Don Carlos Hall

Narrative:

     Don Carlos Hall was born in Jun 1857 in Missouri.^6,7,8
     His father died in Jun 1859, when Don was about 2 years old.¹⁴ He appeared with his mother, Mary Ellen Gristy, on the 1860 Federal Census of Miller Twp., Scotland Co., Missouri, in the household of Julia Riley, who appears to have been a widowed sister of his mother.¹⁵
     He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Miller Twp., Scotland Co., Missouri, in the household of his mother and stepfather, Lincoln Mudd.¹⁶
     Don moved to Iowa by the time of his marriage.
     Don married Martha Ellen Emert, daughter of Jonathan Emert and Delila [surname unknown], about 1877.^9,10,11
     Don and Martha appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Riverton Twp., Fremont Co., Iowa, enumerated 16 Jul 1880. Their daughter Aubrey was listed as living with them.¹⁷ Don and Martha appeared on the 1885 State Census of Pacific Junction, Mills Co., Iowa. Their children Aubrey, Edith and Rosalie were listed as living with them.¹⁸
     Don and Martha moved to Nebraska by the time their last child was born, in 1895. They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Spring Ranch Twp., Clay Co., Nebraska, enumerated 2 Jun 1900, reporting they were renting their farm. Their children Edith, Rosalie, Ross, Cecil, Willie and Vernon were listed as living with them, as were Rosina C. Woolsey, a 37-year-old widow identified as his sister-in-law, and her 9-year-old daughter Thersa.¹⁹
     Don and Martha moved to Potlatch, Idaho, living there for a time before moving to Oregon about 1907.²⁰ They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Crook Co., Oregon, on the Redmond-Shaniko Stage Rd., enumerated 21 May 1910, reporting they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Their children Willie and Vernon were listed as living with them.²¹
     He worked on farms for much of his life, but was working as a laborer for a railroad in 1885 in Iowa. By 1900, in Nebraska, he was farming in his own right on rented land, and he owned his farm in Oregon by 1910.^22,23,19,21
     Don and Martha then moved to Withrow, Douglas Co., Washington, where they again had a farm. Their son Vernon joined them there. By 1917 Don seems to have retired from farming, as Vernon was then working on their farm, claiming to be their sole support.
     By 1920 Don and Martha had returned to Oregon, where Vernon had moved. They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Terrebonne, Deschutes Co., Oregon, in the household of their son Vernon and his wife, Sara Matilda Reigel.²⁴
     Don and Martha were returning from an outing at the Cove, the evening of 18 Jul 1922. Nearing the top of the steep narrow grade climbing out of Crooked River Canyon, he drove the car too close to the edge. The roadway and retaining wall crumbled, and the car tumbled 1,000 feet to the bottom, throwing both out along the way, killing them. His "defective vision" was cited as a factor in the accident, which was not discovered until the next day. It took parties from nearby towns all afternoon to recover the bodies.²⁵
     Don died on 18 Jul 1922 in Jefferson Co., Oregon, at age 65.^12,8 He was buried in Terrebonne Pioneer Cemetery, Terrebonne, Deschutes Co., Oregon.¹³