George W. Hall

GEORGE W. HALL, deceased, for many years one of the prominent, influential citizens of Parsons, Kansas, was a blacksmith and machinist by trade. He was a man of sound principles, and of the strict integrity, and his death was sincerely regretted by all who knew him. Mr. Hall was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1824, and was a son of John Hall. John Hall was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1805, and died in the same county, in 1824.

George W. Hall, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of a blacksmith and machinist, and in 1852 moved to Fairfax, Virginia, where he was engaged in the manufacture of plows. In 1861, the Confederates destroyed his property, and he barely escaped death, being obliged to crawl on his hands and knees, for 16 miles through brush in order to save his life. He journeyed on, and finally reached Washington, D. C., where he joined the Pioneer Corps, and was made a captain in the regiment. He was mustered out in 1865, and returned to Fairfax, Virginia. In 1871, Mr. Hall decided to locate in the West, and accordingly removed to Parsons, Kansas, where he became superintendent of the water tanks of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, between Junction City and Pryor Creek, Indian Territory. In 1874, Mr. Hall went into the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway shops at Parsons, as a machinist, and worked there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1883. He died of pneumonia, after having been sick but one day. He was greatly loved by all his fellow workmen, as he was ever ready to lend a helping hand, and to assist those in trouble. He was a good and faithful workman, and his employers reposed great confidence in him.

Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Lucy Golden, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1838. She is a daughter of James and Margaret (Syphers) Golden; Mr. Golden was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1800, and his wife was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1802, and her death occurred in Blacksville. Virginia, in 1854. Mr. Golden was engaged in operating a large woolen mill at Blacksville. His death occurred in that city, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Golden reared the following children: James W., who located in Kansas in 1854; Margaret, deceased; Louisa, of Blacksville, Virginia; Henry, of Colorado; Addie (Christley), deceased; Harford, of Jacksonville, Pennsylvania; Josiah, and Modock, both, deceased; Fannie (Franks), of Burton, Virginia; and Lucy.

Mrs. Hall traveled, in 1895, as correspondent for the Waynesburg (Pennsylvania) Republican, and the Oswego Independent, passing through the Southern States, Cuba, and Jamaica. She is widely known in Labette county, where she is living in section 26, Liberty township.