William P. Hale, b. 4 May 1844

PHELAN, SMITH

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:34:59

William P. Hale, of section 8, Monmouth Township, is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Phelan) Hale, was born in Brandt County, Canada, May 4, 1844, and there resided on the farm until he attained his majority. In 1865 he accompanied his family to Iowa, and resided in Monmouth Township until 1869, when he removed to Linn County, Iowa, where he purchased land in Spring Grove Township, and there resided until 1879. Becoming dissatisfied there, he sold his property and purchased a farm in Benton County, near Marysville, where he owned eighty acres. In 1882, he returned and settled in Jackson County, where he has since resided. He owns 170 acres of land, upon which he has made excellent improvements, and where he carries on stock-farming.

In 1875, our subject married Mary E. Smith, daughter of J.M. and Charlotte Smith. She was born in 1855, in Montgomery County, Ind. J.M. Smith was born in New York, and his wife in Ohio. In 1867, the family removed from Indiana to Iowa, where they settled in Benton County, and where they resided until 1889, at which time they removed to Union Park, where they own a large farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Hale have had three children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other two, J. Irvin and Garry A., are still living. Politically, a Democrat, the subject of our sketch has held several local offices, is an esteemed member of the I.O.O.F. and in honored connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Thomas Hale, the father of our subject, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1811, being a son of William and Ellen Hale. They were blest with a family of seven children: Hugh, Ellen, Nancy, William, John, James and Thomas. Thomas and William are the only ones who came to the United States. The former was very young when the family removed to Schotland where he grew up and there married Margaret Phelan. Two years after Queen Victoria took the throne they came to America, and first stopped in Canada, where our subject engaged in farming. He had previously followed mining.

Leaving Canada in 1864, Thomas Hale came to Iowa, and settled in Monmouth Township, where he improved 138 acres of land, on which he erected good buildings, and is known as an enterprising and successful farmer. He has now sold out to his son. Of the nine children of our subject and his wife seven are now living; one having died young, and another after being married. Our subject is the eldest living; the others are Ellen, John, Agnes, Thomas, W.P., Sarah and Jane. In religion our subject is of the Evangelical Church.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)