Hall, William Sprigg "Wm."
Senate 1857-60 (District 2)
Party when first elected: Democratic
Counties Served:
Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
7/9/1832
Birth Place:
, Maryland
Birth County:
Anne Arundel
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
2/25/1875
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Wm.
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
Lawyer
EDUCATION
St. John's College, Maryland; Attended College;
Studied Law; Admitted to Practice, 1854
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
School Board/Administration:
Minnesota (Superintendent of the Common Schools of Minnesota);
1856 to 1858
[Appointed]
Judge:
Minnesota Court of Common Pleas (Common Pleas Judge);
1866 to 02/25/1875
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Elizabeth Seliman Welsh
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in October, 1854.
He was listed as a Democratic party candidate in the 1857 election. (A History of the City of St. Paul to 1875, 1983 edition, by J. Fletcher Williams, p. 382)
His party affiliation when first elected was provided by Minnesota in Three Centuries and this partial quote, "Early in the session Mr. William Sprigg Hall, a prominent Democratic lawyer of St. Paul..." (Sanborn, Gen. John B. "The Work of the Second Legislature, 1859-60." Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul: the Society, 1905, Vol. 10, Part 2, p. 624)
He was the first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. (Minn. Reports 20, xi)
He platted 160 acres of land on Saint Paul's East Side and is responsible for the "floral" street names in Saint Paul's East Side and North End neighborhoods. Hall st. is named after him, Arundel St., Kent St., and Maryland Ave. are named for his birthplace, and the floral streets were named after a play on his middle name, "being imagined as 'sprigs' of flowering plants." (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society 17, p. 624-625)
He took a trip to Europe and died in a railroad car on his way home to Minnesota from the East.
Body:
Senate
District:
02
Elected:
10/11/1859
Residence:
Saint Paul
Term of Office:
12/7/1859 to 1/7/1861
Oath Date:
12/7/1859
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation:
Lawyer
Party:
Democratic
Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by this partial quote, "Early in the session Mr. William Sprigg Hall, a prominent Democratic lawyer of St. Paul..." (Sanborn, Gen. John B. "The Work of the Second Legislature, 1859-60." Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul: the Society, 1905, Vol. 10, Part 2, p. 624)
Committees:
-
Federal Relations
-
University and University Lands
Session Notes:
From 1849 to 1886, the term of office start date is uncertain.
Body:
Senate
District:
02
Elected:
10/13/1857
Residence:
Saint Paul
Term of Office:
12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
Oath Date:
12/2/1857
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation:
Lawyer
Party:
Democratic
Party Notes: His party affiliation was provided by Minnesota in Three Centuries. He was listed as a Democratic party candidate in the 1857 election. (A History of the City of St. Paul to 1875, 1983 edition, by J. Fletcher Williams, p. 382)
Committees:
-
Credentials
-
Education and Sciences (Chair)
-
Incorporations
-
State Affairs
Session Notes:
He was sworn in on December 7, 1857 and subscribed to the oath of office on December 8, 1857.
An 1858-59 session was not held due to the protracted session of 1857-58. (Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1872, p. 66) Thus, even though the first session was adjourned on August 12, 1858; the term end date for it is listed as the day before the second legislative session's start date.
No other information has been entered for this legislator.