HALE, ALBERT
, was born Nov. 29, 1799, in Glastenbury, Hartford county, Conn. At the age of fourteen years he became a clerk in a store in Wethersfield, Conn., remaining eight years. During that time he embraced religion. He attended Yale College, and graduated there in 1827, and then commenced studying for the ministry. He next became an agent of the American Tract Society, spending one and a half years in South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, part of the time in Sunday school work among the "Sand hills" of the latter State. He returned to Yale, was licensed and ordained to preach in 1830, by the New Havan Association East--Congregational. After preaching a few months in the vicinity of Boston, making his home in the family of Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, he came west, landing at Shawneetown, Ill., Nov. 11, 1831, remained there a few weeks, and went to Greenville, Bond county, and made his home in the McCord settlement, where he labored half the time and spent the other half traveling over the State, doing the work of an evangelist, for about eight years. During that time he visited Springfield a few times. He received a call from the Second Presbyterian Church, to become its pastor, and accepting the call, he came and entered upon its duties in 1839. Rev. Albert Hale was married April, 1839, at what is now Godrey, Madison county, Ill., to Abiah Chapin, a teacher in Monticello Female Seminary at that place. They had three children, all born in Springfield.CATHARINE and
SOPHIA reside with their father.
ALBERT F., born Oct. 2, 1844, in Springfield, graduated at Yale College in 1866, studied theology, and was licensed and ordained to preach by Springfield Presbytery in 1871.
Mrs. Abiah Hale died Jan., 1865, in Springfield. Rev. Albert Hale was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Springfield for twenty-seven years, until 1866, when, in consequence of the infirmities of age, he resigned. He continues to preach, both in city and county, as his strength will permit, and resides in Springfield.