The daily gazette., 1875-05-11
FIRST EDITION
OBITUARY.

III Tic UOtH yodT Oh his age.
For several years past he had been
perceptibly failing in physical ability
and the effects of time were slowly
drawing to close long vigorous aad
elninently useful life. lie was atten-
dcd by his family physicians, Drs.
Johnson and Porter, and passed away
quietly and sercnely, his last hours
being soothcd by all the tender minis
traiions that loving friends could per-
form.
Willard Hall was born at Wcstford
in the county Of Middlescx, State of
Massachusetts on the 24th ofDecember
1880. His father Willis Hall, lived
and died in that town and his mother
Mehetablc Pool, was native of Hollis
New Hampshire. Ills grandfather,
Willard Hall, was Il graduate of IIar-
ward College, in the class of 1929.
Willard Hall, the grandson, was in
1892, placed in an academy which had
been instituted in Westford just short
time previous. He entered with the
first scholars, received u liberal educa-
tion, and was prepared for college at
the Harvard commencement in 1906
He was examined and received, Tut
before entering returned to Westford
and spent another year at the Acade-
my, lie entered the freshman class ut
Harvard in 1896, and graduated at the
commencement of 1900.
In 1900 Judge Hall enter, the law
office Of Samuel Dana (whose office
and Timothy Bigelow's were the nur-
series OF the young lawyers of thc,day)
at Groton, Middlesex county near his
native town. He remained there for
three years, and in March 1908, he was
admitted to the bar of Hillsborough
county, New Hampshire where Mr..
Dana .practiced.
About this time he read in speeo b
delivered in Congress by Hon James A.
Bayari, grandfather of the present
Senator Bayard) then the distinguish
ed representative from this State, some
accounts of the Delaware bar, placing
it in an elevated moral position, and
representing the practice as reasona-
bly, productive. lie addressed letter
OF inquiry to Mr.. Bayard, and the
sentlemanly and favorable answer he
received induced him to choose Della
ware rs tho field for the prosecution of
his profession.
He left Westfield April 7,19O3; and
travelling on horseback arrived in Will
mington on the 10th of the same month,
little over sevcnty-two years ago.
lie proceeded at once to Georgetown,
Sussex county, where the Court Of
Common pleas was beginning its
spring session, and upon the applica-
tion Of MIR. Bayard was admitted an
attorney ard counsellor of that Court.
In May 1903, he settled at Dover, Kent
County, and sedulously pursued the
Practice of law for twenty years. Dur
ing this time he did not visit his ma
tive home, and never saw his parents
after leaving them in 1903. lie mar
ried and had one child.
In 1911 he was appointed Secretary
OF State, continuing in this office until
January, 1914. In 1916 he was elected
representative TO Congress and was re- |
elected in 1918. In 1921 he was again
appointed Secretary of State; in 1892
he was elected II member of the State
Senate; and on May 9th, 1928, hc was
appointed by President Monroe Dis
trict Judge of the Unitcd States for
Delaware District, to succeed Judge |
Fisher, deceased
Upon the application of the General |
Assembly he revised the statutory laws |
of the State, completing tho work in |
1929. lie reduced six volumes Of laws |
3,O16 pages octave, to one octave vol |
ume. of which the public laws Occu-
pied 563 pages. This work he perform |
cd In such II satisfactory and complete |
laanncr, that it is believed that from
1929 to 1852, when another revision |
was made, not difficulty in practice,
nor VeXed question, ,orpcrplexity was |
occasioned by this work.
In March, 1925 Judge Hall removed |
to Wilmington, and in 1881 was cleo
ted member Of the State Constitu-
tiOnal kConvention on the tickets of |
both political parties. He served in
the Convention with distinction and !
credit.
Judge Hall has been known as the
father of our public school system, und
IL lS2o he prepared for legislative COM
mlttea ia plan for forming IL school sys-
TEN for the State. Hiss bill was passed,
the State dlstricted, Ii school fund pro-
VIded, and the power Of taxation for
school purposes conferred upon the peo-
Pile through the medium of school cota-
nissioners. The system thus adopted
haa renamed substantially the same un-
til the present day.
TO the public schools of this citv bo
gave his earnest and particular atten-
LION. For years he was member of the
Board OF Public Education, and to his
unceaslng efforts, aided by his liberal
coadJutors, are we to great measure
IN iebted for the splendid and prosper
GUS public schools which are now the
prlde and boast of our city.
Judge Hall made public profession
OF religion in 1927, and ever after was
consistent, upright, christian gentle-
man, pursuing the path of religious du-
W III an answering manner, and ever
performing quiet but effective work in |
the Masters service. For many years
previous to his death he was o member
OF Hanover. Presbyterian Church, at
lending with such unfailing regularity
That a year or two ago his absence one
sunday morning on account af sickness
was noticed from the pulpit as being
hl1 81 iirst p for period Of twenty years.
OF years, though his intellect and legal
acumen We're as vigorous and keen no ,