For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 232
MERCER M. HALL. Mercer M. Hall, who has lived retired at West Liberty since 1903, was for many years actively and successfully identified with farming interests in Muscatine county, thus winning the competence that now enables him to spend the evening of life in well earned ease. His birth occurred in Knox county, Ohio, on the 9th of May, 1831, his parents being David and Sarah ( Sutton ) Hall, both of whom are deceased. They had three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Amos, a resident of Macon county, Missouri; Mercer M., of this review; and Rebecca, who has passed away.While still an infant Mercer M. Hall was taken by his parents to Delaware county, Ohio, where he obtained his education and continued to reside until 1855. In that year he removed to Green county, Wisconsin, but at the end of twelve months came to West Liberty, Iowa, taking up a quarter section of land five miles from the town. The district was still largely undeveloped and but sparsely settled, and Mr. Hall experienced all the privations and hardships incident to life in a pioneer community. Wishing to develop a farm, he began breaking the land, utilizing four yoke of oxen for this purpose. The weather was intensely hot and as there was no shade except that furnished by the house, the oxen, as they approached it, would crowd so closely to the small shaded spot that Mr. Hall feared they would push his little cabin over, it being constructed in the primitive manner of those early times. Wild animals were numerous in the neighborhood and it was a difficult matter to protect the turkeys and poultry from the prowling wolves. In the years which have since passed Mr. Hall has witnessed a most wonderful transformation as the evidences of pioneer life have given way before the onward march of civilization. He devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire active business career and met with a well merited success in his undertakings. In 1903 he put aside the active work of the fields, disposed of his holdings and took up his abode in West Liberty, where he has since made his home with his son, J. C. Hall.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Hall chose Miss Sophia Means, of Ohio, by whom he had six children, three of whom are deceased; Ada, Burr and Harry D. Hall. J. C. Hall, one of the three surviving children, has been twice married. By his first wife he had two children, Harry W., and Sarah Bertha Hall. His present wife bore the maiden name of Belinda Harris. Elenora E. Hall is the widow of J. P. Nichols, of West Liberty, by whom she has one child, Nellie B. Sarah Elizabeth Hall wedded Clark Nichols, an agriculturist, who is now engaged in the hardware business at West Liberty.
In politics Mr. Hall is a republican, while in religious faith he is a Methodist. The period of his residence in Muscatine county covers fifty-four years and he is well and favorably known throughout the community. He has passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey and can look back over the past without regret anf forward to the future without fear.
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