NATHAN HALL
Arrives in Sacramento, 1852

Nathan Hall was born in Dutchess County, New York, September 14, 1827, his parents being Elisha and Emily (Bates) Hall, who were both natives of that State, and made it their home until their death, the mother dying when Nathan was nine, and the father when he was fifteen years old.  Nathan, being next to the oldest of a family of six children, remained at home to care for them until he was twenty years of age, obtaining a common-school education such as the country at that time afforded.  Upon leaving home he roamed over the Western States about a year.  At La Salle, Illinois, he purchased a team and started overland for California, crossing the Missouri River at Independence, Missouri.  He joined several other teams there, and in less than a week they came across a party of campers bound for California, and joined them, making the trip together.  In fifty-two days’ traveling they reached Salt Lake, where they remained nine days.  They arrived at Sacramento in August, 1852, where they separated.  Mr. Hall came at once to Santa Clara County, and when he reached here had $80 in his pocket.  He found Spanish titles across his way against securing land, and concluded to work by the month for a while, until titles became more settled, and saved his money with a view of purchasing land.  It being ascertained that there was some government land around Mountain View, squatters located on it, procured a survey and ran out the section lines.  Mr. Hall bought out one of these squatters for $200, thus securing 172 acres of land.  He afterward paid the government double this price for a patent.  This land, except nine acres, was at the time covered in chaparral, but is now all under cultivation.  He has sixty acres in vineyard and a small orchard for home use.  The remainder of the land is devoted to grain, hay, and pasture.

            Mr. Hall was married, in 1866, to Sarah Brewer, a native of New York State.  Previous to her marriage she taught school for two seasons, one in Russian River Valley and one year in the Lincoln District, where they now reside.  They have two children, Bertha M. and Edna B.  The former is a graduate of the State Normal School at San Jose, in the class of 1888.  Mr. Hall has lived in this valley since 1852, except one year he spent in the mines.  Prior to his marriage he made his home with Elisha Stephens, the first settler in this part of Santa Clara County. 

Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 319-320
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
Proofread by Betty Vickroy

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