ESEK HALL

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 526

EZEK HALL, who now lives a life of retirement on his well cultivated and improved farm, in Moosup, Windham Co., Conn., is one of the highly respected citizens of that town. The Hall family is one of the old and well established ones of New England, and extended mention of it is made in another part of this volume.

Ebenezer Hall, the father of Esek Hall, of Plainfield, was born in 1802, in Sterling, Conn., where he went to school and grew up on his father’s farm. While still a young man he was employed as a teamster at the Almyville mill, in Moosup, Conn., and it was during this time that he was married. As his family increased he made other arrangements, leaving the work at the Almyville mill and moving to Plainfield, where he rented the Medbury farm. Here he resided for one year and then removed to the Bailey farm, also in Plainfield, remaining for one year operating this farm and then purchasing the Dorrance farm. Here Mr. Hall spent the busiest years of his life and became one of the largest and most prosperous farmers of his locality. At a comparatively early age his career was cut short by death a cold caught at camp-meeting resulting in diphtheria and causing his sudden decease. That was long before the discovery of antitoxin and few cases occurred of recovery from this dread disease. His burial was in Moosup, Conn., his death having occurred Aug. 27, 1853.

In political belief Ebenezer Hall adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, which at that time was in a minority in Plainfield, but he was elected to a number of local offices on account of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens. In the Baptist Church he was known and appreciated. Mr. Hall was married in Plainfield, Conn., to Thankful R. Casey, who was born in Sterling, Conn., and at that time was employed in the Almyville mill. Her death took place July 11, 1839, in the thirty-seventh year of her age, and she was laid to rest in Moosup. Her children were: (1) Esek. (2) Jared, born in 1834, married Susan S. Benson, and previous to 1874 was engaged in the woolen manufacturing business, but after that time until his death, in 1901, was occupied with farming in Plainfield. (3) Alva, who became the boss spinner in a woolen mill in Rockville, where he died unmarried, a well-known and popular member of the Masonic fraternity.

The second marriage of Ebenezer Hall was to Hannah Shippee, of Killingly, who lived until March 4, 1888, dying at the age of seventy-seven. Her children were: Alfred, who is a resident of Worcester, Mass.; Freeman, who is a farmer in Sterling, Conn.; Thankful, who died unmarried; Harriet, who married John Pike, and lives in Killingly, and Jane, who died in Killingly, having married twice, her second husband being George Pierce.

The birth of Esek Hall, of Plainfield, occurred June 12, 1829, on the old Medbury farm, in Plainfield. His education was received in the district schools of his locality, and later he entered the Plainfield High School, which was then under the able management of Stephen Hall. The summers were occupied with farm work and milling, but during the winter seasons Esek applied himself closely to his books, and so well did he satisfy his teachers that he was recommended by them to the school board at Nooseneck, R.I., as a competent teacher for their school of fifty pupils, which offered a salary of $40 per month, then considered excellent pay. For one year Mr. Hall continued at Nooseneck and was then employed in the Plainfield mill, which was then operated by Hill & Mathewson. Mr. Hall remained connected with this mill for several years, and during this period in company with another employee, did the carding and spinning of the mill, by contract.

From the Plainfield mill, Mr. Hall went to Almyville, Conn., where he remained for several years, having charge of a spinning room. Growing tired of this life, he rented a farm in Plainfield, upon which he experimented for a short time, and then purchased a small farm in the same town, continuing there for some time, but finally entered the employ of the old Hartford & Providence Railroad, as assistant in the depot at Moosup. His duties were manifold, and he did the bookkeeping in connection with other business, remaining for six years at this point. He was then promoted to the position of agent of the same road at Andover, where he was also agent for two express companies and in addition served for many years as postmaster.

Upon closing up his business connections at Andover, Mr. Hall returned to Moosup, where he acted as agent during the illness of the regular agent for about a year, and after this Mr. Hall, still in the employ of the same road, became the agent at River Point, Conn. After remaining there for some six months he was appointed agent at Moosup, succeeding John Spaulding. Here Mr. Hall remained, efficiently performing the duties for a period of fifteen years, until he sent in his resignation because of failing health, Feb. 10, 1897. It was with expressed regret that the railroad parted with this faithful and efficient employee of thirty-five years, one of the superintendents lamenting the necessity of parting with “the best agent I ever had.” Those who know Mr. Hall will realize how true those words are, for in all relations in life, every post of trust and responsibility placed in his care has been guarded with a fidelity that has won him the highest esteem.

The pleasant home of Mr. Hall is a small farm of twenty acres which he farms for pastime, enjoying the exercise after so many years of office life. In politics he is a Republican but has never sought office, performing the duties of a good citizen at the polls. For many years he and his estimable wife have been consistent members of the Baptist Church of Plainfield.

Esek Hall married March 7, 1853, Miss Amy C. Cole, who was born Oct. 8, 1833. She was a native of Moosup, a daughter of Caleb and Hannah (Crandall) Cole, and a granddaughter of Rev. Nathaniel and Ann (Cole) Cole, both of whom were natives of Swansea, Mass. The former came from Swansea to the Union Plainfield Baptist Church, Nov. 9, 1792, the society having been organized in the previous month, and Dec. 5, 1792, he was installed pastor. He continued with this congregation until he retired, in 1833, at the age of seventy-seven years, after a ministry of forty-one years. His death occurred in Plainfield, and his homestead is now owned by Mrs. Hall.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall are: Judson E., who was born Sept. 30, 1855, graduated at the Willimantic High School, learned telegraphy in his father’s office and was operator and agent in the employ of the Consolidated Railroad for several years holding several positions on the line of that road. Later he became a bookkeeper in the office of the Waterbury American for several years, and now holds a responsible position with the Chase Clock Co., at Waterbury. His fraternal connection is with the order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. He married Miss Carried Bailey, of Boston, and they have one child, Elmer Louis, born Nov. 14, 1887.

The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall is Adeline A., who was born May 28, 1859, a graduate of the Willimantic High school and also of a select school in Providence, R.I. She also learned telegraphy with her father and put her knowledge to practical use, entering into the employ of the railroad company as a skilled operator at the office in Danielson. Later she married William Badger Williams, who was a native of Bolton, Conn., but who now is connected with E.S. Kibbe & Co., of Hartford, and resides in Manchester. During his residence in Bolton Mr. Williams was a leading merchant and one of the prominent political factors. For a long period he was the efficient town clerk, was also postmaster, and during one year served as the member from Bolton in the State Legislature.

Mr. Hall enjoys the esteem of his neighbors and is most kindly remembered by the railroad which he faithfully served through so long a period. He was known as a man who always possessed the ability to meet the demands of any situation and never shirked an opportunity to bring his faculties into play for the benefit of his employers. He takes great pleasure in the regularity of a rural life, and that he may long enjoy every comfort is the wish of his hosts of friends.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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