Hon. Hampton W. Wall, who for many years was one of the
prominent, influential and successful men of Macoupin County, identified
with its agricultural, business and political life, was born November 10,
1831, in Macoupin County, and was a son of Richard and Lucinda (Camp) Wall,
being the younger of their two children. His brother's name was Pahram.
Mr. Wall received a district school education and early in life became
dependent upon his own resources. He worked at farm work, "mauled" rails, by
the month, and made and saved money from the beginning. He became the owner
of a farm in Madison County, Illinois, which he operated, in connection with
a general store at the village of New Hampton, named in his honor at the
time. This store he sold, at a later date, to an employee named Worden, and
after Mr. Wall removed to Macoupin County, the name was changed to Worden,
which name the village still bears. After locating in Staunton, Mr. Wall
became interested in a milling business, eventually selling it and entering
into the implement business, in which he continued a number of years. All
his ventures proved successful. A large part of his working capital was
obtained through his energy, enterprise and foresight in the buying and
shipping of horses and mules, during the Civil War.
After disposing
of his implement business, Mr. Wall entered into partnership with James
Taylor in a private banking business, under the firm name of Wall & Taylor.
Failing health caused Mr. Taylor to withdraw, and Mr. Wall entered into
partnership with J. C. Panhorst, and this congenial and profitable
partnership was continued until the calamity occurred which resulted in the
death of Mr. Wall, from a murderous assault, on August 16, 1898. The
distressing details of this sad affair, which caused a united family to be
bereft of a kind husband and father, a community to lose one of its foremost
citizens and a State to regard with horror and grief the sudden death of an
honored statesman, have been spread upon the pages of the public press, and
the biographer turns aside, better satisfied to contemplate the works which
reflect honor upon his memory.
In political conviction, Mr. Wall was
a stanch Democrat, and in the many positions to which he was advanced by his
party, he was a zealous advocate of its principles, but was never swerved
from the path of duty, by friend or foe. Twice elected to the State House of
Representatives and once to the State Senate, he gave his whole mind to the
forming and passing of just laws and such is his public record. Locally he
filled many of the offices and practiced law in the justice courts, although
never admitted to the bar. He had a natural comprehension of law and
jurisprudence and was often heard to regret that he had not, early in life,
devoted himself to serious study of the law. The death of such a man is a
serious loss to any community.
Mr. Wall was thrice married. His
first marriage was to Ellen Roseberry, a daughter of Robert Roseberry. At
her death she left one daughter, now Mrs. Alice M. Ferris, of Missouri. His
second marriage was to his sister-in-law, Isabella Roseberry, the second
daughter of Robert Roseberry, and six children were born to them, viz: Mrs.
Elizabeth Godfrey, of Staunton; Charles R., of the banking firm of Wall &
Quade, of Staunton; William P., a member of the banking firm of Wall &
Company, of Staunton; Mrs. Harriet Campbell, of St. Louis, Missouri, and two
that died in infancy. Mr. Wall for his third wife married the lady who still
survives him, Martha E. Scroggins, who is a daughter of William and Keziah
Scroggins of Staunton. The three children of this union are: Lillian M.,
Mabel E. and Hampton Grover. The family still reside at Staunton, where Mr.
Wall's sons look after the large financial interests, from which he was so
suddenly called. In every circle, the family has been of prominence for many
years. Mrs. Wall resides in Staunton, and has a wide circle of friends.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, page 338.
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