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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Fred R. Hall

Fred R. Hall, interested in farming in Dawson township, is one of America’s adopted sons, who in his progressive citizenship proves himself most loyal to the interests of this country. He was born in England on the 2d of March, 1870, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Binder) Hall. It was in the year 1871 that they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and the father died in eastern Iowa in 1873, at the comparatively early age of twenty-six years, leaving three sons: George, now a resident of Dallas county, Iowa; Fred R., of this review; and Charlie, who is living in Des Moines county, Iowa. Mrs. Hall afterward married again, becoming the wife of John Hall, a brother of her first husband, and there were five children born by that marriage, as follows: John T., in Polk county; Mrs, Ida Nelson, whose home is in Boone county; Mrs. Eliza Wamacks, of Dallas county; and Stella and Frank, who are at home with their parents. Following the mother’s second marriage the family removed from Des Moines county, where they had located on coming to the new world, while later they lived in Osceola county and afterward in Boone county. There the mother still makes her home, at the age of sixty-one years.

Fred R. Hall of this review spent his boyhood days in Des Moines and Polk counties and is indebted to the public-school system of the state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. When eighteen years of age he left home and went to Nebraska, where he spent two years, after which he returned to Iowa. He was then married in Burlington, on the 16th of May, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Marie Thielen, whose parents were natives of Germany and the father is still a resident of Des Moines county but tne mother’s death occurred in 1898, when she was fifty-eight years of age. In their family were six children, of whom four are living, namely: Garrett, whose home is in Oklahoma; Mrs. Lena Wemie, living in Henry county, Iowa; Mrs. Hall, of this review; and Mrs. Hannah Duckendoff, of Des Moines county. Mrs. Hall came with her parents to America in 1882 and the family home was established in Des Moines county, where she lived up to the time of her marriage. This union has been blessed with three children, Lester, Aneta and Mabel.

Following his marriage Mr. Hall began farming on his own account and followed that pursuit in Henry, Des Moines and Polk counties in the cultivation of land which he rented. Saving what he could from his earnings he came to Greene county in 1899 and here bought one hundred acres of his present farm, which was then wild prairie and possibly the last piece of raw land in Greene county. He soon broke the sod, and the plow and harrow did their work, so that in course of time the planting was followed by the growing grain, ultimately resulting in good harvests. After some time Mr. Hall purchased sixty acres of land which he began to improve. He has fenced his farm, has installed a good system of drainage, placing two thousand rods of tiling on the farm, and has built a comfortable residence. His place presents a very attractive appearance and in fact seems as well developed and improved as do the farms of some of his neighbors who have lived much longer in this locality. He is very active and energetic, working untiringly to accomplish the task to which he has set himself, and as the years have gone by he has achieved a measure of prosperity that is indeed very gratifying.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hall are worthy members of the Friends church. He has been interested in community affairs and endorses every plan and movement for the public good, at the same time giving hearty co-operation to many measures which have been directly beneficial to the county. For four years he was township trustee. He believes that every man has a right to his own views and opinions upon the question of politics and religion. He gives his political support to the republican party and is opposed to machine rule or to any ring dictating the political affairs of any locality. He believes that the ballot box should be the free expression of public opinion and he stands for high ideals in citizenship, being opposed to anything like misrule in public affairs.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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