Robert T. Hall    

Robert T. Hall, deceased, was a prominent pottery manufacturer and eminent citizen of East Liverpool [Ohio], where he was born March 23, 1877, and died November 18, 1920. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (McHenry) Hall.

Robert Hall was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., but when a young boy moved to Beaver County Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood at Frankford Springs, not far from East Liverpool. During the Civil War he served three years in the 140th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, his military record including Fredericksburg, the wilderness and fourteen others. After the war he learned the carpenter’s trade, and for many years was a contractor and builder in East Liverpool. He was the founder of the Hall Lumber Company, and an organizer and first president of the Citizens’ National Bank. He was also interested in the Hall China Company, all of East Liverpool, but his time was largely given to the affairs of the Hall Lumber Company and to his contracting business. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Grand Army of the Republic and was a Republican.
Robert Hall married Elizabeth McHenry, who died in 1880, leaving four children: Mary, married Frank Simmers; Charles, a resident of East Liverpool; Robert T., the subject of this sketch, and Elizabeth, married Josiah T. Herbert. Mr. Hall’s second marriage was to Rosa Robb, and to this union the following children were born: William, deceased; Ralph, a resident of California; Ethel, resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and Harold, a resident of Delaware, Ohio.

Robert T. Hall attended the schools of East Liverpool, Kenyon College, a military school in Gambier, Ohio, and was a student at Wooster University at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. He was commissioned second lieutenant, 8th Regiment, Ohio National Guard, in 1897, and was commissioned a similar rank in Company E, when his command was mustered into the United States service, April 26, 1898, for service in Cuba. He saw active service in Santiago, San Juan Hill, Aguadores and El Caney, being with his company from July 7 until August 18, 1898, and was mustered out the following November 1.

After his return from the army, Mr. Hall entered the office employ of the United States Pottery Company of Wellsville, Ohio, there continuing until 1901, when he became associated with the newly organized East Liverpool Potteries Company, a consolidation of six of the going pottery concerns in and about East Liverpool. In 1904 that consolidation was dissolved, and the Hall China Company restored to the original ownership, the Hall family. Shortly afterward Robert T. Hall became the business head and one of the principal owners of that concern. He took hold of the business at a time when the pottery industry of this country was in anything but a prosperous condition. The manufacture of the original line of earthenware was gradually discontinued, and Mr. Hall became the pioneer in this country, if not in the world, in the production of a completely viterous, white-lined, fire-proof cooking ware. The extraordinary merit of the goods was soon recognized, and from that moment success was assured. The demand grew so rapidly that it was difficult to increase production capacity to keep pace with it. Eventually it became necessary to add a second plant, which was completed and placed in full operation but a short time before Mr. Hall’s death. He had not only given to East Liverpool one of its most important industries, but one unique in the country, and of such merit to add much to the reputation of his native city, and of the pottery industry of America.

As general manager and one of the principal owners of the Hall China Company, Mr. Hall became a dominant figure in the business life of his city, and in January, 1920, when the Hall China Company bought the Goodwin plant and remodeled it, it gave him additional and greater responsibility and prestige. He was not only secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Hall China Company, and one of the best known men in the pottery business, but was a director of the Potters’ National Bank, Potters’ Building and Savings Company, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and had a hand in every public enterprise of merit put forth in the interest of East Liverpool.

Mr. Hall’s ancestry being purest American, while in sagacity, integrity, and public spirit he was a fine example of the American business man and citizen. Genial and friendly, he had a host of friends whose society he enjoyed, but he possessed a faculty for self-enjoyment, being fond of golf and all out-of-door sports. Mr. Hall took a deep interest in the East Liverpool Country Club, and was its first and only president until his death. This club, which he aided in organizing, has fine grounds and is one of the leading country clubs of the Ohio Valley. He was a Republican, and a member of the Emanuel Presbyterian Church. He was affiliated with East Liverpool Lodge, No. 258, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Beta Theta Phi college fraternity. During the World War, in which he was anxious to serve as a soldier but was refused the opportunity, he took an active part in all war activities, and the success of the various Liberty Bond and war charities campaigns may in a large degree be attributed to Mr. Hall.

On June 20, 1905, Mr. Hall married Millicent Everson Thompson, a daughter of John C. and Charlotte (Winteur) Thompson. Mr. Hall built a beautiful home on Park Boulevard, East Liverpool, Ohio, and there he spent his happiest hours, indulging in his great love for flowers, plants, trees and shrubs in making the grounds attractive. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall: Robert Thompson; John Thompson, and Everson. Mrs. Hall continues her residence with her children at the Park Boulevard home. They are members of Emanuel Presbyterian Church, in which Mrs. Hall is an active member.

The Hall China Company, of East Liverpool, is one of the well established and important industries of this city. Its extensive plants give employment to 170 people and ten general ware kilns are in operation and two decorating kilns.

The Hall China Company was organized in 1903 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. Its first president was Robert Hall, Sr. The Hall China Company are manufacturers of vitrified fire proof cooking china and decorative and plain tea pots, its products being the hardest and strongest ware on the market. It is acid and fireproof and practically unbreakable. It is the only kind of ware produced in the world, in which body and glaze are produced with one firing at a temperature of 2,500 degrees. The result of this operation is a china absolutely non-absorbent, a sanitary feature of great importance. Before the organization of the Hall China Company all earthenware used for cooking purposes was imported from Europe, principally from Luxemburg, Alsace Lorraine, and other districts in Germany and France.

The present officers of the Hall China Company are: F. I. Simmers, president and sales manager; Harvey McHenry, vice president; and Malcolm W. Thompson, secretary and treasurer. The company’s plants are located at Walnut and Fourth streets, and Broadway and Sixth streets.

History of Columbiana County, Ohio 1926, Topeka: Historical Pub. Co., Barth, Harold B., 1926, pages 609-612. View the images of the pages of this biography on line. Free Trial   Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.