Samuel and Ada Hale

John Hale was born about 1768, in Franklin County, Virginia. He had seven sons and three daughters with Sarah "Sally" between the years of 1805 and 1830. He died about 1834, in Floyd County, Kentucky, at the age of 66. One of those sons was Smith Hale, my 2nd great-grandfather.

Birth

John Hale was born about 1768, in Franklin County, Virginia to Rachel and Joseph Hale, age 26.

The Boston Tea Party

John Hale lived in one of the original American colonies inspired by the successful uprising by a group of fiery Bostonians.

The Declaration of Independence

John Hale was living in the 13 colonies at one of the most important turning points in American history—the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

John Hale

Son of Joseph and Rachel Hale, Patrick Co. Virginia, 1804 chancery case. (See Photo) From Virginia Archives.

Residence: John Hale lived in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1810.

Lawsuit: Between Hiram Spurlock's Heirs and John Hale - abt 1819 • Floyd Co. Kentucky

Residence: John Hale lived in Floyd County, Kentucky, in 1820.

Residence: John Hale lived in Floyd County, Kentucky, in 1830.

Death: John Hale died about 1834, in Floyd County, Kentucky, when he was 66 years old.

It is possible that John may have been married before his marriage to Sarah "Sally" - last name unknown.

His first two sons were James and William, born around 1805. My second great-grandfather was not born until 1818 (Smith Hale) a gap of 18 years. If so, that would put the marriage of John Hale and Sarah around 1815-16.

Not much is known about this couple except that Sarah outlived John Hale and lived next door to her son, John Hale (no doubt named after his father) in the 1850 census, Floyd Co. Kentucky. Living with her are her two sons, Claiborn (Clayborn) Hale and Thomas Hale.

I have yet to uncover a photo of Smith Hale or John Hale, his father but if I do, you will no doubt hear me yelling from the back woods of Oak Hill, Ohio!

Corporal Paul R. Hale, Solider, Father, Grandfather

Wilma Price-Hale

Paul Raymond Hale, my grandfather was born 26 April 1923 in W. Prestonsburg, KY to Walter "Watt" and Wilma (Price) Hale.

He grew up in a very wonderful family where there was love in plenty but not without hardships. His father, Watt Hale was a local barber, among becoming know for telling stories with his sense of humor but my grandfather Paul was the firstborn.

When the 1930's came about, the hardships of the Great Depression brought about the CCC where the government help those families putting men to work and that was no exception for my grandfather as he joined and learn some skills that would help him later in life. He sent the money back to his parents to help out with what he could. By this time he had a sister born in 1926 by the name of Jean Carol Hale but as the Great Depression came out, his mother was with child and a little brother was born on the 8 March 1931, they named him Fredrick "Little Freddie" Vincent Hale. Sept of that same year at just six months old, Little Freddie left this world and left behind two broken hearted parents, an older brother and a little sister to grieve his passing.

My grandfather, Paul Hale finally went and joined the CCC on 14 of Oct, 1940 but stayed for just a little while in Hellier, KY and was given leave on 24 March, 1941 to enlist in the Army.

1942 in Huntington, W.Va he enlisted in the Army. During this time he met a young lady by the name of Annette Steele Powell and on the 25th of March, 1943 they were married. Soon, they both would leave Kentucky and was stationed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. War called him overseas as he would have to leave his parents, a newly bride and a child behind to fight for over a year and seven months in Northern France, Rhineland Germany and Normandy. From letters sent back home to his mother and wife we can glean a few little stories of his time in the war.



Paul R. Hale

In one letter he wrote from the inside of a tank where there was just a little light to see to write back home. Or the time where he learn to cut hair from a man he met, which later on he would use that skill many times on my head. He spoke of seeing some beautiful caves, cooking in the mess hall but also the sadness of seeing death and destruction. In many of the letters he did not want to worry his mother, so he kept things short and sweet. His sister told me how she would see her mother many times would not eat a meal or would be sitting down in a chair lifting up her apron wiping the tears from crying. Yes, it was hard on all of the family. Before he left to go to war, his parents would have a son, Charles Hale and a daughter, Kathryn Hale, so when he left, he left a lot of his heart back home leaving a older sister, a baby brother, a little sister, a wife, a son and his parents. The heaviness of war.

One point in the war he would become Corporal Paul R. Hale and be awarded the Bronze Star Medal for "heroic achievement in action on 28 July, 1944 in the vicinity of La Barberie, France." A cannoneer in a Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron distinguished himself in preventing the capture of his crew and assault gun when surrounded by the enemy for six days. during intense enemy shelling of his tank and supervised a vigilant guard of the weapon.  Upon relief from an armored infantry unit, Corporal Hale assembled his crew and fired direct fire support against enemy snipers.

From this war, he finally came home. He would use his skills from his father and the CCC to build him a little home in West Prestonsburg, KY. All together he and his young bride would have other children, Paul Jr, Sharon, Wilma (my mother) and Jan. Today, only two are with us. My grandfather would begin to have problems with his heart. He wanted to come to a hospital in our area to have come medical care but on the way he laid his head over on the window as if he was sleeping, without a sound left this world at the age of 53. His older sister would write in her bible these words, "Paul went to be with Jesus today." Yes he did.

Family Reunion

Kathy Huff and Charles Hale


July 2013, the Hale family came together in West Prestonsburg, Ky for a reunion. The daughter and son of Watt and Wilma Hale shared stories of their parents, love for the family and just a wonderful time together.

Marriage Bond

In the fall of 2012 after much research I came aross the marriage bond of my 3rd great-grandfather and his wife. It has been hid to history for over 177 years from our family.

I often wonder what their lives were like, what they ate, how they dressed, and what was the mystery behind their deaths?

Their grandson, Watt Hale (my great-grandfather) never got to met his grandparents but he always told a story to this day that I am on a search to solve, uncover and hope one day will know what happened to them.

Smith and Elizabeth Moseley-Hale died one day apart, burried in a common grave in Prestonsburg, KY. and to this day no one knows how or what happened. Maybe one day soon we will uncover that mystery and if not, we will have to let it be burried with them. Here is what the marriage bond says:

"Know all men by these present that we Smith Hale and Obadiah Moore are held and firmly bound unto the common wealth of Kentucky in the final sum of £ 50 (pounds) for the true payment whereof we bind our selves our heirs and firmly by these present sealed with our seal and dates this 12th day of June 1835 The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly intended to be held and solemnized between the above bound Smith Hale and Elizabeth Moseley of this county if there fore there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue. Executed in presence of Smith Hale (sign by X) (seal) Jacob Mays ??? Obadiah Moore (seal)"

• Smith Hale (3rd great-grandfather)
• Samuel Hale (2nd great-grandfather)
• Walter *Watt* Hale (great-grandfather)
• Paul R. Hale (grandfather)
• Wilma Lou Hale (mother)
• Terry Hale (me)

Charles and Kathryn Hale

Walter "Watt" and Wilma Hale of West Prestonsburg, KY had three sons and two daughters:

• Paul Raymond Hale (carpenter)
• Jean Carol Hale (minister)
• Fred Vinson Hale (died at 6 months)
• Charles Gordon Hale (contractor)
• Thelma Kathryn Hale (teacher)

These are the two remaining children of Watt and Wilma Hale, Charles and Kathryn Hale that still live in Kentucky.

This picture was taken at a "Hale-Price" family reunion in Prestonsburg, KY/