Dr. Hail was born in Macomb, Ill., on the 15th day of April, 1844. His father was Wm. S. Hail and his mother Margaret Jane Chapman Hail. His grandparents on his father's side were Baptists, while on his mother's side they were Cumberland Presbyterian, Mrs. Hail being the youngest daughter of Rev. Alexander Chapman.

Dr. Hail, after such education as the Ward school furnished before the war, was sent to Maghee College, at College Mound, Mo. At that time the college was under the presidency of J. B. Mitchell, D.D. Rev. A. Freeman and Professor Guthrie were members of the faculty. While he was at this college the war broke out and Dr. Hail was called home and he enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment of the Illinois Volunteers, and shortly after was mustered into the service of the United States. He served in the army for three years. While in the army he maintained a consistent Christian life, often holding prayer meeting in his tent. After being mustered out, he completed his college course, attending school first at Hanover, Ind., and graduating finally at Waynesburg in 1866. He was licensed and ordained to the gospel ministry by the Union Presbytery. He was called to the pastorate of the church at Uniontown, Pa., whither he removed after his graduation.

In September, 1868, he was married to Miss Rachel Lindsey. In 1869 was called to Cumberland, Ohio. After serving this church for several years, during which time he continued a close student, he took a year's course in the Oberlin Theological School, receiving a diploma from that institution. In 1878 he was sent as a missionary to Japan. His missionary life has been characterized by a ceaseless activity in various departments of missionary work. As a preacher his services are much in demand, both by the native church and by the missionary and foreign community. As an author his books and tracts written in Japanese have had a wide circulation. As a teacher of teachers and theologues he is painstaking, thorough and interesting. As a counsellor of his brethren his services are in demand on every hand. At present his occupies the position of president of the Promoting Committee on Christian Union.

In the time of the Foreign Concessions he represented the foreign community on the Osaka Municipal Council for several years.

In the mission his counsel carries with it great weight. He stands for a broad view of mission work that takes in all activities for benefiting or saving men.

He has raised two children, Rev. J. E. Hail and Miss Anne Hail, both of whom are now missionaries in Japan.
                                                                                               J. B. Hail.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 3, 1903, page 713]

Dr. A. D. Hail was born in the town of Macomb, Illinois, on April 16, 1844, and died in Osaka, June 5, 1923. When the Civil War broke out in America he was a student in Magree College, Mo., and although but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the 15th regiment of Illinois volunteers and served during the war. During his army life his tent was a place of meeting for prayer. He was trusted by his fellow soldiers as an earnest Christian. On some occasions at least his comrades who would not take their chaplain into confidence, would gladly talk to him of their spiritual concerns. After the close of the war he spent one year in school at Hanover College, Indiana, but graduated from Waynesburg College, Pa. In the class of 1866. He was licensed and ordained to the Christian ministry in Pennsylvania on his graduation from college, and his first pastorate was in Union town, Pennsylvania. He also served the church at Cumberland and at Berlin Heights, Ohio. He graduated from the Oberlin Theological School, and studied medicine in the Cleveland Medical College. He was accepted by the Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church as a candidate for the foreign field in 1875. He came to Japan in Nov., 1878.

He was the prime mover in the organization of the Woman's Board of Missions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Darby, President of the Board, said in a public address before it, "It was a letter written by Dr. A. D. Hail, read in my home, that led to the establishment of the Board."

He was also the leading spirit in the founding of the Wilmina Girls' School. This school, afterwards united with the Naniwa Girls School founded by the Presbyterian Mission, is now the Wilmina Girls' School in Osaka. He also organized and taught for several years the Shinai Boys' School in Osaka. After the opening of the Osaka "Doshi Kan," Dr. Hail was a teacher in the School of the Prophets. He gave much time also to the evangelistic work of his Mission. He was often walked the whole round of the peninsula of Kii and the province of Ise. He saw churches organized in Osaka, Wakayama, Hikata, Oimura, Tanabe, Shingu, Tsu, Ise, Ueno and in Tokyo. On his arrival there was not a Christian of any Presbyterian Church in what is now the boundaries of the Naniwa Presbytery, which to-day reports 12,000 Christians.

The 44th anniversary of his arrival in Japan was celebrated in the West Church in Osaka, and his 79th birthday at the Wilmina Girls' School. On each occasion his brethren of the Japanese Church paid him high honors. His home was ever open to any and every passing stranger and his heart to all his fellow workers. His summer home in Karuizawa was a meeting-peace of veterans of the Civil War. Veterans from both sides of the conflict met and exchanged their reminiscences. His last photograph was taken in Kobe on the occasion of Dr. Newton's retirement, Dr. Hail and Dr. Newton being the last of the Civil War veterans in this part of the Empire of Japan. Dr. Hail contributed to the Christianization of Japan a wife, a son and a daughter (Mrs. Hoekje) and a period of over 44 years of unwearied and fruitful service.
[Source: The Christian Movement in Japan, Korea, and Formosa, 1924, pages 327-328]

Hail, A. D. Japan and Its Rescue: A Brief Sketch of the Geography, History, Religion and Evangelization of Japan. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House, 1898. [2 copies in archives]