Re: Thomas M. Hall b-1856 in Georgia lived in Texas & OK
-
In reply to:
Thomas M. Hall b-1856 in Georgia lived in Texas & OK
Silly Mayfield 2/04/05
Please email me at [email protected] ref. Alford P. Hall - see bio below.Alford P. hall is my ggg-grandfather.He was in Gordon Co., GA 1870, Fannin co., TX 1880 and Okla Ind. Terr (now Bryan Co., OK) in 1900.In a storm in 1890's Alford P. Hall lost almost everything he owned and was forced into bankruptcy.My g-grandmother, Martha Cook Winkler used to speak about the day the raging Red River washed away her grandfather's house, barns, and warehouse.
Biographical Souvenir of State of Texas, pp. 350, 353
Mayor Alford P. Hall, of the firm of A. P. Hall & Son, Ravenna, Fannin county, general merchants and traders in farming lands, city lots and stock, was born in Habersham county, Georgia (sic - 1860 & 1870 was in Gordon Co., TN), September 28, 1828, where he passed his years until 1870, when he went to Tennessee, and thence in 1876, came to Texas.
Alford B. Hall, father of Alford P., was a native of South Carolina and settled in Georgia when a young man.He became a major of militia and afterward a judge of the inferior court.He married Mary Guess, daughter of James Guess, of South Carolina, and had born to him six children--Alford P., James, Mary (who was married to James McCracken), Elmira (married to T. M. Bothwell), Van Buren and Napoleon b.
Alford P. hall, whose name heads this sketch, was reared a blacksmith.In 1850 he married Sarah A. Howell, daughter of Jesse Howell, of Tennessee, and from this union sprang the following children--Josephine (Married to William Cook), Thomas M., Zachariah W., Jess A., William H., and Laura A.
In 1862 Mr. Hall enlisted in the First Georgia Confederate regiment and was placed on post duty; afterward he was detailed to duty in the machine shops at Atlanta to repair and make guns; at this and at post duty he continued until the close of the war, when he returned to his home and resumed blacksmithing for awhile, then went to Tennessee, worked in the machine shops, then, in 1876, came to Texas and settled in Fannin county, where he farmed until 1884, when he entered into mercantile trade on the red river.In 1887 he moved to Ravenna, Fannin county, and with his son opened his present extensive store.When he first came to Texas he was possessed of the enormous capital of fifteen cents in cash and a few teams but he is now quite wealthy and is mayor of Ravenna.He is a free Mason and an Odd Fellow, and his office is an indication of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.