Harry Thomas Hall, Fort Plain, New York, then Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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Harry Thomas Hall, head of the New Iberia Commission Company, Ltd.,
was reared from early childhood in Louisiana and the twenty years since he
attained manhood hare been employed so effectively ,as to give him a
prosperous and influential place in the business life of Iberia Parish.

He was born at Fort Plain, New York, August 1, 1883, of a family that
came from England, and was identified with the Colonial period of New
York.  His great-grandfather, Robert Hall, served as a lieutenant in the War
of 1812, and as a trader founded the Village of Hallsville, New York.  His
son, Robert C. Hall, was born at Hallsville in 1832, and devoted his active
life to the management of a large New York State Farm.  In 1891 he came
to Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and after that lived retired with his son on a
plantation until his death in 1904.

Alonso E. Hall, father of Harry T., was born at Hallsville New York, June
17, 1851, was reared there and married at Fort Plain and for nine years was
County clerk of Montgomery County, New York.  He was engaged in the
retail grocery business at ort Plain until October, 1889, when he came to
Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and acquired and operated a plantation until 1905. 
Since that year his home has been in New Iberia.  He was associated with
his son in establishing the New Iberia Commission Company, Ltd., but is
practically retired from any part of its management.  He is a democrat, a
Mason and Knight of Pythias.  Alonzo E. Hall married Effie L. Lumley,
who was born at Fort Plain, New York, in 1851.  They had a family of five
children, Harry T. being the second.  The oldest, Margaret, is the wife of
Marshall Reeves, an electrician at Long View, Washington.  Earl W., is in
the automobile business at New Iberia.  James C., a traveling representative
of the New Iberia Commission Company, Ltd., is one of the honored
ex-service men of Louisiana, having been with the colors from April 1,
1917, until June, 1919, as sergeant of a headquarters company in the
famous Rainbow Division, and spent two years in France, participating in
all the campaigns in which the Rainbow Division was engaged.  The
youngest of the family is Alonzo E., Jr., also a traveling salesman for the
commission company.

Harry Thomas Hall was six years of age when his parents came to
Louisiana, and his education was acquired in public and private schools at
New Iberia.  After graduating from high school in 1899, he spent one year
in the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri.  He was associated
with his father in organizing the New Iberia Commission Company, Ltd.,
and continuously has been the real active manager of that going and
prospering business, which is now one of the leading wholesale and jobbing
concerns of Southern Louisiana.  The company owns warehouse, land and
offices at the corner of Corinne and Fulton streets.  Mr. Hall has his own
attractive residence at the corner of Main and Bank streets.

Mr. Hall since 1912 has given some valuable service to his community as a
member and vice president of the Parish School Board.  He is a democrat,
a past exalted ruler of New Iberia Lodge No. 334, Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, is past chancellor of Iberia Lodge No. 39,
Knights of Pythias and grand prelate of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana,
Knights of Pythias.  He belongs to the Iberia Spanish Lake Club and the
New Iberia Country Club.

Mr. Hall in February 17, 1906, married at New Iberia. Miss Clara Finley, a
native of Houma, Louisiana.  They have two daughters:  Dorothy F., who
graduated from the New Iberia High School in January, 1924, and is now
attending the State Normal College at Natchitoches, and  Harriet, in the
grammar school at New Iberia.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 297, by Henry E. Chambers. 
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New
York, 1925.