from Kentucky – A History of the State by Perrin, 1887

Ballard County

Charles M. Hall, an old settler and a leading farmer and fine stock-breeder, was born March 4, 1822, where Paducah now stands. His father was on his way to the Purchase from the Green River country, when a storm stopped them at Paducah. The father of our subject raised one crop near Paducah and then returned to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, where he remained till about 1830; he then returned to the Purchase and settled in Ballard County. The grandfathers of our subject were William Hall and Charles Morgan of English and Irish descent, and were both in the Revolution. The parents of our subject were Adam and Eda A. (Morgan) Hall, with whom he lived till he was twenty-five years old, when he commenced business for himself, running a wood-yard, three miles below Cairo for eighteen months; he afterwards engaged in farming, cutting cord wood and piloting flat boats down the river to New Orleans. He commenced in life without a dollar; about 1850, he purchased his first farm of 145 acres at $3 per acre, which he improved and has added to till he owns 700 acres, but giving to his children has reduced its area. He was the owner of three negroes when the war broke out. The father, Adam Hall, rented lands while in the Purchase, till he moved to Missouri, in 1837, where he purchased 366 acres of land and resided till his death, when Charles M. brought his mother back to Ballard County, where they have since lived, Mr. Hall having had the care of the family after his father’s death. C. M. Hall was married March 4, 1856, to Mrs. Mary Hall, widow of B. Hall; she is the daughter of Jerman J. and Ann T. Beadles, natives of Virginia, and of English descent. They came to Graves County in 1830. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Hall have had born to them eight children: Ann E. (now Elliott), Nettie (now Melton), Jerman A. (deceased), Theophilus A. (deceased), James K., Charles M., William A. and Lewis W. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a Mason and has been trustee of schools for twenty years. He cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, and has voted the Democratic ticket ever since.

David Hall was born December 20, 1832, in Ballard County, Kentucky, and is the son of Adam and Eda A. (Morgan) Hall, natives of Virginia and of English and Irish descent. The father was a keel and flat-boatman on the Mississippi River, trading in pork and salt, but when steamboats came into existence quit his boating. He was born October 27, 1792, and died in Missouri, January, 1849. Subject’s mother was born January 5, 1801, and died February 25, 1874. David Hall enlisted in Company A, Seventh Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate), in the spring of 1864, under Joseph Logan as captain. He took part in the battles of Gun Town, Brazos Cross Roads or Oldtown, and returned home about September 1864, and engaged in farming. He lost about $900 worth in stock, tobacco, etc., during the war, but is now the possessor of 254 acres of land in good condition, one-half mile north of Blandville. He started in life for himself when twenty-three years old, but had lived in Missouri four years prior to the death of his father. He was married February 15, 1872, to Martha W. Elsey, of Ballard County, a daughter of John M. and Virinda (McDonald) Elsey. She bore him five children: William W., Robert B. (deceased), Mary V. , Jackson (deceased), and Mattie E., and died November 11, 1882, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hall next married Mary E. Belt on June 14, 1883. She is the daughter of Osborne and Louisa (Johnson) Belt, natives of Scott County, Kentucky, and of English descent. By this union one child has been born, David A. Mr. Hall and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a Mason, and was formerly a Granger.