James Smith Hall

Hall monument

I recently found this obituary of James Smith Hall at the historical society:

The village lost one of its oldest landmarks and one of its first pioneers, in the death of Mr. James Smith Hall, which took place at his home in Brooklyn, last Monday, Nov. 25th. He had a stroke of paralysis on Sunday morning about one o'clock, and was found lying unconscious half out of the bed, by his wife, a little while after. He was given proper care, and recovered consciousness until along in the afternoon, and then was unconscious until his death on Monday about noon.

Mr. Hall was in his 87th year, and was the son of James Hall, who lived near where Mr. Aaron W. Sarles's house now stands. He was identified with the early history of the village, having been its first railroad agent in 1847, and in the building now occupied by Mr. B. C. Tompkins as a dwelling. There he also kept a general store, and had the Post Office, when on Dec. 20th, 1850, he was appointed the first Postmaster of the village. In that same building was also held the first religious meeting ever held in the village, for he and his family were devout Methodists, and prayer meetings were frequently held there.

There, also, was established the first school in the village, when Mr. Hall and Mr. David Moger fitted up a room in the building, and hired a teacher to come there and hold school. That was the first establishment of a school in this village.

Mr. Hall married Miss Eliza Ann Fish, a sister of the late M. W. Fish, of New Castle Corners, in 1831, and she survives him, aged 83 years; also, two sons - Rev. Geo. A. Hall, secretary of the New York State Y. M. C. A., and Jonathan Hall, of Brooklyn, and a daughter Mrs. Mary Yeamans. He also leaves three brothers: J. Fletcher Hall; Isaac, New York; and Benjamin, out West.

A noteworthy fact about Mr. Hall's good health and sound constitution is shown by the fact that during all the 64 years of his married life he was never sick in bed for a day, and never had to call in a doctor.

Mr. Hall and his family lived here for a good number of years, and saw the village grow to be quite a thriving busy place. But for a number of years past they have lived in Brooklyn; and for several years his health has been failing and his sight and hearing much impaired.

The following biographical sketch of James Smith Hall was taken from a 1984 report on the cemetery housed at the historical society.

James Smith Hall, son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Hall of the Byram Lake, Sarles Street area in the town of New Castle. He was born July 24, 1810. In 1830 he married Eliza Ann Fish, another well-known Methodist family in the area. Both of their families entertained the first bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this country, Francis Asbury.

Smith Hall, as he was known as [sic], was the first stationmaster in Kisco Depot, the settlement near the depot, after the train came to that area in 1847, the Harlem Division of the New York Central Railroad.

Eliza and Smith Hall held Methodist meetings in their home, continuing in the pattern of their parents in New Castle.

The first school in that area met in his building at the depot. The first general store and post office also found housing there. In 1850 Smith Hall was appointed postmaster.

James Smith Hall and his wife Eliza Fish Hall left this area to live in Brooklyn about 1865. He died November 25, 1895, ae 87 at their Brooklyn residence. Eliza (born September 15, 1813) died July 3, 1902.

The Hall monument, which is in the Methodist section of the cemetery, also commemorates Smith and Eliza's children, Abram V. (1834-1865); Ann Maria (1839-1879), who married John S. Cornell and moved with her parents to Brooklyn; and Mary Elizabeth (1843-1898), who married farmer James Yeamans and remained in New Castle.

Hall monument

1. Jonathan/James? Hall m. Elizabeth
1. James Smith Hall (1810-1895) m. Eliza Ann Fish (1813-1902)
1. Abram V. Hall (1834-1865)
2. Ann Maria Hall (1839-1879) m. Jonathan S. Cornell (1832-)
1. George H. Cornell (1863-)
2. William H. Cornell (1865-)
3. Minnie Cornell (1869-)
3. Mary Elizabeth Hall (1843-1898) m. James Yeamans (1843-)
1. Susan A. Yeamans (1868-)
2. Eliza H. Yeamans (1870-)