William Preston Hall , circus director in United States Born 1864-02-29 in United States . Especially the imports of elephants from India during 1905, 1913, 1914, 1915 rendered William P. Hall as one of the larger suppliers of elephants to American Circuses, and during the 20s and 30 he used to keep 20-30 elephants on his farm, not only importing elephants but also buying, training, and selling American circus elephants. 1920: W. P. Hall has sold to the Campbell, Bailey & Hutchinson Show four car loads of circus wagons, two elephants an d a car load of horses. Mr. Hill is also shipping a car load of dapple grays to Charles Sparks at Macon, Ga. Mr. Hall receives orders for horses every day from show people in this as well as foreign countries. A cablegram was received last week from Hamburg, Germany, announcing the safe arrival of a large shipment of horses. (Billboard 1920) 1932: Colonel William P. Hall, 69, died at his home in Lancaster, Missouri, June 29, 1932 at the age of 68, and his widow and his son William P. Hall Jr. (Billy) took over the farm, assisted by an old friend, Bert McClain. (Mr Hall also had two daughters, Sidney and Wilma) 1933: In September, Charles Webb purchased three elephants for his Russell Bros. Circus 1934: Zack Terrell bought 3 elephants, and in the same year Cole Show bought in 1934 7 elephants for 1 000 $ each, and and in 1935 another 9+15 elephants, and after the season the final three elephants at the farm (including old Major). William Woodcock Sr. bought Major, and he was sold to Cole Bros, where he was shot by Omer Cole with a rifle in 1936, after he became uncontrollable. The William P. Hall House Museum and Schuyler County Historical Society is located on Highway 136 in Lancaster.
