William Hall - G.A.R., Bishop Post

William Hall was a Tiffin Township man through and through.  As early as the 1850 census, he was there at 7 years old with his parents, Jacob and Susannah, and brothers, George, Jacob, Jesse, Oliver, Adam and Franklin.  William was the second youngest.

By 1860, his mother, Susannah, was a widow, dependent on four of her younger boys to help farm.  But the call to war rang out and two of her sons, William and Adam, answered the call eventually.

According to the 1890 veterans census, William entered Company E, 14th Ohio Infantry on February 23, 1864 and remained until May 29, 1865, serving 1 year, 3 months and 5 days.  Just before he enlisted, the 14th had a 30 day furlough, and when they joined up again, the unit headed to Chattanooga where they were put to work building corduroy roads, pickets and other construction projects, preparing for the march south through Atlanta.  They participated in the march through Atlanta, and then went on to Savannah.  When they heard of Lee's surrender, they were in Raleigh in April, 1865.  Their last duty was to appear in the Grand Review for the President in Washington D.C.

On the 1890 census, he listed many disabilities as a result of the war, including varicose veins, a weakened condition of the heart, chronic rheumatism, indigestion and constipation.

 After returning from the war, William married Laura Ury in 1866.  They would have seven children: Flora, Edwin E., Alice B., George F., Grace, Frank T. and Ray U.  William farmed his whole life until his older years in Tiffin Township near Evansport.  

The Crescent- News reported the 50th anniversary of William and Laura Hall on April 27, 1916.

Again, on December 29, 1920, the Crescent-News acknowledged the 54th anniversary of William and Laura Hall, this time adding quite a bit of detail about their family and life story.

   

William Hall died less than a year later on August 9, 1921 and he was buried at the Evansport Cemetery.  The Crescent-News reported on August 13, 1921:

"William Hall, Co. E, 14th Regiment O.V.I., died at his home in Evansport August 9, 1921, aged 78 years.  His remains were laid to rest in the Evansport Cemetery.  The funeral services were held at his residence.  Six young men of the vicinity served as pall bearers while Bishop Post G.A.R. officiated and furnished the honorary pall bearers as follows: M. A. Bell, A. W. King, P. E. Helpman, A. J. Kiser, George J. Solly, and Jno. Myers."

Laura Ury Hall eventually traveled around to the homes of her children and, by the 1930 census, moved in with her daughter, Alice Rodgers and family.  She died in September, 1933.

William Hall, Evansport Cemetery at www.findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)