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    The HON. JOHN HALE, of Wapello, in this county, was born on the 8th day of August, 1825, in Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio. His parents were John Hale and Asenath Searl. His father was a native of Virginia, and followed through life the honorable avocation of a mechanic, and died in the year 1845, in this county. John, at an early age, had acquired his father’s trade, and in 1839 accompanied his father’s family to this county, settling near Toolsborough. It will be here proper to remark that the family moved first from Ohio to Putnam County, Ill., and were amongst the first settlers of that county. From Putnam County they came here. From the time of his arrival in this county up to about the year 1856, Mr. Hale’s time and energies were employed at his trade.

    While his early education was quite limited, it will be in taste to observe that he has through life been a close reader and a keen observer, and in 1856 was elected clerk of the district court, moving immediately to Wapello, where he has continued to reside. The duties of this office he discharged so satisfactorily to the people that he was re-elected six times, going out of office in 1871. It will not be improper to here say that the solicitation of friends compelled him to first seek for this honor by the franchise of the people. In 1871, he began the practice of law in Wapello, and has attained a rank as one of the first jurists of our county. His practice is large, and employs his whole time and attention.

    In 1848, he was united in marriage to Ester palmer, a daughter of Nathaniel Palmer, for some years deceased, and one of the earliest settlers of this county, coming in the spring of 1838 from Indiana, and settling near Toolsborough. Mr. Hale’s first wife died in 1862, leaving four children.

    In 1866, he was united in marriage to Clara Rhodes, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Grafton Rhodes, a prominent settler of Des Moines County, in this state. By his second wife, Mr. Hale is the father of three children, two of whom are living. Politically, he is a republican; voted first for General Scott. He was a strong Whig while that party had a distinctive organization, and on its dismemberment, identified himself with the great Republican Party. Religiously, he is a decided Universalist. Socially, he is very pleasant and affable, is very modest and unassuming, and entirely devoid of sinister motives. On account of the unusually active pursuits of his life time, his constitution is somewhat broken; but the writer anticipates for him, with proper care, years yet of honorable and happy existence.