Electa Dunbar was born on September 3, 1821, in Ludlow, Vermont, as one of the children of John and Sally (Annadown) Dunbar. "Her parents apparently moved the family from Vermont to Minerva, New York, for it was from there in 1835 that Electa moved to Brighton, Ohio." She married Theophilus Hall at the age of 23 on January 8, 1845. Together they had one girl and four boys: Lorinda Matilda, Wilber William, Walter D., Herbert Watson, and Arthur Dunbar.

If the information from the History of Lorain County published by the Williams Brothers in 1879 is accurate, then a check of the 1830 and 1840 Federal Census reports for Minerva, New York, might indicate who Electa's parents might have been. The 1830 Federal Census for Minerva, Essex County, New York, listed two of 358 individuals with the last name of Dunbar, Hosea B. and Apollos. Hosea B. Dunbar's family consisted of 1 male 20 to and under 30 years and females, 1- under five; 1- 5 and under 10; and 1- 20 and under 30 years. The other individual was Apollos Dunbar whose household contained: males- 1-under five; 1- 5 and under 10; 1-10 and under 15; 1- 15 and under 20; 1- 20 and under 30; and 1- 40 and under 50; females: 1- under five; 1- 15 and under 20; 1- 20 and under 30; and 1- 30 and under 40.

In the 1840 Federal Census for Minerva, Essex County, New York, only Apollos Dunbar and his family were listed out of the 455 inhabitants of the village. In the household there were three listed: 1 male 50 and under 60; and two females: 1- 10 and under 15; 1- 40 and under 50.

A short newspaper article in The Elyria Reporter, Elyria, Ohio, of May 27, 1905, page 3, column 5, stated, "Mrs. Electa Hall of Wellington is at the home of her niece Mrs. Perry Kenney." The niece must have been the daughter of Melinda (Dunbar) Whipple, Manette (Whipple) Kenney, who had married Perry L. Kenney. This would mean that Electa and Melinda were sisters. The parents of Melinda were identified in the History of Lorain County as being John Dunbar and Sally Annadown so therefore they were also Electa's parents.

A check of the 1830 Federal Census report for Brighton, Lorain County, Ohio, showed that no Dunbar families were listed. However, in the 1840 report there were two Dunbar families living in Brighton, Lunan or Eluman Dunbar and Sally Dunbar were listed. Lunan or Eluman (it was difficult to read the name) family consisted of: males: 1 under five; 1- 20 and under 30; and 1- 30 and under 40 years; females: 1- 5 and under ten; and 1- 20 and under 30. Sally Dunbar's family included only two females, 1- 15 and under 20 and 1- 60 and under 70 years.

In the 1850 Federal Census for Brighton there was a Hosea (Hoseah) listed at 47 living with Charlott, 48, and possibly their children: Simon, 18; and Franklin, 12. Living with the family was Martha Wilkeson, 21 and probably her daughter, Hellen Wilkenson, 10 months. Hosea's occupation was listed as house carpenter. He and Charlott were born in New Hampshire while Simon was born in New York and Franklin was born in Ohio. Martha was born in New York and Hellen in Ohio.

In the same year, there was a Cyrus Dunbar 52 living in Wellington, Lorain County, Ohio, perhaps with his wife, Abigail, 46 and perhaps their children: Rosulthe, 21; and Malcom 8. Cyrus' occupation was listed as carpenter and was born in Massachusetts while the rest of the family were born in New York.

In the 1860 Federal Census for Portage, Porter County, Indiana, Hosea B. Dunbar was listed at 58 living with Margaret, 45 and a servant, Harriet Wilkinson, 16, and a day laborer, Joseph Swist, 54. Hosea's occupation was listed as farm laborer and he was born in New Hampshire while Margaret was born in Pennsylvania.

In 1870 Hosea Dunbar was living in Brighton again at age 73 with a James Whipple, 58 and his wife Melinda (Dunbar) Whipple, 50 and their child: Manetta Whipple, 9. James' occupation was listed as farmer and he was born in Rhode Island while Melinda was born in New York and Manetta was born in Ohio. It is possible that Melinda was a daughter of Hosea.

In the Federal Census for Brighton in 1880 Hosea was 78 living with Seldon S. Hall, 37, and his wife, Lorinda, 34 and their children: Eber, 12; and Eddie, 9. Living with the family was a servant, Mattie Storer, 20. Hosea was born in New Hampshire while he listed the birthplace of his father and mother as Massachusetts. Lorinda listed her father as born in Connecticut and mother in Vermont. Hosea was listed as boarding; this census did not ask for relationships of those listed. Hosea was the brother of Electa Dunbar Hall, Lorinda's mother and therefore her uncle.