WI BIO - Dane Co - HALL, Charles
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 577-578

Charles HALL, a prominent citizen of Westport [Dane County, WI], was born in 
Edinburgh, Scotland, 31 Aug 1846. His father, Robert HALL, was an accountant 
and bookkeeper, [p 578] who married Margaret JOHNSON, of Edinburgh, Scotland. 
Robert HALL died in Edinburgh at the age of 48 years, in 1846, when his son 
was but an infant. The mother of our subject had three sons and had buried 
two infant daughters. The names of her children were Robert, William, and 
Charles. Robert is a bookkeeper in Scotland. The mother of our subject 
married again, and with her second husband, William JONES, the family came to 
this country, in 1849, coming to Montreal [Canada] in a sailing vessel and 
remained in that city, where Mr. JONES followed the trade of stone mason. In 
the fall of 1855 they moved to Portage [Columbia County], WI, remained there 
two years, then came to Westport Township [Dane County, WI] and settled on a 
small place near the State Asylum. One son, John, has been born of this 
marriage.

Our subject, Charles HALL, learned the bricklayer's trade, to which he went 
at the age of 18. He and his brothers had good home schooling and our 
subject left home at the age of 20 years and worked at his trade through WI, 
IA, and IL.

Charles HALL was married in 1876, when 30 years of age, to Miss Mary WILSON, 
the daughter of Thomas and Ann (RICHARDSON) WILSON, both from the North of 
Ireland and had come to Staten Island when young in 1830. They were farmers 
and came to WI in 1850 when Mrs. HALL was four years of age. She has one 
brother, William WILSON, a farmer of Dakota. Ann (RICHARDSON) HALL died 10 
Feb 1881, at the age of 78, and Thomas WILSON in 1886, aged 75. Their lives 
ended in the house where Mr. and Mrs. HALL have spent the greater portion of 
their married life.

When Thomas and Ann (RICHARDSON) WILSON came here they had some means and 
bought some 80 acres of land, on which this house now stands. They began 
life on this new farm in a rough log house, 14x16, and one and a half stories 
high. Here they lived some 20 years, during which time they prospered and 
bought more land, until they had 240 acres. At one time they had the 
misfortune to have their wheat crop burned in the bin, through the 
carelessness of someone smoking in the barn.

The maternal grandmother of Mr. [Charles] HALL died here, in this house, 
where she had lived four years and six months, her death occurring in Sep 
1890, at the great age of 101 years, 9 months, and 11 days. She had buried 
two husbands, the last one, Alexander THOMPSON, of Scotland, died at the age 
of 86, still fine and fresh looking. Her first husband was wealthy. The old 
grandmother was well preserved to the last, having her sight, hearing, and 
mental faculties. She was the mother of thirteen children, only six of whom 
came to adult age.

Charles and Mary (WILSON) HALL have four children: Annie L., 14 years old; 
Robert M., 11 years old; Margaret J., 8 years old; and Thomas Wilson, six 
years old. They are all attending school, and the daughters are making fine 
progress in music. Charles HALL has served as Constable and is now clerk of 
the school district. He does a mixed farming, raising wheat, corn and oats, 
45 acres in wheat, 4 and 3/4 acres in tobacco, fine flock of 40 sheep, of a 
grade between Shropshire and Saxony. They keep 3 horses and 3 fine Ayrshire 
cows. The farm consists of 85 acres of fine land and 20 acres of marsh and 
wood. The family are Presbyterians. Charles HALL votes with the Republican 
party. He has long been a Mason and an Odd Fellow.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly