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Luther G. Hale, after an active and successful
career, has retired to private life, and in the enjoyment of a handsome
home in Freeport, is spending his later years in the midst of plenty and
comfort, secured by labor in the earlier years of his manhood. He
came to the West about 1838 and first entered a hardware store in Kenosha,
Wis., whence he removed to Geneva Lake, and established in business for
himself. In 1853 he disposed of his interests there, and set up in
the same business at Freeport, where he was engaged until 1857. Then
selling out, he entered the office of the Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railroad Co., at Freeport, which position he occupied for a period of
eighteen years, in the meantime laying aside from a good salary sufficient
upon which to retire. He is now usually found at his pleasant
residence on the corner of Stephenson and West streets. His home
dwelling is a handsome structure, surrounded with beautiful grounds, ornamented
with evergreen and forest trees. He has four lots, and the whole
comprises a valuable property, and one complete in its entirety as any
home within or adjacent to the city. Mr. Hale and his estimable wife
are passing down the hill of life, a happy, cheerful old couple and a fine
illustration of well-spent lives.
Mr. Hale was born in the town of Brandon,
Rutland Co., Vt., Aug. 18, 1818, and is the son of Dr. Josiah W. Hale, a successful
physician, and distinguished as one of the strongest Abolitionist of that
time. Dr. Hale was a native of New Hampshire, and married Miss Rhoda
Green, daughter of William Green, who served as a solider in the Revolutionary
War. After removing from his native State, he commenced practice
near Salisbury, Vt., where he continued successfully many years and thence
removed to Brandon, where he spent the remained of his days, his death
taking place in 1851. The mother had died in early life, when her
son Luther was a mere lad. The parental household included five
children, and our subject was the only son, and is now the only survivor
of the family.
Mr. Hale was reared and educated in his
native county, completing his studies in Casselton Seminary. Upon
starting out for himself in life, he first engaged as a clerk, in which
capacity he served seven years. His subsequent movements we have
already indicated. The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Sarah
J. Fitch, of Kinderbook, N.Y. They were married Aug. 2, 1849. Mrs.
Hale is the daughter of Albert B. Fitch, who died of cholera in
Kenosha, in 1849, and by her union with our subject became the mother of
three children: Albert F., now agent in the depot of the St. Paul
Railroad; Edith, who died when eighteen years of age, and Elsie, who remains
at home with her parents.
Mr. Hale when first becoming a voter, was a
member of the hold Whig party, but since its abandonment has cordially endorsed
Republican principles. During the course of a long and worthy life,
he has gathered around him scores of friends, and is the favorite of both
young and old.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson
County, Ill., containing Full Page Portraits, and Biographical
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, together
with Portraits and Biographies of all the governors of Illinois and of the
Presidents of the United States, printed by the Chapman Brothers, Chicago,
IL, 1888
Transcribed by D. Joshua Taylor, May 2005.
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