History of Harpers Ferry, (Jefferson County) West Virginia United States of America

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Willard Preble Hall, governor of Missouri, was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., May 9, 1820; son of John and Stativa (Preble) Hall, grandson of Stephen and Mary (Cotton) Holt Hall; great grandson of the Rev. Willard and Abigail (Cotton) Hall; great2 grandson of Stephen and Grace (Willis) Hall; and great3 grandson of Stephen Hall, who came from Coventry, England, to Cambridge, Mass., about 1653. His grandfather and great grandfather were graduates of Harvard college in 1765 and 1722 respectively. His father, the inventor of Hall's carbine rifle, removed from Portland, Maine, to Harper's Ferry, where he was employed by the government in the arsenal, and from there to Missouri, probably in 1841. Willard was graduated at Yale in 1839, removed to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was a lawyer. He was a representative in the 30th, 31st and 32d congresses, 1847-53; lieutenant-governor of Missouri 1861-64, and succeeded as governor on the death of Gov. Hamilton R. Gamble, Jan. 31, 1864, serving, 1864-65. He was a curator of the University of Missouri, 1860-63. He died in St. Joseph, Mo., Nov. 3, 1882.

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

History of Harpers Ferry, (Jefferson County) West Virginia

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