Description: Gilbert Pine Hall sits in a studio chair and leans casually to his right while resting his elbow on what appears to be a sheepskin rug. While resting his left hand in his lap, he gazes up to his right. He is dressed in a double breasted jacket, white shirt, and white bow tie. On his left lapel is a large unidentifiable object. He is clean shaven, and his hair is parted off center, oiled and combed to the back of his head.
Biographical Note: Gilbert Pine Hall was born on April 20, 1859, in Manchester, Missouri, the thirteenth and youngest child of Sarah Gibbons Thomas and Dr. James Henry Hall. When he was about 11, his family moved to Petaluma, California. Gil continued his education and graduated in 1878 from Petaluma High School in a class of six students, including Mary Louise Brown, aka Lulu Brown. Over the next few years, Gil worked in a variety of positions. In April 1880, he was teaching school in the San Antonio district, and two years later, he and former classmate Lulu were married by the Marin County Justice of the Peace. The Brown parents soon arranged for Father Cleary of St. Vincent’s parish to repeat the ceremony for the couple, and the Petaluma Courier announced that “Cupid’s darts are flying fast.”
Gil Hall joined the National Guard in 1882, was appointed Postmaster of Petaluma in 1886, and in 1890 was voted in as County Auditor and Recorder. In 1894, he was admitted to the California Bar and began practicing law in Sonoma County. Gil’s name appeared frequently in Petaluma newspapers throughout his life and many times years after his death. He was described as eloquent, controversial, golden-tongued, unpredictable, fiery, and many more colorful terms. Bill Soberanes, a Petaluma Argus-Courier columnist for many years, wrote frequently about Gil Hall’s courtroom tactics. One story tells about Gil’s defense of a client charged with selling illegal whiskey during prohibition. The evidence was in a bottle displayed in the courtroom. Gil picked up the bottle and drank the contents. “That’s not whiskey!” he exclaimed and won the case. The evidence was gone.
Gil and Mary Louise were the parents of five daughters: Aletha, Evelyn, Kathleen, Geraldine, and Dorothy. An unnamed son died at birth in 1888. The family lived in Petaluma for all but a few years while Gil was county recorder in Santa Rosa. Their marriage lasted just short of 50 years. Gil and Mary Louise both died in 1932. Gil died on January 24 and Mary Louise seven months later on August 25. Their graves are side-by-side in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Petaluma.
*This biographical note was written by Annie Alexis Ferguson Brown’s descendant, Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini.
Family Affiliation: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42046069/gilbert-pine-hall. Search this archive and the Sonoma County Library photograph archive for additional portraits of Gilbert Pine Hall and his family.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier: August 25, 1932, p. 3 (obit); August 27, 1932, p. 3; Sept 29, 1899, p. 1; November 2, 1927, p. 8; November 8, 1927, p. 7; January 25, 1932, p. 3; March 10, 1932, p. 5. Petaluma Courier: May 29, 1878, p. 3; August 13, 1890, p.4. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier: August 28, 1911, p. 5; December 9, 1896, p. 2; March 8, 1897, p. 2; July 31, 1897, p. 1; November 2, 1897, p.1; July 12, 1911, p.2. Petaluma Weekly Argus: May 31, 1878, p. 3; April 2, 1880, p. 3; July 23, 1889, p. 3; June 2, 1882, p. 3; October 13, 1882, p. 3. Gilbert Pine Hall was referenced numerous times after his death in articles written by Bill Soberanes. The most extensive references include: Petaluma Argus-Courier: May 13, 1966, p.9; April 26, 1967, p. 11; September 14, 1979, p. 11. For additional information and artifacts pertaining to the Hall family, see the Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini Collection at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: In the background of this portrait on the right is a length of dark drapery. On the left is what appears to be a sheepskin rug upon which the sitter rests his right elbow. The photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of the card in blue ink.
Description, back: Handwritten in pencil along the right edge is: “Gilbert Pine Hall - Lawyer”, “(1859-1932)”, and “Mamas father”.
Date: 1890s
Condition: This cabinet card is slightly soiled throughout.
Owner: From the collection of Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini, digital copy by permission.
Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced. These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.
