Hale , a central county of Alabama, bounded W. by the Black Warrior river, and drained by its affluents; area, about 600 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 21,792, of whom 16,990 were colored. The surface is moderately uneven, and the soil very fertile. The Alabama and Chattanooga railroad passes through the N. W. corner; the Alabama Central skirts the S. border; the Selma, Marion, and Memphis line runs to the county seat. The chief productions in 1870 were 384,420 bushels of Indian corn, 20,402 of sweet potatoes, and 18,573 bales of cotton. There were 1,176 horses, 2,734 mules and asses, 2,494 milch cows, 4,435 other cattle, 2,626 sheep, and 9,019 swine; 9 flour mills, and 1 machine shop. Capital, Greensboro.

Hale #1

Hale ,.I. Nathan, an American soldier, born in Coventry, Conn., June 6, 1755, executed in New York, Sept. 22, 1776. He graduated at Yale college in 1773, and became a teacher at East Haddam, and afterward at New London. His parents intended him for the ministry; but in 1775 he entered the army as lieutenant, and in a few months was made captain. In September, 1776, when in New York, he with an associate captured a British sloop laden with provisions, taking her at midnight from under the guns of a frigate, and distributing her prize goods to the American soldiers. After the retreat of the army from Long Island, Washington applied for a discreet officer to enter the enemy's lines and procure intelligence, and Hale volunteered for the service. He passed in disguise to the British camp, and made full drawings and memoranda of all the desired information. On his return he was captured and taken before Sir William Howe, by whom he was ordered to be executed the next morning; and he was hanged as a spy, saying with his last breath, "I only regret that 1 have but one life to lose for my country." Dwight extolled him in prose and verse. - See "Life of Capt. Nathan Hale, the Martyr Spy," by I. W. Stuart (12mo, Hartford, 1856). II. Nathan, an American journalist, nephew of the preceding, born at Westhampton, Mass., Aug. 16, 1784, died at Brookline, Feb. 9, 1863. He graduated at Williams college in 1804, studied law, and was for two years an instructor in the academy at Exeter, N. H. He then removed to Boston, was admitted to the bar in 1810, practised for four years, and was also one of the editors of the "Boston Weekly Messenger," the first weekly periodical in America devoted to literature and politics.

In 1814 he purchased the Boston "Daily Advertiser," the first and for many years the only daily newspaper in New England. This journal, of federal and afterward whig politics, for many years under his charge, exercised a wide influence. It opposed the Missouri bill in 1820, and the Nebraska bill in 1854, and was the first newspaper to urge the immediate free colonization of Kansas. Mr. Hale served several terms in the legislature of Massachusetts, occupied other public offices, was for 19 years president of the Boston and Worcester railroad, the first in New England upon which steam power was used, and was the head of the commission which introduced water into Boston in 1848. He made many improvements in printing, and was among the founders of the "North American Review" and the "Christian Examiner." He published an excellent map of New England (1825), a work on the protective policy (1828), and a series of stereotype maps on a plan of his own invention (1830). His wife was a sister of Edward Everett, and he was the father of the Rev. E. E. Hale.

Hale #2

Hale , Sarah Josepha (Buell), an American authoress, born at Newport, N. H., in 1795. In 1814 she married David Hale, a prominent lawyer, and upon his death in 1822 she was left with five young children dependent upon her for support. In 1828 she became editor of the Boston "Ladies' Magazine," which was in 1837 united with "Godey's Lady's Book," Philadelphia, Mrs. Hale continuing to be one of the editors. Besides her editorial labors she has published more than 20 separate works, among which are: "The Genius of Oblivion, and other Poems" (1823); "Northwood," a novel (1827); "Traits of American Life" (1835); "Ladies' New Book of Cookery" (1852); "Dictionary of Poetical Quotations" (1852); "New Household Receipt Book" (1853); "Woman's Record, Sketches of Distinguished Women" (1853); "Liberia, or Mr. Peyton's Experiment" (1854); "Letters of Madame de Sevigne," and "Letters of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu" (1856).

Hales #3

Hales , Alexander of. See Alexander of Hales.