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David H. Hall

A highly respected and successful citizen of West Union, Fayette county, is David H. Hall, who was born in New Jersey, February 25, 1844, the son of Daniel and Caroline (Tuttle) Hall, both born in New Jersey, the father being an iron worker, known in the parlance of that business as a puddler. He moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1850, where he continued his occupation for a period of four years. In 1854 he came to Winona, Minnesota, and bought a farm in that vicinity of one hundred and sixty acres, which he worked for some time, later went to Wisconsin and there farmed until his death.

To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hall eight children were born, seven of whom grew to maturity, four girls and three boys. David H. Hall, of this review, was educated in the Pittsburg schools, also went to school in Wisconsin. He showed his patriotism by entering the Union army in 1861, shortly before he was eighteen years of age, enlisting in Company 1, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry' known as the "Eagle Regiment," in which he served until the close of the war, experiencing some hard service in many campaigns and battles. After the war he returned to Wisconsin and took up farming. In 1865 he came to Iowa and remained one year, then returned to Wisconsin; remaining there until 1870, he returned to Iowa and located in Illyria township, Fayette county, purchasing a farm of eighty acres. He bought and sold several places, finally owned one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land where he carried on general farming very successfully. About 1892 he moved to the north edge of the town of West Union and there purchased twelve acres where he has since raised small fruit, making a specialty of strawberries.

Mr. Hall was married in September, 1865, to Mary A. Hidinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hidinger, who came from Saxminia, Germany. They came to America when young and located first in New York and in 1850 they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and lived on a farm.

To Mr. and Mrs. David H. Hall seven children were born, namely: Mary A., Orrin H., John H. and Winnie C., who died in infancy, and Ella M., Eva C. and Emma M., living. Ella is the wife of Fred Messerli, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Hall and his family are members of the Methodist-Episcopal church, and Mr. Hall is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Republican in politics and has taken considerable interest in local affairs, at one time serving as assessor of Illyria township, and he was secretary of the school board there for a period of seventeen years, serving in each capacity in an able and conscientious manner, winning and retaining the confidence and respect of all who knew him, as, indeed, he has done wherever he has lived."

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Evie Lamb