Biography

09/30/1844 - 01/05/1915

James Knox Polk Hall (D38) Cameron, Clarion, Elk and Forest Counties 1903-1906 (D26) Cameron, Clarion, Clinton, Elk and Forest Counties 1907-1914. 

Early Life: 

James Knox Polk Hall, born September 30, 1844, Milesburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, son of Benjamin McDowell and Susannah Geary Hall; educated in Pittsburgh, studied law; admitted, bar 1866; attorney, 1866-1883; elected, district attorney of Elk County, 1867; reelected, 1870, reelected, 1873; retired from law practice, 1883; engaged, coal, lumber, railroad businesses; engaged, banking; elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses, 1899- resigned, 1902; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1903-1914; married, Kate Maria Hyde; died, in Tampa, Fla., January 5, 1915 (age 70 years, 97 days), Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida; interment, Pine Grove Cemetery, Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, district attorney of Elk County, 1867; reelected, 1870, reelected, 1873.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 38th district, Cameron, Clarion, Elk and Forest Counties, 1903-1906, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district Cameron, Clarion, Clinton, Elk and Forest Counties, 1907-1914; committee assignments, Appropriations, Banks and Building and Loan Associations, Corporations, Judicial Apportionment, Judiciary Special, Law and Order, Mines and Mining, Public Roads and Highways. 

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Congresses, 1899- resigned, 1902. 

Legacy:

Presumably named for: James Knox Polk, 11th President of the United States, 1845-1849.

Brother, John Geary Hall, Pennsylvania State Senate, 38th district, Cameron, Clarion, Elk, and Forest Counties, 1879-1886. 

John Geary Hall  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Brother, Harry Alvan Hall, Pennsylvania State Senate, 38th district, Cameron, Clarion, Elk and Forest Counties, 1891-1893.

Harry Alvan Hall  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Brother-in-law, William H. Hyde, Pennsylvania State Senate, 38th district, Cameron, Clarion, Elk and Forest Counties, 1893-1893; replaced, Harry Alvan Hall. 

William H Hyde  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Grandson, Lyle Gillis Hall, Jr., Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Cameron, Clarion, Clinton, Elk and Forest Counties, 1963-1964, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Clarion, Forest, Elk Counties 1964-1965, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Delaware (Part) Counties, 1966-1967.

Lyle Gillis Hall Jr - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov) 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1914). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1090, 1097-1100, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1070. 

James K.P. Hall (1844-1915) - Find a Grave Memorial