James Hall

James Hall (August 19, 1793 - July 5, 1868) was a judge and writer of the United States. He was named the literary pioneer of the Midwestern United States. Hall was born in Philadelphia. After studying law for some time, in 1812 he joined the United States Army. In the war with Britain, he distinguished himself by battles at Landy Lane and Fort Erie. At the end of the war, he accompanied an expedition against Algeria, but in 1818 he resigned and continued to study law in Pittsburgh, PA. In 1820, Hall moved to Shawnitown, Illinois, where he began practicing at the bar, and also edited the Illinois Herald. Soon after, he was appointed district attorney, and in 1824 a district judge. In 1827, he became the state treasurer and held this position until 1831, but at the same time he continued his legal practice and also edited the Illinois intelligence officer. He subsequently became the editor of Western Souvenir, an annual publication, and the Illinois monthly magazine, and then the Western monthly magazine. As a science fiction writer, his most famous story is The Indian Hater (1828). He died in Loveland, Ohio.