filled with success in whatever department of life he may 
mostly direct his talents.

Hall Scott Crumbaugh Hill Altgeld Clark Stevenson
=
Owen-KY Gallatin-KY IL AL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/grant/hall.jw.txt