A Civil War Veteran; CPT, Co. G, 6th VT INF
William H. H. Hall, son of Edward and Sarah (Downer) Hall, and grandson of Capt. John Hall, of Braintree, Mass., a "Minute Man'' of the Revolutionary War, was born in Randolph, Vt., April 8, 1823, and died in Chelsea, Vt., June 27, 1907. In 1825, his parents removed to Chelsea, Vt., where he attended the public schools and entered the University in 1844, remaining nearly three years.

In 1847, he purchased a farm in Warren, Vt , where he established his parents. He taught school in Campbellsburg, Ky., September, 1847, until 1848, when he returned to his home in Warren.

On May 1, 1849, he sailed for California, via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco, October 11 of the same year. He served as a bookkeeper in a hotel from October, 1849, until February 1850. when he went to Mormon Guleh and began mining for gold, but in a short time was taken sick and returned to San Francisco. On June 14, 1850, he came near being a victim of the great fire which swept over that city. Soon after this fire, he went to Milwaukee, Oregon and assisted in the construction of the steamer, Lot Whitcomb, on which he served for a short time as purser, and later, as pilot until 1854, being the first commissioned pilot on the Columbia and Willamette rivers; was captain of the Fashion and Iris until 1861, when he returned to Warren, Vt.

He soon offered his services to the State and raised a company for the service, which became Company G,6th Vermont infantry; was commissioned its captain, October 9, 1861; served with distinction at the battle of Warwick Creek; was taken sick with a fever and was forced to resign, April 18, 1862. He returned to Oregon in 1863 and was captain of various steamers running on the Columbia River unti 1866, when he located in the oil region of Pennsylvania to assist his brother in the prosecution of a S300,000 law suit in which they were successful. He then managed two oil farms in the Pit Hale section; leased and sold land and operated various oil wells. In 1873, his health failing, he located in Chelsea, where he made his home until his death.

He was vice-president of the First National Bank of Orange County, Chelsea, 1874-1907. He was a Democrat in politics; was selectman and overseer of the poor in Chelsea for several years. He was a charter member of Waterson Post, G.A.R., and its commander for nine years; member of George T. Hebard Command, No. 1, United Veterans Association; New England Associated California Pioneers of 1849.

He was married in 1856, to Sarah A. Foster of Warren, Vt., who died September 15, 1897. Two children were born to them: Sarah Ada, married John B. Bacon, resides in Chelsea, Vt.; Henry Edward K., born April 1, 1868, killed by an accidental gun shot, in Chelsea, October 22, 1882.

Source: William Arba Ellis, Norwich University, 1819-1911; her history, her graduates, her roll of honor, (Capital City Press, Montpelier, 1911), ii:443-444.
Contributor: (49250695) • [email protected]

A Civil War Veteran; CPT, Co. G, 6th VT INF
William H. H. Hall, son of Edward and Sarah (Downer) Hall, and grandson of Capt. John Hall, of Braintree, Mass., a "Minute Man'' of the Revolutionary War, was born in Randolph, Vt., April 8, 1823, and died in Chelsea, Vt., June 27, 1907. In 1825, his parents removed to Chelsea, Vt., where he attended the public schools and entered the University in 1844, remaining nearly three years.

In 1847, he purchased a farm in Warren, Vt , where he established his parents. He taught school in Campbellsburg, Ky., September, 1847, until 1848, when he returned to his home in Warren.

On May 1, 1849, he sailed for California, via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco, October 11 of the same year. He served as a bookkeeper in a hotel from October, 1849, until February 1850. when he went to Mormon Guleh and began mining for gold, but in a short time was taken sick and returned to San Francisco. On June 14, 1850, he came near being a victim of the great fire which swept over that city. Soon after this fire, he went to Milwaukee, Oregon and assisted in the construction of the steamer, Lot Whitcomb, on which he served for a short time as purser, and later, as pilot until 1854, being the first commissioned pilot on the Columbia and Willamette rivers; was captain of the Fashion and Iris until 1861, when he returned to Warren, Vt.

He soon offered his services to the State and raised a company for the service, which became Company G,6th Vermont infantry; was commissioned its captain, October 9, 1861; served with distinction at the battle of Warwick Creek; was taken sick with a fever and was forced to resign, April 18, 1862. He returned to Oregon in 1863 and was captain of various steamers running on the Columbia River unti 1866, when he located in the oil region of Pennsylvania to assist his brother in the prosecution of a S300,000 law suit in which they were successful. He then managed two oil farms in the Pit Hale section; leased and sold land and operated various oil wells. In 1873, his health failing, he located in Chelsea, where he made his home until his death.

He was vice-president of the First National Bank of Orange County, Chelsea, 1874-1907. He was a Democrat in politics; was selectman and overseer of the poor in Chelsea for several years. He was a charter member of Waterson Post, G.A.R., and its commander for nine years; member of George T. Hebard Command, No. 1, United Veterans Association; New England Associated California Pioneers of 1849.

He was married in 1856, to Sarah A. Foster of Warren, Vt., who died September 15, 1897. Two children were born to them: Sarah Ada, married John B. Bacon, resides in Chelsea, Vt.; Henry Edward K., born April 1, 1868, killed by an accidental gun shot, in Chelsea, October 22, 1882.

Source: William Arba Ellis, Norwich University, 1819-1911; her history, her graduates, her roll of honor, (Capital City Press, Montpelier, 1911), ii:443-444.
Contributor: (49250695) • [email protected]