Wiley W. Hall, three term Marion trustee and practicing physician, was born in 1834 to John Westley Hall (1797-1855) and Martha Denton (1802-xxxx) in Tennessee .
In 1850, Wiley was 16 years old living in Cocke County, Tennessee with his family. There were seven other children in the family: Margaret, John W., Matilda, Abigail, Rachel, James N. and Royal. His father, John, was a Methodist clergyman. Hamilton Kyle, 21, was living with them and had no occupation listed, but was likely a farm hand.
Wiley married Sarah Ann Wise on July 7, 1853 in 1853 in Johnson County, Illinois where his family had moved. Sarah was born on April 16, 1834 and was the daughter of William James Wise (1803-1873) and Rebecca Lawton (1803-1871).
Wiley’s father died in Johnson County in 1855.
By 1860 Wiley and Sarah had three children; Martha R.D., Thomas W., and William Wiley. They were living in Township 11 South, Range 4 E., farming in Sulpher Springs Township in Johnson County. (See attached map.) He was listed as Wiley A. Hall. His marriage license listed him, however, as Wiley W.A. Hall. He had real estate valued at $200 and personal property valued at $290.
Wiley signed up for the Civil War draft in Saline County in 1862.
By 1863 the Wiley family was living in Marion as evidenced by the United Methodist Church records which state, “This is to certify that an election held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Town of Marion, Williamson County, Illinois, on the 1st day of February 1863 for the purpose of electing seven Trustees for said church for the next ensuing three years. The following named persons were duly elected by the members of said church to-wit: William E. Hearn, Alexander H. Manier, Abram O. Weaver, William Hooper, Wiley W. Hall, John Goodall and James M. Goddard as the Trustees thereof”.
In 1865, Wiley was a trustee for the city of Marion, serving under Archibald T. Benson, President of the town of Marion. He served as trustee again in 1866 and 1867 under city President Robert M. Hundley.
In the same year, further records of the M.E. Church track Wiley’s involvement , “The Trustees of the First M. E. Church bought Lot Two in Block One, Benson’s Second Addition to Marion, Illinois where the present Methodist Episcopal Temple now is being erected, August 1, 1865 from Oliver G. Campbell and Sidney S. Campbell, his wife, in consideration for $300.00 to William E. Hearn, Alexander H. Manier, Abraham O. Weaver, William Hooper, Wiley W. Hall, John Goodall and James M. Goddard Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church.”
Further church records state, “A meeting of the Board of Trustees of Marion Society for the M. E. Church was held at the court house on the 7th day of June, A. D. 1866. Members present: S.P. Groves, P.C. in the chair, William Hooper, John Goodall, Wiley W. Hall. The object of the meeting being stated by the chair to fill the vacancies in the Board occasioned by the removal of A. H. Manier and J. M. Goddard, who united with M.E. Church South, and the death of O. A. Weaver. On motion W. N. Mitchell, F. M. Westbrook and John L. Roberts were elected to fill said vacancies. On motion W. N. Mitchell was elected Treasurer of the Board. On motion the Board adjourned. S. P. Groves, P. C.”
Following that, by the 1870 census, Wiley and Sarah were living in Saline County, Illinois in Township 8, Range 5, located in the northwest corner of the county in the Galatia area. They had added three more children: William R., 12; John A., 9 and Marion M. Wiley. Rosey A. Richey who was living with them could not read and write and was probably a domestic servant for the family. Wiley was a practicing physician and had $400 value of personal property.
In 1872, his wife, Sarah Ann, died and he remarried to Mary V. Thompson on March 31, 1873 in Franklin County, Illinois.
The Marion Monitor reported in May of 1879 that “Dr. W.W. Hall, once a citizen of Marion and lately from Randolph County, called on the Monitor Monday. He now practices in Attila (Crab Orchard Township).”
When the 1880 census was taken, Wiley was 47 years old and listed as a carpenter. They were living in St. John, Perry County, Illinois. Marion, his son by Sarah, is with them, as are their children, Mayflower and Arabeulah Hall. His wife, Mary, was only 27 years old.
Only three years later, Wiley’s young wife, Mary, had passed away and Wiley had moved to Missouri.
Wiley W. Hall died on December 24, 1883 in Liberal, Barton County, Missouri at the age of 50 years old. He was listed as a widow and his occupation was listed as a physician.
Notes on the Children:
Martha R.D. Hall. (1854-xxxx)
Thomas Washington Hall was born in Illinois November 28, 1855. He married Delila M. Raborn (Rayborn?) on October 16, 1881 in Saline County, Illinois. He was a bank president and died on February 12, 1937 in Carmi, White County, Illinois at the age of 81 years old. He was buried in Maple Ridge Cemetery in Carmi. He and Delilah had two children: Beulah and David W. Hall.
William Robert Hall was born on March 1, 1858. He married Martha Ophelia Kirkham in Johnson County, Illinois on February 23, 1879 and died on January 15, 1935 in San Antonio, Texas.
John Joshua Hall was born July 11, 1861 in New Burnside, Johnson County, Illinois and married Martha J. Gould on August 30, 1883 in Saline County. They had: Guy G., Cora E. and Louis Wiley Hall. He died on October 26, 1942 in Paragould, Greene County, Arkansas.
Marion Manford Hall, (1868-xxxx). He married Luella Boozier on March 30, 1890 in Johnson County, Illinois. In 1900 they were living in New Burnsides and in 1910 in Harrisburg. They had six children: Mamie, Katie, Frankie, Harry E., Charley T. and Robert N. Hall.
Mayflower Hall Gregg was born Aug 11, 1873, daughter of Wiley W. and Mary V. Thompson. She married Hugh Gregg on August 30, 1893. They had two children: Leota G. and Tom Hall Gregg. Mae Flower Gregg died on September 19, 1956 in Los Angeles County, California.
Arabeulah Hall was born in 1878. Her mother was Mary V. Thompson. In 1900 Beulah was living with her brother, Thomas W., and his wife Delia. Beulah was a schoolteacher and died in Anna, Union County, Illinois on February 6, 1919.
(Sources: U.S. Census Records; Events in Egypt; Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Illinois; Illinois Marriage Index; Illinois Death Records; compiled by Colleen Norman)