JOHN V. HALL was born March 31, 1841, in Bedford County, Tenn., and is the elder of two children born to Joshua and Margaret (Swift) Hall, both natives of Bedford County.
The father was born about 1804, and died in 1854. The mother was born September 14, 1815, and is still living. Flower Swift, our subject’s maternal grandfather, was a native of North Carolina, born June 3, 1787, and died in January, 1851. His wife, Catherine Swift, was also born in North Carolina, October 16, 1791, and died in 1861. The paternal grandparents of our subject were born about 1775 or 1776, in the State of North Carolina, and immigrated to Tennessee at a very early date.
Our subject was reared on the farm, and remained on the same until the breaking out of the war. He then entered the Confederate service in Company F, Forty-first Tennessee Infantry, and was captured together with the entire regiment at Fort Donelson. He was taken first to Lafayette, and after remaining there about three weeks was taken to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, lnd., where they remained about seven months. They were then exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss. Mr. Hall was in but two battles in Tennessee; Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. After these battles his regiment was ordered to Georgia and Mississippi. He was discharged at Dalton, Ga., in 1864, on account of his health. He then came home and bought a half interest in the mill property that he now owns, known as “Hall’s Mills.” In 1874 he bought the entire interest of the mill, and since that time he has operated the mill on his own responsibility.
April 6, 1871, he wedded Ella F. Turrentine, of this county. She was born November 24, 1854. This union resulted in the birth of five children: William J., Emmett E., John T., Joseph E. and Sammy B. Mr. Hall was elected to the office of magistrate in the year 1871, and has served in that capacity for the last fifteen years. He is magistrate at the present time, and fills the office in an able manner. He received a comparatively good education, and is a Democrat in politics.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.