Hall was a writer and government leader from Harrison County. He started his career as a teacher and then worked for a newspaper. In 1861, he documented the Wheeling conventions that helped create West Virginia. His book The Rending of Virginia is a key source on how the state was formed.

He became the first clerk of the West Virginia House of Delegates, later served as secretary of state, and worked for the governor. After the Civil War, he was involved in the railroad business and became a railroad president. Hall also wrote books and edited newspapers. He died at age 96 in Illinois as the last surviving statehood leader.