Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-10-03
OBITUARY.
HENRY MARTIN HALL

HENRY MARTIN HALL.
On Monday morning last died at
seventy years of age, at his home in Els
| worth. one Of its most conspicuous and
best-known citizens, Henry Martyr Hall.
| He was In earlier days a veritable captain
| of industry, commanding industrial
forces all along the line from the head
| waters Of Union river to Boston. In later
| days he was conspicuous for unremitting
| activity, energy and courage under moot
| discouraging circumstances. By his death
| a marked character disappears from view.
{ Mr.. Hall was born in Ellsworth on the
Hall farm pesr Brimmer's bridge, Feb
ruary p, 1s3oA He was the son OF Barlow
Hall, a welI-knowu citizen in that day.
| Henry, as a lad, attended the common
schools OF Ellsworth, and worked on the
| farm with his father and brothers, until
| he was about nineteen years old when,
with characteristic energy aud pluck, b
and younger brother, Barlow, went to
the California mines in the rough days OF
1919.
They returned after q few years with
several thousand dollars gained by hard
work aud severe economy. This sum
they decided to invest in a lumber BUSH
ness to be carried on by them
selves and their younger brothers,
Seth, Asa and OtbniaI, and by
| their half brother, Lorenzo ID. Foster.
These united in partnership nnder the
style Of II. NJ. & b. Hall, which Arm
and name have continued in business for
nearly half a century through widely
varying fortunes.
Their first purchase OF mill property
| was the Miller mill in 1855, which mill
| sfterward became known as Halls upper
| mill. In 1869 they purchased the Black
| mill on the west side of tho lower dam,
and since known as Halls lower mill.
| They also purchased large parts OF sew
eral townships Of timber land on Union
| river. They then had by far
the largest plant on the river.
They leased wharves and lumber yards
| near Boston, and thus controlled their
whole business from the stump, down the
river, through the mills and on to the
consumer. To more efectuaily ensure
this control they buiit in Ellsworth some
half dozen large schooners for the freight
| ing OF their lumber, besides some larger
vessels for general freig hting.
At times their annual output was up
wards Of ten million OF long lumber with
a correspondingiy large amount OF shin
giles, laths, box shocks and slaves. There
was no place in their business for women
or children, but only for adult, strong
men, yet at times they had 500 men In
tneiremploy.
Being optimistic and courageous the
firm did not sufficiently appreciate the
depth to which prices were bound to fall
after the Initiation OF the Civil war had run
it's course. The crash came upon them at
time when their business and credit
were most exteaded. Though many
suffered by the failure. these mourned
as much for the Halls as for themselves
and readily released hem from their de bt
The firm made vigorous efforts to re-
cover their former position, but dimin-
ished credit, increased expenses and I'M
toward disasters prevented full success
Set and Asa died. Barlow lost his eye
sight from an accident In the planning
mill. Mr.. Hall himself WAS, a year ago,
greatly shattered in health by partial
paralysis. Still, in spite of these disasters,
Mr.. Hall and his firm have kept in BUSH
ness to he end.
Mr.. Hail, in the days OF his vigor, won
he sffectionate regard of all his en-
ployees, and his influence was great and
for time unequaled throughout Union
river valley. Ia his later days, " hen less
vigorous and less fortunate, he WAS al
ways regarded sffectionsteiy by the COM
munity Tor the good he haa done, and for
his continued courage and uncomplain-
ing fortiiude. His death has caused ten
der memories and regr all along Union
river from It's source 10 the sea.
In 1854, soon after commencing business,
Mr.. Hail married Mary, the daughter OF
Benjamin Joy, one of The early settlers OF
Ellsworth and substantial citizen. Five
children we're born to them, Of whom
three survive-Mary. the wife OF Henry
w. Cushman, of Ellsworth; Henry Mar
tyn, lawyer OF Florence, Ala, and
Harold, still of Ellsworth. All these were
with him at the time of his death. Mrs
Hall died about yeRr ago.
The funeral was held from the house
Tuesday forenoon, Rev. J. Nj. Adams
officiating.