The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-03-19
Lives to Greet a
Second Century

Thomas Harvey Halle, our venerable
and revered townsman, last Monday,
March Is, 1920, passed his hundredth
birthday anniversary, and entered up.
on his second century, at the home OF
his daughter, Mrs. Edward Byington.
Mr.. Halle was born March Is, 1920, IN
what is now St. Francois county, and
reared on a farm near Big River.
Missouri had not then been form
ally admitted into the Union as
State, but in that year a convention
was held under act of Congress TO
frame a State Constitution, though
formal admission was not proclaimed
until August, 1921. st. Francois
county was subsequently formed out
of parts of Ste. Genevieve county
and adjacent territory.
Mr.. Haile's hundredth anniversary
was observed and celebrated by his
children and many of his friends in
sending floral and other gifts, cards
and messages of love and good will.
An incident of the day in the way OF
uniqueness was a long congratulatory
letter from Rev. Geo. w. Harlan, who
is rounding out his ninety-seventh
year. These two aged and remark
able men have been for many years
warm personal friends, enjoying each
others society and confidence as co.
religionists-bothb being devoted Chris
tians of the Presbyterian faith--and
as lifelong Democrats in political
principles. Mr.. Harlan was not able
to call on his old friend on this oc-
casion, but the last time they met,
when they parted they, put their arms
about each other like loving comrades
and kissed each other-no, not good
bye, but au revoir.
Among the gifts several are worth
particular mention: One from DIR. and
Mrs. Brad j. Robinson beautiful
floral display of one hundred carna-
tions with one special beauty in the
center "to grow on" Then there was
large birthday cake decorated with
one hundred small wax candles and
larger central one to mark the first
year of his second century, the gift
of Mrs. John L. Swink. Mrs. Carrie
Eichorn of st. Louis came down es-
pecially to be present on this occasion
and presented Mr.. Halle with de-
lightfully comfortable lounging robe.
AS it was wrapped about him he said,
zone ought to want to live hundred
wears for this" A beautiful basket
of flowers was sent by the Presbyter-
ian church, gifts of fruit from Florida
by his son, w. T. Halle, and there were
potted plants and other tokens OF re-
gard. 1t was an all-day reception and
refreshments were served all callers
in most graciously pressing manner
by Mrs. Byington.
Born ir st. Francois county hum
fdred years ago, MIR. Haile's life has
been closely identified with its growth
and progress all these years, If two
or three years spent in the early gold
exodus to California may be excepted.
His father, Thomas Halle, a native
South Carolinian, came to this terri
tory at an early date and subsequent
ly married Mrs. Margaret Montgom-
cry (born Eads), native of the Mis-
souri, territory, and Thomas Harvey
spent the period preceding his twen-
tieth year on the farm with his par
cnts. At that age he began farming
on his own account in Perry town.
ship. He served the county as As
SCISSOR shortly after this, but the
emoluments of the office were not
what they are now. The assessable
wealth of the county was small and he
received for his work about $50 In
1874, at the age of "a years, he was
elected to represent st. Francois coun-
ty in the General Assembly of the
State, in which capacity he served one
term.
Public life, however, did not appeal
to him, so in 1919, being unmarried,
he was attracted by the hegira to the
gold fields of California. He crossed
the plains with caravan of gold
seekers and after several months
reached his goal, where he succeeded
in accumulating a nice little bag of
gold nuggets. Returning home by
water, via the Isthmus of Panama, he
and some others formed a company,
bought about 900 head of cattle, and
in 1852 started across the plains with
them for California. 1t was tedious
trip, accompanied by hardships and
dangers, and they lost more than one
third of their cattle in crossing the
sterile deserts and by Indian depreda-
tions. It proved anything but prof
table venture, Again he started home
by water The ship in which he sailed
was wrecked in the Caribbean sea and
he and thirty-six others were ma
rooned on desolate rocky island for
thirty-six days, subsisting principal
ly or altogether on sea gull eggs, be-
fore they were rescued by passing
ship.
Home again, he resumed his occu-
patton of farming, and in 1866 was
married to Mrs. Anna E. Tate, ma
tive of Polk county, Mo-, and a daugh-
+ ter of William and Millie A. Campbell.
Since then he has led the even tenor
Of his way, interested in both his own
affairs and those Of his neighbors and
the county. A man Of rare and up
right traits Of character, he was re-
spected and trusted by all who came
within his sphere Of influence, and
prospered as he deserved. There were
born to his marriage five children:
| Ella LIZ Mrs. ]. r. Flowers), William
Thomas, Margaret MRS. Edward By
ington), Harvey B. and Oscar L, all
of whom are living. His wife died