Sangamo Journal, January 8, 1844, it read:
'Married in Athens, this county, on the 4th inst. by Rev. G. L. Roberts, Mr. A. Banks Hall, to Miss Helen Jennett, eldest dau. of Mr. Calvin Francis.'
This marriage placed the Hall family as part of what was to become one of the most distinguished groups in the early history of central Illinois.
Francis Family
Helen Jennett Francis, 1824 - 1899, was a niece of Simeon Francis co-founder and editor of the Sangamo Journal, an important newspaper in the rise of Abraham Lincoln to fame and power. Simeon Francis and his wife, Eliza Rumsey Francis, were to play a dramatic role in the romance of Lincoln and Mary Todd. The Lincoln's, both husband and wife, were closely associated with the Francis family.
Years later, after Lincoln's election to the presidency, Francis was given an important military position in Oregon --- a tribute to their earlier Illinois years and to the events that transpired in Springfield during the pre-Civil War years.
Francis' paper, the Sangamo Journal, continues today as the State Journal-Register and is Illinois' oldest surviving newspaper.++
Father
Calvin Francis, 1802 - 1886, father of Jennett and brother of Simeon, was an outstanding man in his own right. He spent a greater portion of his adult life at Athens. He was a true community leader and man of responsibility. He served as Justic of Peace and as a city official. At his death, the newspaper at the county seat, Petersburg, made considerable note of his good life.
The fact that Calvin (also a brother Josiah) lived at Athens, and Simeon published the newspaper at Springfield and the Halls being related by marriage, gave the family considerable newspaper coverage. These factors added up and the task of gathering material for The Grandfathers was made considerably easier.
In addition to owning some property in Athens, which had come through his father, Abner Banks Hall, entered the construction business, - a logical step for the son of a town planner. Somewhere along the line he learned the trade of a brickmason, as did his older brother, James Wesley Hall.
These two brothers fathered in turn, several generations of masons, who did most of such work in Athens and vicinity. A large number of the older masonry structures in the community that have withstood the years are of their handiwork
(Hall-Overstreet Families Book by Carrol Carman Hall, 1981.)
'Married in Athens, this county, on the 4th inst. by Rev. G. L. Roberts, Mr. A. Banks Hall, to Miss Helen Jennett, eldest dau. of Mr. Calvin Francis.'
This marriage placed the Hall family as part of what was to become one of the most distinguished groups in the early history of central Illinois.
Francis Family
Helen Jennett Francis, 1824 - 1899, was a niece of Simeon Francis co-founder and editor of the Sangamo Journal, an important newspaper in the rise of Abraham Lincoln to fame and power. Simeon Francis and his wife, Eliza Rumsey Francis, were to play a dramatic role in the romance of Lincoln and Mary Todd. The Lincoln's, both husband and wife, were closely associated with the Francis family.
Years later, after Lincoln's election to the presidency, Francis was given an important military position in Oregon --- a tribute to their earlier Illinois years and to the events that transpired in Springfield during the pre-Civil War years.
Francis' paper, the Sangamo Journal, continues today as the State Journal-Register and is Illinois' oldest surviving newspaper.++
Father
Calvin Francis, 1802 - 1886, father of Jennett and brother of Simeon, was an outstanding man in his own right. He spent a greater portion of his adult life at Athens. He was a true community leader and man of responsibility. He served as Justic of Peace and as a city official. At his death, the newspaper at the county seat, Petersburg, made considerable note of his good life.
The fact that Calvin (also a brother Josiah) lived at Athens, and Simeon published the newspaper at Springfield and the Halls being related by marriage, gave the family considerable newspaper coverage. These factors added up and the task of gathering material for The Grandfathers was made considerably easier.
In addition to owning some property in Athens, which had come through his father, Abner Banks Hall, entered the construction business, - a logical step for the son of a town planner. Somewhere along the line he learned the trade of a brickmason, as did his older brother, James Wesley Hall.
These two brothers fathered in turn, several generations of masons, who did most of such work in Athens and vicinity. A large number of the older masonry structures in the community that have withstood the years are of their handiwork
(Hall-Overstreet Families Book by Carrol Carman Hall, 1981.)
Sangamo Journal, January 8, 1844, it read:
'Married in Athens, this county, on the 4th inst. by Rev. G. L. Roberts, Mr. A. Banks Hall, to Miss Helen Jennett, eldest dau. of Mr. Calvin Francis.'
This marriage placed the Hall family as part of what was to become one of the most distinguished groups in the early history of central Illinois.
Francis Family
Helen Jennett Francis, 1824 - 1899, was a niece of Simeon Francis co-founder and editor of the Sangamo Journal, an important newspaper in the rise of Abraham Lincoln to fame and power. Simeon Francis and his wife, Eliza Rumsey Francis, were to play a dramatic role in the romance of Lincoln and Mary Todd. The Lincoln's, both husband and wife, were closely associated with the Francis family.
Years later, after Lincoln's election to the presidency, Francis was given an important military position in Oregon --- a tribute to their earlier Illinois years and to the events that transpired in Springfield during the pre-Civil War years.
Francis' paper, the Sangamo Journal, continues today as the State Journal-Register and is Illinois' oldest surviving newspaper.++
Father
Calvin Francis, 1802 - 1886, father of Jennett and brother of Simeon, was an outstanding man in his own right. He spent a greater portion of his adult life at Athens. He was a true community leader and man of responsibility. He served as Justic of Peace and as a city official. At his death, the newspaper at the county seat, Petersburg, made considerable note of his good life.
The fact that Calvin (also a brother Josiah) lived at Athens, and Simeon published the newspaper at Springfield and the Halls being related by marriage, gave the family considerable newspaper coverage. These factors added up and the task of gathering material for The Grandfathers was made considerably easier.
In addition to owning some property in Athens, which had come through his father, Abner Banks Hall, entered the construction business, - a logical step for the son of a town planner. Somewhere along the line he learned the trade of a brickmason, as did his older brother, James Wesley Hall.
These two brothers fathered in turn, several generations of masons, who did most of such work in Athens and vicinity. A large number of the older masonry structures in the community that have withstood the years are of their handiwork
(Hall-Overstreet Families Book by Carrol Carman Hall, 1981.)
'Married in Athens, this county, on the 4th inst. by Rev. G. L. Roberts, Mr. A. Banks Hall, to Miss Helen Jennett, eldest dau. of Mr. Calvin Francis.'
This marriage placed the Hall family as part of what was to become one of the most distinguished groups in the early history of central Illinois.
Francis Family
Helen Jennett Francis, 1824 - 1899, was a niece of Simeon Francis co-founder and editor of the Sangamo Journal, an important newspaper in the rise of Abraham Lincoln to fame and power. Simeon Francis and his wife, Eliza Rumsey Francis, were to play a dramatic role in the romance of Lincoln and Mary Todd. The Lincoln's, both husband and wife, were closely associated with the Francis family.
Years later, after Lincoln's election to the presidency, Francis was given an important military position in Oregon --- a tribute to their earlier Illinois years and to the events that transpired in Springfield during the pre-Civil War years.
Francis' paper, the Sangamo Journal, continues today as the State Journal-Register and is Illinois' oldest surviving newspaper.++
Father
Calvin Francis, 1802 - 1886, father of Jennett and brother of Simeon, was an outstanding man in his own right. He spent a greater portion of his adult life at Athens. He was a true community leader and man of responsibility. He served as Justic of Peace and as a city official. At his death, the newspaper at the county seat, Petersburg, made considerable note of his good life.
The fact that Calvin (also a brother Josiah) lived at Athens, and Simeon published the newspaper at Springfield and the Halls being related by marriage, gave the family considerable newspaper coverage. These factors added up and the task of gathering material for The Grandfathers was made considerably easier.
In addition to owning some property in Athens, which had come through his father, Abner Banks Hall, entered the construction business, - a logical step for the son of a town planner. Somewhere along the line he learned the trade of a brickmason, as did his older brother, James Wesley Hall.
These two brothers fathered in turn, several generations of masons, who did most of such work in Athens and vicinity. A large number of the older masonry structures in the community that have withstood the years are of their handiwork
(Hall-Overstreet Families Book by Carrol Carman Hall, 1981.)
Gravesite Details
Wife of A. B. Hall
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