Another dearly beloved brother has laid down his armor. His warfare is over and his victory is won, and surely he is wearing the crown of life. Brother Hail was born, of humble parentage, near Helena, Shelby County, Ala., July 22, 1827. His father died while the subject of our sketch was an infant. He lived with his mother, at the home of his grandfather, during his childhood. But when he was yet a mere lad, he and his mother set up housekeeping in a little cabin. He was born to toil, and early in life he placed his shoulders under life's burdens and bore them, without shifting, until the Master took them off, and called him home. Pinched with poverty, he nevertheless began to crave knowledge, and under this desire, began a heroic struggle of self-denial, to get an education. It was no wavering determination, but with an inflexible purpose he pulled on until he reached a position of such eminence in his mental development, that the University of Alabama, without a hint from him, conferred upon him the title of Doctor of Divinity. While yet a child, he professed faith in Christ, and directly led his grandfather and grandmother to Christ. His spiritual environments were all antagonistic to a life of piety, but he never faltered, being full of the thought daily that God had most graciously pardoned his sins. Soon God laid his hand upon him, and on Sept. 7, 1842, he joined old Elyton Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry, at New Hope Church, in Shelby County, Ala. After about three years he was licensed to preach, by the same presbytery, in Bibb County, Ala., on Feb. 13, 1845. He attended school at various places, taught, preached and went to school, wherever the way was opened up to him until 1854. On June 14, he married Miss Hannah Caroline Cunningham. He lived with his wife twenty-five years, she dying at Gadsden, Ala., on Feb. 2, 1881. By this marriage he had ten children, six boys and four girls. All the girls are now living and married, but three of the boys are dead. In 1884, Brother Hail was married the second time to Miss Nettie Banday and of the four children born to them only one is now living, a little girl.

He had charge of a female school at Elyton, Ala., from 1854 to 1858, at the same time preaching in the surrounding country. During this time he built a church, at old Enon, on Village Creek, near Birmingham, and which moved to the city when it began to grow, and which was torn away some months age, for the beautiful new church, now being erected. In 1859 he took charge of the female school at Montevallo, in Shelby County, and remained there until January, 1861, when he moved to Jacksonville, Ala. Was at Corinth, Miss., during 1862. He, however, came back to Jacksonville, not having removed his family, and remained there until 1868, during all the time he was also preaching. He taught at Gadsden in 1871-2 and preached at Cove Creek. From this time on, until his death, he would occasionally teach, but spent most of his time in the ministry. In 1880 he accepted a professorship in the Gadsden College, but preached every Sunday. He moved to Elyton again in 1883, and took charge of the Elyton Academy until 1885. After this, he did no more teaching. He gave away much in tuition to young ladies and young preachers. He was pastor in Blockton when he died.

Dr. Hail had a sweet Christian spirit, and was universally beloved. He told the writer of this article that he was willing to "Spend and be spent" for Christ, that he had no regrets, and no one to upbraid for his many hardships, that he was glad to do the work, but his joy and peace of mind were truly sublime. His children were devoted to him, and I never saw such devotion to a father. It is indeed a pleasure to raise children who will be props and comforts in old age. We buried him at Helena, within a few feet of where he preached, of where he was converted, and where he joined the church, and one mile and a half from his birthplace.

Hoary with the frost of years,
  He passed, to be with God;
While we, remaining, full of tears,
Are bending 'neath the rod.

Birmingham, Ala.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, July 16, 1896, page 69]