Willard Preble Hall (U)

Overview

At a Glance

• Advocated expansion into territories west of Missouri
• Proposed bill on which the Kansas-Nebraska Act was later modeled
• A steady, moderating influence during the chaos of Civil War and death of Gov. Gamble

Personal History

In 1820, Willard Preble Hall was born in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. After graduating from Yale College in 1839, he gained admission to the Missouri Bar and joined his brother, Judge William A. Hall, to practice law in Buchanan County, Missouri.

During the Mexican-American War, while serving in the First Missouri Volunteers under Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan, Hall learned of his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. At that time, he was involved in creating a code of laws for the newly acquired territory of New Mexico. This code, known as the “Kearny Code” after General Stephen Watts Kearny, who led the American forces, served as the fundamental law of the territory for 45 years.

After leaving the governor’s office, Hall returned to his legal practice. For nearly two decades, he provided legal counsel and guidance for public improvements in northwestern Missouri. In 1880, he was elected the first president of the Missouri Bar Association. In addition to his public service, Hall conducted agricultural experiments on his farm in St. Jospeh until his death in 1882. He was buried in Mt. Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph.

Political History

In 1844, Hall traveled to Washington, D.C., as a presidential elector for Democrat James K. Polk. By 1846, residents of northwest Missouri elected him to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was reelected for two additional terms but chose not to seek further election. During his time in Congress, Hall strongly advocated for U.S. territorial expansion and legislation aimed at improving railroads and education in Missouri.

In December 1851, he introduced a bill to organize the Territory of Platte to facilitate westward settlement; although the bill ultimately failed, a revised version later influenced Stephen Douglas’s proposal that established the Kansas and Nebraska Territories. Hall was recognized as the only representative from Missouri to actively support this legislation.

The residents of his congressional district backed his initiatives to authorize settlement in the adjacent territory, believing that it would spur growth in northwest Missouri. In 1856, Hall made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.

When the Civil War broke out, he served as a pro-Union delegate in the state convention of 1861, which addressed the issue of secession. Following Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson’s escape from the capital and his declaration of support for the Confederacy, the convention declared the state’s executive offices vacant and established a provisional government, appointing Hamilton R. Gamble as governor, and Hall as lieutenant governor. Hall’s earlier support for the moderate Stephen Douglas and his conciliatory approach during the convention made him a suitable choice for the role.

When Gov. Gamble passed away in 1864, Hall, who had already taken on many of Gamble’s responsibilities due to his frail health, assumed the role of governor. Hall was widely respected as a leader and served as a moderating influence during the tumultuous period of the Civil War.

Historical Significance

Gov. Hall took office during a challenging period for Missouri, stepping into the governorship after the Civil War, the resignation of secessionist Gov. Jackson, and the poor health and eventual death of Gov. Gamble. Hall worked to maintain stability in the state until a new governor could be elected, and a new state constitution enacted.

In addition to his role as governor, Hall was a strong advocate for westward expansion during his time in Congress. He initially proposed a bill that would later serve as an early model for the Kansas-Nebraska Act.