Transcription of obituary from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Wednesday, April 26, 1893

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Judge Isaac M. Hall, the well-known pioneer lawyer, dropped dead in Sheehan's saloon on Second street shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday morning, the cause of his death being the fatty degeneration of the heart. He had not been home the night before, but had spent the night with some boon companions. He had been drinking some, but was by no means intoxicated. At about 11 o'clock he went into the Pantheon saloon, and after spending some time there with friends talking about curious things in ancient history and reciting poetry, he went to sleep in a chair and remained thus until about 7:30 in the morning, when W. B. Stevens, the porter, wanted to scrub out the place. He woke the judge up and asked him to get out of the way. Hall then went into Sheehan's place, next door, and not seeing any place to sit down, leaned up against the counter and after awhile fell asleep. The porter aroused him and told him he had better go home. Hall said he was unable to walk home, and asked for a chair. Stevens then conducted him into the little card room in front of the bar, where the judge went to sleep in a chair. The porter went on about his work, but in about fifteen minutes he heard a crash in the little room. He rushed in and found the judge lying on his face on the floor. It was quite evident that Hall was dead, and Stevens called Patrolman Jackson, who summoned Coroner Horton. The body was at once removed to Bonney & Stewart's and embalmed.

The news quickly spread about town, and those who knew him, especially the old-timers, expressed great sorrow at his untimely end. The sad tidings were conveyed to his wife, who has long feared that his full habit would result in sudden death. His children living at Port Angeles were also notified, but as they have not yet been heard from the hour for holding obsequies has not been definitely determined. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M., and the obsequies will no doubt be held under Masonic auspices.

Judge Hall was a distinguished member of the King County Bar, and his death was announced in the three departments of the superior court by Judge Orange Jacobs, president of the Bar Association. Out of respect to the memory of the deceased the three courts adjourned from the noon hour until 3 p.m. In the interim a meeting of the King County Bar Association was held and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"Whereas, On this 25^th day of April, 1893, a member of this bar who had practiced his profession in Seattle for the past thirty years, and who had acceptably served the county of King as the probate judge, Hon. Isaac M. Hall, departed this life; be it by the members of the bar of King County, assembled at the courthouse, unanimously

Resolved, First -- That Mr. Hall was an attorney of marked ability and unwavering integrity; a judge whose decisions always commanded respect and confidence; a scholar of extensive erudition, whose strikingly tenacious memory enabled him with ease and grace to adorn every discussion by appropriate allusions and comparisons drawn from all ages and countries; a brilliant wit, whose ready flashes illumined every topic and charmed every circle; a joyous and gladsome humorist whose deep insight into human nature quickly revealed to him the foibles, defects, strength and virtue of the heart and mind; a generous and loving man, free from guils and malice, who was ever full of sympathy with human kind, and of charity for the weak and unfortunate.

Second -- That the members of the King County Bar Association, of which he was a member, and the bar in general, deeply regret his sudden demise, and will cherish the recollection of his many good and attractive qualities.

Third -- That the secretary of this meeting present to the surviving family of the deceased a copy of these resolutions, with the respectful assurance of the sympathy of the bar in their bereavement."

On motion of Eben Smith, E. P. Dole was requested to deliver a funeral oration before the members of the bar and all friends of the late Judge Hall on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in Judge Humes' court room.

W. H. White moved that, so far as possible, every member of the bar attend the funeral services, which will be held by Dean Watson, of the Trinity Episcopal church, and Rev. Daniel Bagley at Bonney & Stewart's, at a date to be decided later.

I. M. Hall was born in Indiana in 1841, and came to California in 1863, and after remaining a short time in San Francisco came to Seattle in 1864, and commenced to practice law. This not proving very remunerative, he became connected with the Seattle Weekly Gazette, and after awhile became its owner. He kept up his law practice at the same time, but was unable to make the paper pay, and it died in 1866. Hall then went to San Francisco, where he worked as a journeyman printer on the American Flag, he having learned to set type during the three or four years he was connected with the Gazette. The demise of the American Flag shortly after he went to work on it again set him adrift and he went to Hawaii for his health, which at that time was not very good. He returned to Seattle in 1867 and ran against A. S. Pinkham for county auditor, the election resulting in 140 votes for each candidate. The contestants drew lots for the office and Hall won. The first marriage license ever issued in King county was that given by Judge Hall to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Parker. He afterwards went to Port Townsend, where he again got into the newspaper business with Al Pettigrove, but after a short time he sold out his interest and gave his entire attention to practicing law. In 1872 he returned to Seattle and has remained here ever since, with the exception of a few months in 1886 during which he resided in Olympia. From 1881 to 1883 he was probate judge of King county.

A good many years ago he married the daughter of the late Daniel M. Crane, by whom he had two daughters and one son, who are all living, one daughter, Mrs. Luther Mason, and Frank, with their mother at Port Angeles. The other daughter is now attending school in Switzerland. About ten years ago he and his wife were divorced, and he afterward married Mrs. Jennie Freygang, who survives him

In his early years Judge Hall was very thin, weighing not to exceed 135 pounds, but of late he accumulated flesh rapidly, and at the time of his death weighed probably over 300 pounds. He was convivial in his habits, possessed an excellent literary taste, had a noble diposition and remarkable talents, but was lacking in that ambition for material success which men call business capacity. He was a man endowed with a remarkable legal mind and a phenomenal memory, and, although a self-educated man, was a fine scholar, well versed in classic literature, as well as ancient and modern history. As an orator he was powerful, eloquent and effective; as a writer he was charming, and his productions in this line, though few, were remarkable for purity of diction, elegance of style and dignity of thought. In his profession he was esteemed as one of the ablest men at the bar in this state. His mind was both analytical and comprehensive and was fortified by his astonishing memory. He was a witty and ready debater and was strong before a jury or on the hustings. He was one of the most popular stump speakers in the state. As probate judge he was painstaking, precise, and scholarly.

Possessing rare abilities, he was simple-minded, pure-hearted and noble in his aspirations. Generous and kindly in disposition, he had no enemies, but on the other hand possessed the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was a notorious free-thinker, but in his broad-minded liberality he never found fault with those who differed with him on theological questions. At the request of James Osborne, who left a handsome legacy to the city for the construction of a public hall, and who was also a great infidel, he delivered the funeral oration over his remaines, in 1882.

Submitted by Stacey Davis November 3, 2000