Peter H. Hall Biography


	This biography appears on pages 693-694 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	PETER H. HALL is one of the representative business men of the 
thriving little city of Hudson, Lincoln county, and is entitled to the 
distinction of being numbered among the sterling pioneers of the county 
and state, since he has here maintained his home for nearly thirty 
years, while he has gained success through his own efforts, having come 
to America as a young man and dependent upon his own resources for a 
livelihood. His career illustrates what is possible of accomplishment 
on the part of one who is animated by a spirit of self-reliance, energy 
and industry and who insistently guides his course along the clearly 
defined path of honor and integrity. Mr. Hall is a native of the far 
distant land of Norway, which has contributed so materially to the 
growth and normal development of the great northwestern section of our 
national domain. He was born in June, 1852, and was reared and educated 
in his native land, where he remained until he was twenty years of age, 
when he set forth to seek his fortunes in the new world, whither he 
came as a stranger in a strange land and unfamiliar with the language 
of the country. He arrived in New York city in the month of May, 1872, 
and thence made his way westward to Sioux City, Iowa, where he resided 
until the winter of 1874, being variously employed. He then came to 
Eden township, Lincoln county, South Dakota, where he took up a 
homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, being numbered among 
the first settlers in the county. He forthwith inaugurated the 
development of his farm, upon which he made excellent improvements, in 
the meanwhile adding to the area of the same until he became the owner 
of one hundred and sixty acres. He continued to reside on his place 
until 1887, when he removed to the village of Eden, which now bears the 
name of Hudson, and here engaged in the hardware and implement 
business, in which he successfully continued until the spring of 1893, 
when he disposed of the same. For the ensuing two years he was employed 
as traveling representative of the Deering Harvesting Machine Company, 
and then again took up his permanent abode in Hudson, where he 
purchased the lumber and coal business of Odell & Company, associating 
himself with H. C. Fitch, under the firm name of Hall & Fitch. In 
January, 1898, he purchased his partner's interest in the enterprise, 
which he has since conducted individually, controlling an excellent 
business and having the unqualified confidence of the community. In 
politics he has ever been a radical Republican and has done all in his 
power to further the party cause, while he has been called upon to 
serve in various local offices of public trust and responsibility. He 
and his wife are zealous members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and 
fraternally he is affiliated with Hudson Lodge, No. 62, Knights of 
Pythias.  

	On the 11th of April, 1872, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Johnson, of Norway, she being a native of that country.