Hall, Adolphus M.

ADOLPHUS M. HALL, merchant, Guy’s Mills, was born May 5, 1848. His grandfather, Ansel Hall, born in 1796, was a native of Massachusetts, a farmer and cooper by occupation; in 1824 he settled on a quarter section in this township, which he subsequently divided among his three sons; he died in 1873. His wife, Clarissa (Spring) was also a native of New York, born in 1803, died in 1882, mother of three sons and one daughter: James A., Merritt W., David T., and Hannah, wife of Virgil G. Birchard. David T., the father of our subject, was born in this township, April 8, 1824, is a farmer by occupation and is still living. Sarah H., (Pike) his wife, born October 13, 1829, is also now living. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters: Orvelina and Adella (both deceased), Homer D., of the firm of Zigler, Hall & Lippet, of Meadville, and Adolphus M. Our subject after receiving a common school education, and six weeks before he was sixteen years of age, enlisted in Company F, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served to the close of the war, being discharged at the general muster. His father enlisted in the same company at the same time, but in the battle of the Wilderness received a wound in the neck and right arm which disabled him in this his first engagement. After his return home, our subject engaged for one year in farming, and then entered the employment of Thorp & Reynolds as book-keeper, remaining with them one year. In July, 1866, he formed a partnership with his father, purchasing the property then known as the "Crawford House," at Guy’s Mills, and opened a grocery store under the firm name of D.T. Hall & Son. The following spring they bought the general merchandise stock of Radle Bros., and in 1872 the firm became Hall & Sons, Homer Hall being taken into the partnership. In 1873 they built the store now occupied by K.S. Smith, and two years later the father retired, and the firm became A.M. Hall & Bro., continuing thus until 1879, when the firm dissolved and our subject erected the building he now occupies, branching into business for himself. His stock consists of general merchandise, with the addition of drugs and furniture, and he deals also extensively in lumber and shingles. From a poor man with but a few dollars, and only business ability to recommend him, he has gradually increased his stock in proportion to the demand, and as a result of his exertions he has the satisfaction of managing a large and prosperous business, which has steadily increased until his sales amount to about $40,000 annually. He was married October 6, 1874, to Miss Emma J., daughter of Hiram and Jane (Wade) Hatch, born in this township, July 17, 1853. Hiram Hatch and wife are the parents of five children: Carrie, Erbie, Harry, Frank, and Emma J.