3. Elisha, b. on Sabbath, September 29, 1782.---Family 3.
Family 3.---
ELISHA HALL, pedigree as before : was born on Cheat river, September 29, 1782. He married Catharine Bennett, a sister of his brother Thomas' wife, March 26, 1807, She was born March 13, 1786. Their family consisted of two boys and four girls. His first wife died, June 17, 1827, and he married Sarah Swiger, September 19, 1829, and to them were born five boys and one girl.
He lived the greater part of his life on Ten-mile creek, and died there July 18, 1876, at the advanced age of 94 years. His second wife died October 16, 1871, aged 73 years. The following letter written by him to his brother Nathan, who was in the West, is inserted for the interest which attaches to all old letters. It was furnished by the eldest grandson of Nathan Hall, Enos Marion Shaw, of Nebraska. It is as follows:
TEN-MILE CREEK, VA., July 23, 1842.
Dear brother and sister and friends:
I once more sit down to write you a few lines, to let you know how we are coming on. We are all in moderate health at present, thanks be to God for the same.
Yours of the 27th of March 1842, found us all well, and we were glad to hear from you once more, and to hear of your good health; and that of your family in general. I should have written sooner to you; but was waiting to hear from Buffalo, which I have done; for in June, John Jones and sister Phebe were here, and Thomas Enos Hall, and brother John Hall's Alva, and I showed them your letter and they rejoiced to hear from you once more; and in addition to them, Moses Shinn and Elizabeth were here at the same time, and they likewise read your letter and I let Phebe take the letter home with her for the rest of the friends to read. They stated when they were here that all the friends were as well as common. Old Aunt Rebecca Courtney was yet living and in good health for one of her age, and all her children are married but John Hall Courtney and Rebecca; and that they had kept house together ever since uncle's death. I think that there is but one of brother Thomas' last children married, and that is Jane. James S. Hall lives at home yet and all the rest but Thomas Enos, who has become a schoolteacher. There are two of brother Allen's children married, Izri and one of the girls; the rest live at home with him. Brother John's are all with him yet; he is very bad with the shaking palsy, so that he cannot dress or feed himself-since last winter. All the old neighbors at Buffalo that are living and their children are in good health. Old Benoni Fleming and his wife are yet living and in good health; their children are all married but John, and he lives with his father and mother yet.
Now I will tell you some of my own affairs. There is little, if any, alteration in my family since I wrote last, except the growth of the children, and their improvement in learning, which is not very great; for they only had one quarter of schooling. We want to make up a school for six months, to begin the first of September. We expect to have Thomas E. Hall for our teacher, and to have about twenty-five scholars. The schoolhouse is within a few rods of my house. I think I gave you, in my last letter, the ages of all my children, so that a repetition is unnecessary; our youngest is about nineteen months old.
Phebe Ann Swiger lays very low with the rheumatism. She has lain or her back, propped in a certain position, for the last nine months. She is still able to sit a little in a chair, two or three times a day, but we can't expect that she will more than a few months; she bears her affliction with great fortitude. John Swiger, her husband, takes great care of her.
Ruth Eliza Gifford has four daughters and no son, and they are all in common health. All our friends on Ten-mile are in good health at present.
Our crops of wheat are about common; but it is very dry now; if we don't get rain soon there will be light crops of corn this season. Money is very scarce, and no sale for stock of any sort.
We have a minister settled in Clarksburg all his time, and we shall have sacrament the second Sabbath of August. I think that there are about eighty members. I would be glad if you could be with us then, but I hope that you have as good times as we do. Strive to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.
Now, I have given you some idea of our circumstances, and I will conclude with my good will to you all; so no more.
We still remain your loving brother and sister.
ELISHA AND SARAH HALL.
He was not fortunate in worldly affairs, having a great deal of trouble getting a good title to his property. For years he was tossed about the world hither and thither, but no one doubted his entire honesty. When he died a good servant of the Lord was taken to his rest.
