Voices of the Past will showcase an interesting person or family within the Cemetery each week.
George McClellan Hall
Born: September 23, 1862
Died: February 25, 1907, aged 44
Located in Old Section A, Lot 30
George M. Hall born in Monroeville to parents, James and Evelyn (Brown) Hall. He was their eighth son and child of a brood of 12.
According to his biography in the fourth volume of "A Century and a Half of Pittsburgh and Her People," he was educated in the public schools and helped his father cultivate their home's farm until his 17th year when he moved to Turtle Creek to start a carpentry apprenticeship under Lenhart. He came to Homestead three years following and worked as a carpenter. At the age of 25, he branched into the contracting business, engaging in lumber, and eventually formed a partnership with several local gentleman which he kept until his untimely death.
Beyond his principal ownership of the George M. Hall Contracting Company, he was involved with and held positions of office with many organizations throughout his life, including the Nonpareil Stone & Brick Company, of which he was the President and Treasurer; the Empire Gold Mining Company, of which he was the Treasurer; the Homestead Savings Bank & Trust Company, of which he was the President; the Homestead Supply Company, of which he was an office holder and director; the Homestead National Bank, of which he was a director; and was involved with the Lincoln Realty Company, Board of Trade, School Board, of which he was a President, and served as Borough Treasurer for seven years. He was a member of the Republican party and, at the time of his death, had been in service as a member of the common council. He was also a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows, and Royal Arcanum.
He and his wife, Margaret (a daughter of L. B. and Agnes (Gibbons) Hursh of Irwin), whom he married on June 09, 1887, were members of the Presbyterian church. He is noted as having been a considerable contributor to all charitable undertakings, and was described as a man "of sound judgment and keen business foresight," with his counsel often being sought by many.
He died suddenly in his residence on Fifth Avenue of Homestead from apoplexy after suffering a stroke while in his office attending to business matters. He was survived by his wife, Margaret; and four children, Evelyn M. (Joseph T.) Wassell, Olive L. (Charles E.) Mutterer, Jessie H. Hall, and Clayton M. (Genevieve née Gorman) Hall. He was preceded in death by daughter, Georgia Hall, who died as a young child.
His funeral arrangements were handled by Gillen & Coulter Funeral Home of Homestead. He was buried in Homestead Cemetery on February 28, 1907.
Information gathered from:
Boucher, John Newton, editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1908, A Century and a Half of Pittsburg and Her People, Vol. 4.
"George M. Hall," Pittsburgh Press, 26 February 1907, p. 7
Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 013881-017440
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania County Marriages, 1852-1973; County: Allegheny; Year Range: 1887; Roll Number: 549753