From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 938-940
 
JOHN HALL.  Such men as John HALL, well known hotel man now living in 
honorable retirement at Delavan, are eminently deserving of a place in the 
history of Walworth county, for they have not only led honorable lives but 
have done much for the general good of the community whenever opportunity 
presented itself.
 
Mr. HALL was born in Montreal, Canada, on April 15, 1845.  He is the son of 
Robert HALL, who was a native of Ireland, and when a young man emigrated to 
the dominion of Canada, where he won a local reputation as a man of medicine, 
and also followed shipbuilding for a time.  He had been exceptionally well 
educated and spoke fluently the French, Italian and German languages, as well 
as the English.  He traveled extensively over Europe, the United States, 
Canada and South America.  He was three times married.  His last wife, 
Margaret HILL, was born in Canada, of French descent.  They were married in 
the city of Montreal and to this union fifteen children were born, seven of 
whom are now living, namely: Henry, of Chicago; Mary, wife of Willis KING 
lives in Nebraska; Margaret is the wife of C. L. SAGE, of Delavan, this 
county; Robert lives in Lexington, Illinois; John W., of this sketch; Charles 
lives in Nebraska; Anna is the wife of George KING and they live in Nebraska.
 
The death of Dr. Robert HALL, father of the subject, occurred in Madison 
county, Nebraska, in October 1874.  He served as a captain in the war of 1812, 
was twice wounded, and he carried the bullets through life.
 
John W. HALL was six years old when his parents brought him to Walworth 
county.  They lived for a time in Delavan, then moved to Janesville, where 
they lived two years, thence to Milwaukee, where they spent seven years, then 
returned to Delavan and this has been the family home ever since.  In November 
1863, prompted by his patriotic spirit, the subject responded to his country's 
call for troops and became a member of the Union army, serving in the Second 
Cavalry, Wisconsin.  He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge 
and Little Rock.  He was under Major-General Grierson in his famous raid from 
Memphis, Tennessee, across the country to Vicksburg, Mississippi, during which 
there were many skirmishes and running fights.  Mr. HALL served faithfully, 
escaped injury and he was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term 
of enlistment, having been excused from duty only one day during his entire 
term of service.  He was discharged at Austin, Texas, November 15, 1865, and 
he at once returned to Delavan, Wisconsin.  Mr. HALL then spent four years in 
the West, visiting Nebraska, Colorado and the Dakotas, and upon his return to 
Delavan he was united in marriage with Clarissa TUCKER, the wedding being 
celebrated on October 11, 1869.  Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. HALL, 
three of whom died in infancy.  Clara Belle, who married a Mr. WELSHER, was 
born on July 24, 1871.
 
The subject lived on a farm at Delavan Lake, this county, which place he 
greatly improved and built a substantial dwelling on, and there he engaged in 
general farming for about ten years.  During the past seventeen years he has 
operated a summer resort, Hall's Park, on Delavan lake, one of the poplar 
gathering places for tourists in this region, which is known all over the 
country.  Here his hundreds of guests always received courteous and 
considerate treatment.  He disposed of the same to his daughter in June 1910, 
retiring from active life, and now Mrs. WELSHER conducts the place with much 
success.  Politically, Mr. HALL is a Republican, and he belongs to the 
Episcopal church.
 
Submitted by Carol