Charles Sumner Hall, the junior member of the firm Silver & Hall, general merchants of Gossville, and an ex-member of the New Hampshire legislature, was born in Epsom, N.H., June 3, 1854, son of John C. and Martha E. (Rand) Hall, late of Epsom. The father, a native of Lee, N.H., was born January 26, 1806. In early life he came to Epsom and followed the trade of a carpenter here for some time. Later he opened a store, becoming a prosperous merchant; and he also conducted a large farm. Politically, he was in his later years a Republican; and he took an earnest interest in public affairs. He died at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, Martha, was born February 25, 1813, daughter of Stephen Rand, of Chichester. She became the mother of nine children-Sarah E., Martha E., James W., Amanda S., John H., Deborah, Georgia A., Luther T., and Charles S. Sarah E., born May 28, 1833, married James K. Taylor, of Neponset, Mass., and her children are: Ella, Mattie, Alberto, and Maud. Martha E., born June 3, 1834, is the wife of J. M. Emery, of Suncook, in the town of Pembroke, N.H., and has two daughters-Anna and Hattie. James W., born November 13, 1837, married Sarah Emery, of Suncook. Amanda was born September 1, 1839. John H., born March 19, 1842, married Nellie Farnham, of Great Falls (now Somersworth), N.H.; and his children are: Bert, John, George, and Alice. Deborah, born May 5, 1845, is now the wife of F. G. Stebbins, of Adrian, Mich. Georgia A., born November 10, 1848, and now deceased, first married William Desilets, who died leaving one daughter, Katherine. A second marriage united her to Charles Chapin, of Worcester, Mass., who has legally adopted her daughter by her first husband. Luther T. was born September 8, 1851. Mrs. John C. Hall died at the age of sixty-three years. She and her husband were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Charles Sumner Hall attended school in his native town, and completed his studies with a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton’s Business College in Manchester, N.H. After leaving school, he engaged in mercantile pursuits with his father, and remained with him for several years. In 1883 he became associated with his present partner in business. Gossville, are widely and favorably known as enterprising and successful merchants. The junior partner owns a large farm containing five hundred acres, seventy-five acres of which are under cultivation. He ranks high among the foremost agriculturists of this section.
On December 11, 1876, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Ellen M. Dolbeer, daughter of Calvin Dolbeer, of Epsom. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have no children. In politics Mr. Hall is a Republican. For many years he served as Town Clerk, and was elected a Representative to the legislature in 1889. He is Secretary of Evergreen Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F., of Short Falls, and is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry of Epsom. He is one of the successful men of this locality, and his upright character and business integrity are highly spoken of by his fellow-townsmen. Both he and Mrs. Hall are members of the Free Will Baptist church.