Hall Family History

Hall Family History

My most elusive ancestor, my great grandfather, Abner Webster Hall, has come out of hiding. Abner was born in Quaker City, GuernseyCo, Ohio, in 1849, the son of John B Hall and Anna Kuntz/Kuhns. John was listed as 57 yrs old in the 1850 Ohio census and Anne listed as 39. Although John is listed as born in Ohio, if true, his parents would have been amongst the very earliest settlers of Ohio in 1793. I have yet to prove his birthplace.The children shown in the 1850 census were Daniel, 15; Benjamin, 13; Josiah, 12; Azariah, 10; Mary E, 8; Elizabeth, 3; Abner, 1; and a young girl, Susan Marshall, 13.

I have proven Anna's father to be Daniel Koontz/Kuntz/Kuhns, also of GuernseyCo, OH. It is interesting to note that John and Anna's first son was named Benjamin (after John's father?) and second son was named Daniel, after Anna's father.

I have since found Anne with Josiah, Mary E, and Abner in WarrenCo, IA. All 3 children married in WarrenCo. It appears John B died before 1860 as he is not shown on the Iowa census with Anne, who is living with Josiah in 1860.

Update - January, 2000

I have found a cousin, Sandy Reilly, who is descended from Joseph S Hall, also of GuernseyCo, OH, who married Catherine Kuhns, sister of Anna. We have since found Benjamin Hall on the 1850 GuernseyCo census with likely sons, Nathan, Joseph, James, and Benjamin A Hall, all living adjacent to or with Ben, who owns about 350 acres in Milltown. Also next to Ben is my John B Hall. We have also found that Rebecca Marshall, age 36, and children, Samuel, Stephen, and Zelpha are living with Ben Hall in 1850. Rebecca's daughter, Sarah, is living with my John B Hall; Benjamin Marshall, her son, is living with Jacob Kuhns, brother of Anne Kuhns, wife of my John B; Rebecca, her daughter, is living with James Hall. Rebecca Marshall's husband, Adam Marshall, was murdered in late 1849 and it appears that Rebecca returned to the home of her father, Ben, while some of her children lived with other family members.

The census indicates Benjamin Hall was born in NC, county unknown. Of course the county is unknown. What could be more fun than searching an entire state for a name like Hall??

We are making progress - - - aren't we??