The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-10-30
FANOJ. S NORTH CAROLINIANS
SOUE EMINENT MEN NORTH CAR
OLINt HAS PRODUCED.
Memoir of the Hon. John Hall, Once
Supreme Court Judge of North CarOli-
ma written by VIM. Eaton, Jr.

14I u
Memoir of the Hon. John Hall, Once a
Supreme Court Judge of North CarOli-
ma. written by VIM. Eaton, Jr.
We propose to print notices of the great
men of North Carolina who have passed
from our midst. The disastrous civil wal
is rs Il deep chaSm between the old Times
and the New. The rising generation knows
nothing of the fathers Of our State This
ought not To be We Will do our utmost
to keep precious their memories We give
below notice of John Hall, one of the
first three Judges of the Supreme Court OF
the State, elected in 1918, the others be-
ing Chief Justice Taylor and Leonard Hen
larson. afterwards Chief Justice He
must be distinguished from his son, Judge
Edward Hall, who sat for short time on
the Superior Court Bench.
The sketch is by one of the best men and
-oundcst lawyers the State has had, all-
thor of a book of high reputation and use
fuIness under the old system of Pleading,
Eatons Forms. 1t was originally printed
iu the University Magazine Of April, 1860,
our readers will notice the warm tribute
I'd the virtues of Rev. John II Saunders,
father Of our Secretary of State, and of
that excellent man, lately deceased, Major
John II. Saunders, of Pitt county.-ED.
Memoir OF the Hon. John Hall.
The subject Of the present Memoir was
born in Augusta county, Virginia, on the
5lst Of May, 1867. The spot of his nativ-
.ty is near to Wayncsboro', Il small vii
lare on the line Of the Virginia Central
Railroad, and on the route between Rich
moud and Stanton The old family home
stead is now the residence of Dr. Isaac
Hail, a relative of the deceased. John
Hall was the son of Edward Hall and Flea
nor Hall, formerly Eleanor Stuart, and
was the Youngest of ten children. His
father came from Ireland and settled at
first in Pennsylvania, and from that State
Lc moved to Virginia IN 1886. In the spring
of l144, he was married to Eleanor Stuart,
the only daughter of Archibald Stuart, ,Sr.
The Hall family of that day was respec
table, but in moderate circumstances. The
stuart family was then and has been since
one Of wealth and distinction, and has
numbered among its members Judge Arch
iJald Stuart, Jr., and his distinguished
SON. the Hon. Alex. H. HI. Stuart, VINO
was secretary of the Interior Department
under President Fillmore. The father of
Judge Hall, though possessed of a mere
competency gave to his children good
education, and was quite liberal in his eX-
pcuditureS considering his MEANS in pre-
pairing them for future usefulness in life.
But little is known as to his juvenile ca
reer 1t is not, however, doubted for a
moment but that he was q youth of merit
and promise, of exemplary morals and
studious habits. After completing his ed
ucation he studied law at Staunton, Va,
under his kinsman, Judge Stuart. He was
ioudly attached to his legal instructor,
and cherished at ardent gratitude towards
him for his assistance in the prosecution
Of his professional studies as we'll as his
uniform friendship and kindness. He
often spoke OF him with warm affection in
subsequent life, and named a son after
hun. His father being man OF small es-
tate and a large family, after giving to
him the advantages of an education, both
literary and professional, was not able to
do much more for him, so that he had to
rely almost exclusively upon his own eX
ertlons for success i'll the world. After
finishing his course of preparation tor the
bar, he looked around in his native State
for 4 suitable location, with a view to the
practice Of his profession, and, finding
noua within its limits, he determined
to remove to North Carolina, which was
supposed to present a more favorable and
inviting field to the young lawyer. Ac
cordngly, in the year 1892, and in the
w. nty-tifth year of his age, he moved to
North Carolina, and settled in Warrenton,
then a very small village, of which he con-
tIuucd resident to the day of his death
Upon his arrival here he was in very mar
row circumstances. He was an entire
stranger, who came from beyond the Blue
Ridge and had no relations, connexions
or friends in this region of country, to aid
him by their influence, or to push him for
ward in his profession In manners he
was reserved and diffident, and not calcu
lated to extend his acquaintance rapidly,
or 70 made an Immediately favorable i'm
preston upon the public. He had not the
power of ready, fluent and popular
speaker, those attractive aud fascinating
qualities which have sometimes secured an
almost Immediate reputation and patron
age at the bar. He had serious difficulties
to encounter, and a rugged road of pro
its>lonal probation before him. He re
led. however, upon his own industry,
perseverance and worth to overcome the
MpedIments by which he was surrounded.
lie did not rely upon them in vain, and
Ae result is calculated to cheer the yOung
lawyer amind the tolls and struggles in
c.deut 10 the commencement of his pro
fe>sIolal life. and in the midst of discOur-
aging obstacles. In the course of few
leIi- after his removal to WarrentOn, his
4 correct and otudious habits, his untlrlng
! alten Ion to business, his fidelity to his
cAeni>, and his high character for honor
Il ana integrity, obtained for him an en-
4 9o"GaglnS share Of practice; while his
q Mo1eaty, frankness and amiablllty secur-
81 II him friends who esteemed and
q -o's hlm, and some of whom discharged
J ,9"aids him the last mOurnful duties of
q AAdHe>S and affection, and followed his
q remains to their last resting place. 10
n ,-'oe who manifested the deepest inter
ia y n iiIa success in his early struggle, he
3 .|a indulsed lively feelings OF graft
Z ,-ae and in some instance showed his
M on for them, by his conduct to their
eAdants, long after they had gone
t."A 10 the grave, for he was man OF
-.e >euslbillties and tender heart. He
'Ae layorably known to the commu-
which he lived as a man OF rare
a~. le and sterling worth, and lawyer OF
91Fe professional attainments. HIS
.r attracted the attention of the Gen
Haa5,elAbly, which in the year OF 1900
q T,s1 T. nm Judge of the Superior Courts
vs." ana Equity under the old District
t,.,I--NE eight years only after his removal
The p,.Jte sl4te The fact of his elevation to
the Jl.Ih nth after SO short a residence within
i!.'aIer5 of North Carolina, shows
VA. I1775! The high estimation in which he
Gilt >nr. pon the adoption Of the pres
contirtp55rlor lptrlor Court system, in 1906, he
3 c.rcIlit. g hold the office, and rode the
the year -1ga5,adlarly until near the close of