Short Biography of William I. Hall

WILLIAM I. HALL, M. D., the pioneer physician of Gessie, was born in Williamsport, Warren County, Indiana, in May, 1841, his father, Rev. Colbrath Hall, being among the first farmers and preachers of that county, where he still lives. Rev. Colbrath Hall is a native of the State of New York, born January 20, 1806, and although in his eighty-second year, he is still active, and yet engaged in the ministrry. Dr. hall was reared to manhood in his native county, and enlisted from there in August, 1862, in Company E, Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battle of Perryville, but in December, 1862, he was compelled to go to the hospital on account of illness. On his recovery he was detailed for hospital duty at Nashville, and this hospital service was his first school in medicine. He remained on hospital duty until the close of 1863, when discharged for disability. He then returned home and shortly after his return, he was appointed by Governor Morton, Assistant Military Agent of the State of Indiana, with headquarters at Chattanooga, which position he occupied until after the fall of Atlanta, when he resigned. During his service in the hospital he had laid the foundation for medical study, and on his return from Chattanooga, he entered the drug store of his brother-in-law at Williamsport, and at the same time studied medicine. In October, 1865, he entered the medical department of the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, where he remained until April, 1866, when he returned to Williamsport. In the spring of 1867, he began the practice of medicine at Jefferson, in Clinton County, Indiana. During the winter of 1869-'70, he attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1870. In 1870 he came to Highland Township, Vermillion County, and when the railroad station was located at Gessie, in 1872, he established himself at this place where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He purcchased the first lot and erected the first house on the village plat, and has ever since been one of the most active and public-spirited men of the place. Dr. Hall was married at Jefferson, to Miss Elizabeth Hall of that place, and they are the parents of three children — Wendell Velpeau, a student at Wabash College; William B. and Mary Henrietta. In politics the doctor is a Republican, and is a warm supporter of the principles of his party.

Source: "Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana" ⁷⁵⁰³