Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-16
Death of Ex-Goverrnor willard p. HAN.

T EX-Gov. Willard p. Hall died at his home
in St.Joseph at p. m. Friday, Nov. 3. aged 60,
FROM the effects of paralysis His death while
sudden, was not unexpected, as he had been
Ill for a long time. He went to Colorado last
spring, hoping to be improved, but owing to
the death of his son. George returned a few
weeks since. Mr.. Hall was born at Harper's
Ferry, Va, May 9, 1920. His parents were of
those who regard the education of their chill
dren the chief duty in life, and young Willard
SO well appreciated and so industriously en-
ployed his opportunities thathe entered Yale
College, took his place in the Phi Beta Kappa
and was graduated with honor in a class
which contained such men as Senator II. L.,
Dawes, Charles A. Bristed and Prof Whitney,
of Harvard College. Immediately upon his
graduation, at the age of nineteen, he entered
the law office of his brother, Judge VIM A.
Hall, at Harper's Ferry.-rThe next year, he
moved West, locating on a farm near Hunts
vile, where he continued his law studies and
was admitted to the bar in 1871. He moved to
Sparta, then the county seat of Buchanan, in
1912, opened a law office, and gave such sevi-
dence of his ability and integrity that, though
only twenty three years of age, Coy. Rey-
nolds appointed him TO the ponsible posi-
ton of Circuit Attorney. In Isi4 he was one
of the presidential electors on the Polk and
Dallas ticket, carrying the electoral vote to
Washington. In the practice of his profess
sion he moved to st. Louis in 1915. In 1916 he
entered as private in Gen. A. W. Donip1an's
regiment, known as the First Missouri Mount.
ed Volunteers, for service in the Mexican
war. During this expedition lie was detailed
by Gen. Kearney to draft a code of laws for
New Mexico. and did the work so thoroughly
and wisely that it was adopted entire and
known as the Kearney Code, and has re-
manned and is now the code of that~ter-
ritory- During his absence in Mexico Mr.
Hall was elected. in -S46, as a member of the
Thirtieth Congress from the then Fourth Dis
trict AS Congress did not meet until De-
cember1, 1s47, MFR Hall remained in the serv-
ice, and was shortly afterward appointed
Lieutenant on account Of efficient and gallant
service, and was detailed to accompany Cook
and Emery to California. rem aiming there IN
til his return to Missouri with Gen. Kearney in
1s47. In Congress he gave evidence of ability,
and his constituents returned him to the
Thirty first and Thirty second sessions. He
occupied the position of Chairman of, the
Committee on Public Lands. He drafted,
urged and secured the passage of the bills
giving the land grants to the State of Mis-
souri,, thus securing the building of the Hanni-
bal & St.. Joseph and the Southwest. branch
OF the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which, more
than any other single enterprise, de-
veloped Northern, Northwestern and South
western Missouri. In 1877 Mr.. Hall was mar
ried to Miss Annie E.. Richardson. by whom
he had four children, three of whom are liv- /
ing. In 1864, two years after the death of his
first wife, he was united to Miss Allie L. Oil.
yer, by whom he had two sons and one
daughter. Upon completing his third con-
secutive term in Congress Mr.. Hall resumed
the practice of his profession, at the same
time managing his farm near St. Joseph, I'M
til he was elected member of the "Conven.
ton of 1861" which deposed the State officers
and elected Hamilton r. Gamble Governor,
and Mr.. Hall Lieutenant Governor. Gov.
Gamble dying Jan. 81, 1864, he became Gov
ernor of Missouri, and so continued until
Gov. Fletcher's Inauguration. Z