Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 507.

E. P. Hall

E. P. Hall is one of the successful ranchers of Ventura County. His father, William Hall, was a native of Berkshire, Massachusetts, and his grandfather, Parker Hall, was born in Rhode Island, and was a soldier in the Revolution war. They were of English descent. Mr. Hall's mother, Sarah (Dyer) Hall, was born in West Troy, New York. Her father, William Dyer, was an early settler on the Hudson River, and used to run the first ferry across the river there. William Hall was twice married, and had eight children by the first wife and four by the second. The subject of this sketch was the youngest child by the first marriage, and was born August 14, 1833. His mother dying when he was a year and a half old, he was thus early in life bereft of her love and care, and when he was four years old he went to live with his aunt. Six years later she died, and he was then put on a farm to live until he was twenty-one years old, when he was to have a suit of clothes and $100. During that period he attended school a part of the time in the winter, and at other times he was engaged in work on the farm. As he terms it himself, he was educated with the hoe and between the plow handles. He may be said to have educated himself. He then taught school in the winter and worked on the farm, by the month, in the summer. The usual price for farm work was $10 per month, but a part of the time he received $13, because he was considered a reliable hand. He received $15 per month for his first school, and taught ten terms. In the fall of 1856 he went to Iowa, and taught and worked until he was able to buy 115 acres of land. This he improved by building, etc., the whole costing him $3,300. After living there ten years, he sold the place for $6,200. He then removed to Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, and bought 160 acres of land, unimproved, on which he erected buildings, residing there eight years. At that time it was considered one of the best improved farms in the township.

Mr. Hall spent the year 1882 in California, for the benefit of his wife's health. The changed of climate saved her life, and in 1884 they sold out and came to Ventura and bought their present comfortable home and thirty acres of land. The house and grounds are pleasant and attractive and the locality is delightful. Mr. Hall has acquired such a habit of industry that he would not be happy unless engaged in some active employment. Since coming to this sunny land he has devoted his time to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, has been more especially interested in the production of beans, having raised from 1,600 to 2,200 pounds to the acre. The price for Lima beans, in 1890, is $4 per hundred pounds.

October 19, 1859, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Ann Ballou, a native of Essex County, New York. The Ballou family were Rhode Island people, their ancestors having settled there with Roger Williams, in 1645. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two living children, Edward and Elmer E., both born in Farmersburg, Iowa. The older son resides in this valley, and the younger is now taking a scientific course of study in the university at Los Angeles. In Clayton, Iowa, Mr. Hall was elected Justice of the Peace, and served four years. He has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party. Both he and his wife and sons are members of the Methodist Church.

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Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.