Grant P. Hall

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II

pg 193

Grant P. Hall, mayor of Charleston, has set some new standards of municipal 
administration in the State of West Virginia.  His life has been 
distinguished by faithfulness and well executed duties in several fields, 
education, business and public affairs.

Mayor Hall was born in Roane County, West Virginia, December 21, 1865, son of 
William and Isabel (Guinn) Hall, also natives of this state.  In 1866, the 
year after his birth, his parents moved to Kanawha County and located on a 
farm in Big Sandy District.  There Grant P. Hall grew to mature years.  He 
started life with a country school education, began teaching at the age of 
sixteen, and subsequently, in the intervals of teaching, he attended Marshall 
College at Huntington.  He taught altogether for ten years in Kanawha County, 
and he finished his education in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware.

Mr. Hall was elected county superintendent of schools for Kanawha County in 
1894, serving two years.  In 1896 he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, 
and filled that office six years.  While in office he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and in addition to his private practice he served for a 
time as assistant prosecuting attorney of Kanawha County and as a member of 
the County Court.  Later, giving up his law practice, Mr. Hall was for 
several years actively and successfully engaged in the real estate business 
at Charleston.

He was chosen mayor for the term of four years at the spring election of 
1919.  He entered the office at a critical time.  During the war all except 
the most indispensable public improvements had stopped and the city was far 
behind in its program of pavement, sidewalks, sewerage, street lighting and 
other needed facilities.  The execution of well considered and broad plans 
providing for such improvements has been carried forward with great vigor 
during Mr. Hall's administration.  Millions of dollars have been expended the 
last four years to make Charleston the modern city that it is.  These 
improvements have had to keep pace with the remarkable growth and expansion 
of Charleston territorially during the same period.  Mr. Hall has won the 
heartiest commendation and approval for his efficient, businesslike and 
honest administration.  It is an office to which he gives all his time, and 
he is in every sense the mayor of the city.  One great improvement that is 
likely to be considered a permanent memorial to his administration if the 
City Hall, constructed at a cost of $650,000.

A republican in politics, Mr. Hall for many years has been an influential and 
prominent figure in city, county and state politics.  In the general election 
of 1920 he was campaign manager for Ephraim F. Morgan, and the splendid 
majority rolled up for General Morgan testifies to Mr. Hall's efficiency as a 
political organizer.  During the war with Germany he was a member of nearly 
all the campaign committees and worked heartily for the success of every 
local quota.

He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church.  By his marriage to 
Miss Anna Steele Mr. Hall has six children:  Lucile, wife of J. A. Shanklin;  
Frank B., Harry A.,  Grant P., Jr.,  Marion S. and Isabel.


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