Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Hall, Walter T. 1857 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2013, 4:59 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

WALTER T. HALL.

Walter T. Hall is at the head of one of the most important productive industries
and business enterprises of Ottumwa, being senior partner in the confectionery
manufacturing firm of Walter T. Hall & Company. Under his direction and capable
management this business has grown steadily from a small beginning to one of
extensive proportions and is a source of benefit and profit to the city as well
as to the individual stockholders.

Mr. Hall is a native of Wapello county, and his record is one in which his
fellow townsmen feel pride. His birth occurred in 1857, upon the old home farm
ten miles north of Ottumwa, his parents being James and Evelyn (Worley) Hall,
both of whom were natives of Ohio, born near Portsmouth. The Hall family came
from England and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of Walter T.
Hall. The Worley family is of German lineage and both families were established
in Ohio during pioneer times. It was in 1823 that Evelyn Worley was born and in
early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to James Hall. In 1853 they left
that state for Iowa and established their home upon the farm in Wapello county
upon which occurred the birth of their son Walter. There the father carried on
general agricultural pursuits for five years, or until 1858, when his life's
labors were terminated in death. His widow continued to reside upon the farm for
many years and then removed to Quincy, Illinois. She afterward returned to
Ottumwa, however, in 1880 and now resides in Agency with a daughter. She is a
well preserved woman of ninety-one years, having excellent health for one of her
age, while her mind is clear and bright. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born four
children: Victoria, now deceased; Carrie, the wife of F. C. Byers of
Summerville, Oregon; Julia, the wife of John Connelly of Agency, Iowa; and Walter
T.

The last named remained upon the old home farm until ten or twelve years of age,
when he accompanied his mother to Quincy and there resided until January, 1880.
He then returned to Ottumwa, where he has since made his home. His education was
completed by a high-school course in Quincy, and early in his business career he
entered the employ of T. H. Mason & Company, manufacturers of baking powder,
extracts, spices, etc. He removed to Ottumwa to enter business with H. M.
Cockerill under the firm name of Cockerill & Hall, manufacturers of and
wholesale dealers in baking powder, extracts, teas and spices. Their business
proved a growing one and the partnership was continued until 1885, when Mr. Hall
purchased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor, conducting the
business alone until 1890, when he was joined by his brother-in-law, W. S.
Vinson, while in 1892 J. W. Coen was admitted to the firm and remained a member
for about three years. The last named had been with the house as traveling
salesman for a number of years.

At the time the firm of Cockerill & Hall was dissolved Mr. Hall began the
manufacture of candy, of which that firm had been jobbers for a few years. He
started the manufacturing business in a two-story building on Third street. His
trade grew steadily and in order to meet the demands of the business he added
other space from time to time in the same block until eventually he was
occupying a half block, consisting of three fronts. Later he extended the rear
to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet and thus had a half block of buildings
which he occupied entirely—three floors and basement. Still the business
continued to grow until it exceeded the quarters occupied and a few years ago
Mr. Hall and his partner Mr. Vinson purchased the entire block between Market
street and the alley, with a frontage of one hundred and thirty-two feet and a
depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The building is three stories and basement
and he occupies the entire building save a room of about forty feet in width.
Something of the growth and extent of the business as it is today is indicated
in the fact that employment is now furnished to one hundred and twenty-five
people in the factory, while twelve traveling salesmen are kept upon the road,
their territory being largely Missouri and Iowa. The business, constantly
increasing, has become one of the most important manufacturing interests of
Ottumwa and this section of the state. Mr. Hall also has other interests. He is
the vice president of the Citizens' Savings Bank and a director of the First
National Bank. He also owns a controlling interest in the firm of Connelly
Brothers & Hall, manufacturers of gloves in Chicago. Thus his interests have
constantly broadened and, reaching out along ramifying lines, have covered a
wide territory. His plans and purposes are always well defined and promptly
executed and he possesses a spirit of enterprise that carries him easily over
the difficult places in his path and enables him to reach the goal of success.

In 1886 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M. Vinson, a native of
Indiana and a daughter of Stephen Vinson. This marriage has been blessed with
two children: Adine V., who graduated from Smith College of Massachusetts with
the class of 1914; and Evelyn May, who will complete a course in the high school
of Ottumwa in 1915.

Mr. Hall gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He is without
ambition for office, although he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship.
Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his social
nature finds expression in his membership in the Country Club and the Wapello
Club. He is also president of the Commercial Association and is in hearty
sympathy with the purposes of that organization, which seeks the material
benefit of the city and also progress along many civic lines. His religious
faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is an active, earnest church
worker, serving as elder in the First Presbyterian church. He is a director in
the Open Door Mission, organized for evangelical and benevolent purposes. Manly
and sincere in action, honorable in purpose, his life has been one of signal
usefulness to the community in which he makes his home, for his business
activities have been of a character that have contributed to the general
prosperity as well as to individual success.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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