Hall, Orlando A., M.D.

HALL, DANIELS, MCFERREN, BAKER, QUACKENBUSH

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/17/2010 at 16:57:41

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, p.148.

ORLANDO A. HALL, M. D.

Holding to high professional standards. Dr. Orlando A. Hall has throughout the period of his practice in Webster City, beginning in 1876, made continuous progress in his chosen life work. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1848, a son of Samuel Clark and Lucy A. (Daniels) Hall. The parents came to Iowa in 1856, settling in Webster County, where the father followed farming until 1864. He then left the fields to establish his home in the county seat of Hamilton County, where he remained for a year. In 1865, however, he purchased a farm a mile north of Webster City, upon which he and his wife resided until he retired from active business life, possessing a comfortable competency which enabled him to spend his remaining days without recourse to further labor. Here he passed away November 28, 1895, at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife died in 1901, at the age of seventy-four.

Dr. Hall supplemented his public-school education by a more specifically literary course in the Iowa State University at Iowa City. A review of the great field of business led him to the determination to make the practice of medicine his life work and with this end in view he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk. Later he became a student in the Medical College of Cincinnati and was graduated in 1876 with the M. D. degree. He has since taken post-graduate work in the New York Post Graduate Medical School of New York City, receiving therefrom a diploma in 1888. He also pursued post-graduate work at Edinburgh, Scotland. He opened an office in Webster City in 1876 and has here remained continuously since, save for a period of four years spent in the west on account of his wife's health. His practice has steadily grown with the passing years as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems concerning the checking of the ravages of disease and the restoration of health. He is physician for the Illinois Central Railroad and also was county physician for a considerable period. He belongs to the International Railway Surgical Society and to the State Railway Surgical Society and thus keeps in close touch with the advanced work that is being done by eminent members of the profession throughout the state and country. In addition to the practice of medicine Dr. Hall is known in financial circles as a director of the Farmers National Bank of Webster City.

Dr. Hall has been married twice. In June, 1876, he wedded Miss Frankie McFerren, a daughter of W. D. McFerren, who is a retired agriculturist residing in Webster City. She passed away in August, 1884, leaving one child, Ray E., whose birth occurred on the 18th of December, 1881, and who is now a practicing physician of Portland, Oregon. Dr. Ray E. Hall married Miss Susan Baker and has two sons. On the l0th of November, 1885, Dr. O. A. Hall was again married, his second union being with Miss Ida McFerren, a native of Webster City and a sister of his first wife. They are the parents of three children, as follows: Forrest F., who was born on the 30th of August, 1886; Ralph, whose birth occurred on the 24th of December, 1887; and Clyde W., whose natal day was June 27, 1890. Dr. Forrest F. Hall, a practicing physician of Webster City, wedded Miss Lorena Quackenbush in August, 1911.

Dr. Hall and his family reside at No. 745 Bank street and theirs is an attractive home — a favorite resort among their friends. Dr. Hall gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in addition to serving as county physician he was county coroner at one time. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church.

At all times he is interested in the material, intellectual, social, political and moral progress of the community and ever casts his influence on the side of right and progress. His position is never an equivocal one. He stands as a loyal supporter of all principles in which he believes and of all projects which he deems beneficial to the community. Almost his entire life has been passed in Iowa. He was a lad of only eight years when his parents removed to Webster County and through the ensuing period, covering fifty-six years, he has witnessed many changes here, rejoicing ever at what has been accomplished along the lines of progress and bearing his part in the work of general development.