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				ABNER AND HANNAH (MISTETTER) HALL.

ABNER HALL is one of the adopted children of our country who have helped to enrich her by their
sturdy character, and capability for and willingness to work, and to sacrifice generously for the 
sake of a home in a free land.  The subject of our sketch was born in Nottingham County, England,
December 12, 1833.  He was the son of Charles A. and Mary (Lidget) Hall.  During his early life 
in England he worked at whatever he could find to do, usually at very low wages.  The last year 
of his stay in that country brought him $38 in wage money.  He came to America at the age of 
nineteen years, settling in Portage County, Ohio, where he worked at farming, but at the age of 
twenty-three years he removed to Montcalm County, Mich., and settled in Sidney Township, where 
he now resides.  His first settlement was about two miles from his present home.  He found only 
a forest and saw no easy times.  He and his family bravely lived on Johnny cake and tea while he 
cleared the forest and built a log cabin.  At this time of great necessity he received $50 from 
relatives in England, and he could find but one man in the whole county who could cash the 
exchange; that man was J. M. Fuller, than residing at Greenville.
	Mr. Hall used to carry his provisions from Greenville to his home, a distance of some 
twelve miles on his back.  He often carried a load of one hundred pounds in this manner.  At one 
time he agreed with a neighbor that he would carry home, a distance of six miles, a large plow, 
and he kept his word.  In clearing his farm he cut down timber which would to-day be worth double
the value of land.  He sold this farm and about eighteen years ago moved to where he now resides,
one mile west of Sheridan, on a fine place of eighty acres, highly improved and of very fertile 
soil.  In the early days he once borrowed a neighbor's hoe and broke it during the first day's 
work.  He had to walk to town to buy another to replace it and was obliged to spend for it the 
money which his wife had laid aside to get him a pair of trousers.  His worthy companion supplied
the place of the lost articles of clothing by a pair made out of bed ticking, which her good 
husband bravely wore on Sundays.  Potatoes then cost $1.50 per bushel, and were paid for by days'
work at five bits, (sixty-two and one-half cents) per day.
	The subject of this sketch chose as his partner in life Hannah Mistetter.  Their union 
was celebrated November 24, 1853.  They have seven children, as follows:  Henry A., born August 
4, 1855, married Effa Savocool; Mary J., born October 30, 1857, married John Davis; George E.,
born June 1, 1860, married Eva Savocool; Emma J., Mrs. Peterman, was born June 16, 1862; Anna M.,
Mrs. Griggs, December 2, 1867; Elmer T., June 2, 1871; Jessie B., June 16, 1874.  All those 
children are living except the last two named.
	The subject of this sketch spent one year in the army, doing picket duty around 
Petersburg.  In this service he was twice wounded.  He is a Democrat in his political 
affiliations and is always active in promoting the interests of the community.



This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, 
MICHIGAN."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891.  Page 382.