From the notes of Jess Hall, Jr....This woman is the possible mother of John F. Hall. It is thought that she was killed in the big California earthquake in 1906.874 Melissa and a sister [name unknown] came to America from Ireland. At the time of John F. Hall's birth in 1860, Milton's wife Vienna, and his two children, Mary Jane and George, were still living in Marion County, Missouri.

Also, in the 1870 census there is a Bridget Druley who is now married to a Peter Druley. She has three children -the first two children are John F. 10 and Henry 8. Then there is a big gap and a child Cecelia is born 8/12 months old. Think this one needs some more thought and research.

Notes from Jess Hall, Jr.874
Beginning...
Milton may have attended West Point where he studied railroad contracting. It is here that he may have attained the title of Colonel [from John Hall].

Jay Gould came to San Francisco and asked Milton to build the railroad westward from Omaha, Nebraska to California, which he did [John Hall].

In American history during this period there were many men who constantly moved around looking for and following the work. Milton was one of those men, and in the process he has been difficult to trace. At any rate, I have tried to present his sketch below to reflect this.

In the documents found...Milton married twice and seems to have been recorded both times under the name of William S. Hall. The first time around he is actually recorded as William S., but the initials of W. S. Hall with his second marriage. I find this to be a bit odd. I can understand where it might be a translation mistake once, but two misprints in two different counties...it really makes me wonder. However, I’m pretty sure he could write, but have never seen his signature. I’m now wondering if his signature led the transcribers to translate his name as William, rather than Milton. As I looked at the records for him later on in life, he always can be found as Milton. If his formal first name was William Milton Saunders Hall, then he only used the William part when he got married.

Also, in the obituary of his son, John Franklin Hall of Brock, Parker County, Texas, it identified Milton Saunders Hall as Col. M.S. Hall. It said that this Milton S. Hall was one of the contractors who built the Texas & Pacific railroad into Weatherford. That is the only time he has been referenced as Col. M.S. Hall.

His Middle Name - Milton has come up with several different middle names.
Saunders - From his grand niece, Margaret “Lottie” Covey O’Brien, granddaughter of his brother Fielding Mace
Sandridge - He registered to vote in Monrovia in 1897 (below).
Sandwich - Obituary

1822 - born at or somewhere near to Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia

1830 - age 8 and now living in Kentucky with his parents

1840 - age 18 and could be living with his brother up in Marion County, Missouri, but there is a boy possibly Milton's age living with their mother in Lincoln County, Kentucky

1840 - his niece, Lucy Hall, is born in Lewis County, Missouri. She is the daughter of Fielding Hall. It is not known when Milton migrated up to the Marion County area of Missouri, but it is known that his brother was there between the years of 1837 and 1842.

1843, September 21 - He is married in Marion County, Missouri to Vienna Elizabeth Tolle.

1850 - age 28 - Need Census

1860, August 6 - San Francisco, California [page 87 3rd District San Francisco City, San Francisco, California
HALL, M.S. boarding w m 37 1822 VA [employment not given] real estate value $1,000 personal value $800

Milton seems to be living in a boarding house. He can be found under M. S. Hall born 1823 VA. His occupation is not listed. His age was 37 and he was born in Virginia875 In his obituary it said that he was associated with the mining camps of northern California and he was out there looking for gold. Also, it is said that his son, John Franklin was born in 1860 in San Francisco.

1860, June 22 - Marion County, Missouri
HALL, Varna E. 34 f $300 VA
HALL, Mary J. 14 f MO
HALL, George T. 11 m MO
TOLLE, Chloe 81 f SC

Vienna was indexed under Varna Hall as her name had been recorded and can be found with her children and her mother. She is living next door to another Tole household, headed by Lucy I. who is most probably a sister-in-law.872

1863 - Daughter Mary Jane is married in Fort Kearney, Kearney County, Nebraska

1870 - Independence, Jackson County, Missouri871
HALL, George 21 m w none MO
HALL, Sally 17 f w keeping house IL
HALL, Milton 47 m w none VA
HALL, Vienna 44 f w keeping house VA

[The two men were living next door to each other.

1872 February 25 - Milton married Belle Napier in Missouri and they had a daughter named Laura. In the Knob Noster Gem there was an obituary for a Laura Bell Hall who died in 1898 and was twenty-two years old. It was said that she was reared in California but returned to Kansas City with her parents. It also said that her father and C.C. Hall are cousins. Milton and Belle Napier Hall must have returned to Kansas City area when Laura got sick, then returned to L.A. California where they both died.

1875, 23rd of August - Voter Registration - California Great Registers, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, page 63.876
He registered as Milton S. Hall, born in Virginia, age 52, recorded on page 52.

1876 - Milton and Bell's son, Milton O. is born in California.

1880 - Precinct 4, Callahan County, Texas
HALL, M. S. w m married 56 R.R. Contractor VA VA VA
HALL, Mollie G. w f 19 niece single house keeping KY VA KY
MITCHELL, Wm H. w m 23 laborer TN VA VA
MITCHELL, Mary J. w f 18 wife house keeper LA LA LA
WALLACE, Ralph w m 23 boarder machinist Scot Scot Scot

[The Molly G. listed above as a niece, could be Mary E., daughter of his brother Fielding Mace Hall. The age and birth locations for her and her parents all adds up.]

1886, 27th of August - Voter Registration - California Great Registers, 1866-1910
Registered as Milton S. Hall. Milton registered to vote in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California. He gave his age as 63, was born in 1823 and his birthplace as Virginia, page 123. He was 52, born in Virginia and said his birth year was 1823.876

1892, 30th of August - Voter Registration - California Great Registers, 1866-1910
Registered as Milton Sandridge Hall. Milton registered to vote in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California. He gave his age as 72, was born in 1820 and his birthplace as Virginia, page 552. He was 72, born in Virginia and said his birth year was 1820, recorded on page 2.876

1896, 1st of August - Voter Registration - California Great Registers, 1866-1910
Registered as Milton Sandridge Hall. Milton registered to vote in Monrovia, Los Angeles, California. He gave his age as 72, was born in 1820 and his birthplace as Virginia, page 552. He was 72, born in Virginia and said his birth year was 1820.876

1898, 29 July - Milton and his wife return to Missouri, but the actual date is not known. It is known that they buried their daughter, Laura Bell in Knob Noster on this date.

1900 - Justice Precinct 5, Parker County, Texas877
HALL, Belle w m divorced July 1848 50 KY KY KY farmer
HALL, Jimmie w m son single Sep 1881 18 MN VA KY

Note for 1900 census. I have found three mistakes on it now. 1) is Belle's date of birth and her age. They don't match. So I'm taking her age, which matches up with a Margaret Belle Napier. And 2) I find it difficult to see that the son James was born in Minnesota. Missouri, yes. I can believe that. But I just can't see how he could have been born in a state that far away. Just doesn't make sense. His father, Milton, was busy building railroads out west and there doesn't seem to be any connections to James' birth location and the father's work or the mother's relations. Just can't figure it out. Mistake 3) There is a mistake on Belle's sex. But it does list her as being born in KY, then on her son's "location for your mother's birth" it lists her being born in KY, which would be correct. So I believe that the Belle Hall listed as head of this household was in fact his mother and not a man as shown.

1902 - Milton died in California. He was buried in the family plot.

OBITUARY - HALL At the home of his son, George T. Hall, Monrovia, Cal. March 7, 1902, of heart disease, Milton Sandwich Hall, beloved father of Mrs. W. N. Monroe, George T. and James Hall, aged 79 years, 4 months and 26 days.

Mr. Hall was born in Staunton, Va., but moved to Missouri in early manhood. On the discovery of gold in California he was among the first to make the tedious journey by ox team across the plains and for fourteen years was an active member of the noted mining camps of Northern California. When the Union Pacific railroad was built Mr. Hall had a number of large contracts. For twenty years he constantly followed railroad construction with is partner, W.N. Monroe, and others. His declining years were spent in Monrovia with his children. The funeral services took place from the First Methodist church of Monrovia, Sunday, March 9 at 11 a.m. the pastor, F.D. Mather, conducting the service. Interment was made in Live Oak Cemetery.878

1910 - Belle M. Hall is living in Ballona Township, Inglewood City, Los Angeles, California with friends, George E. and Mary B. Wright. She gives her age as 59 KY KY KY 3 children 1 living.879

1916 - Belle died and was buried in the family plot. There are other people buried in Section A of the same cemetery.

See the sketch for Milton's daughter, Mary Jane Hall Monroe and son-in-law, William Newton Monroe. Milton Saunders Hall is mentioned in both. He is also mentioned in his son's obituary, John Franklin Hall of Brock, Parker County, Texas.