History of North Bloomfield, (Ontario County) New York United States of America

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Irving Hale, soldier and scientist, was born in North Bloomfield, N.Y., Aug. 28, 1861; son of Horace Morrison and Eliza (Huntington) Hale; and grandson of John and Jane (Morrison) Hale, and of Leonard and Hannah (Reed) Huntington. He removed to Colorado with his parents in 1865, attended the public school in Central City, Col., of which his father was principal; was graduated from the Denver, Col., high school in 1877, the youngest and highest in his class, and was graduated from the U.S. military academy, June 14, 1884, again standing first in the class with a total of 2070.4 out of a possible 2075, the highest record ever attained at the academy. He was lieutenant of engineers, U.S.A., June 15, 1884; was promoted 1st lieutenant Sept. 16, 1886; was quartermaster and commissary, battalion of engineers, 1886-87; instructor in engineering, U.S. military academy, 1888-89; and resigned his commission in the army, April 1, 1890. In 1888 he represented the battalion of engineers in the division of the Atlantic rifle competition, winning the first skirmish medal and also the first gold medal for highest total score at known distances and skirmishing. After leaving the army he was electrical engineer of the Edison general electric company and of the General electric company, and manager of the Rocky Mountain district of the latter company, 1890-98. He was successively lieutenant-colonel, colonel and brigadier-general of the National Guard of Colorado, 1897-98, and on the call for volunteers in the war with Spain was made colonel of the 1st Colorado infantry, U.S. volunteers, May 1, 1898. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, U.S. volunteers, to date from Aug. 18, 1898, "for gallant and distinguished services during the assault on Manila." He commanded the 2d brigade, 2d division, 8th army corps, from Sept, 7, 1898, to July 5, 1899, serving in the opening engagement of the insurrection in the Philippines, Feb. 4-5, 1899; the capture of the water.works; various engagements in the vicinity of Manila, and the campaign from Manila So Malolos, Calumpit and San Fernando. He returned to the United States in 1899. He was recommended for promotion to the rank of "major-general by brevet, U.S.V., for gallant and meritorious services throughout the campaign against the Filipino insurgents from Feb. 4 to July 5, 1899." In 1899 he was elected first vice-president of the National Society of the Army of the Philippines, and was honorably discharged from the army in 1899. He married, June 14, 1887, Mary Virginia, daughter of Lieut.-Col. William R. King, U.S.A. He was elected a member of the Colorado scientific society, 1891; the University club, Denver, 1891; the American institute of mining engineers, 1892; the Sons of the American Revolution, 1897; and several other organizations. He received the honorary degree of Electrical engineer from the Colorado state school of mines in 1897, and that of LL.D. from the University of Colorado in 1899. He is the author of numerous papers on electrical subjects for the Colorado scientific society, the American institute of mining engineers and various magazines.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of North Bloomfield, (Ontario County) New York

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