Research courtesy of Linda Goodwin of Pomfret, CT.
Walton Shepard Hall was the only child of Charles Tilden Hall and Amelia Alice Shepard. He was born in Malden, MA on 27 April 1893 and died in Malden on 17 April 1973.
His father was a newspaperman and lived in Malden. Born 1867 in Nantucket. Died 1938 in Malden. His mother was born in Malden around 1871, married in Malden in 1891, and the date is unknown for her death. His father’s occupations through the censuses: 1910-newspaper manager, 1920-editor, 1930- publisher. He worked at the Malden Mail at one point.
Walton Hall graduated from Tufts in 1914. He attended Harvard from 1914-1915 and no degree was awarded (Harvard Alumni Directory, 1919). He received an MA from Boston University in 1931. His thesis topic was “Political Intelligence, Then & Now”. The thesis is online.
In the 1910 US Census he was 16 years old and lived at 23 Park St in Malden.
Walton graduated from Malden High School in 1910 and gave the salutatory speech. He was in the College Course.
His draft registration card for WW1 indicated that he was teaching in East Lyme, CT and single. Date of card – 25 May 1917.
In the 1920 US Census he was 26 years old and lived at 23 Park St in Malden. Occupation was listed as a Principal in public school.
He was counted also in the 1920 census in Carver Town, Plymouth Mass and was a boarder on a farm, working as a public school teacher. Patterson’s American Education book lists him as Principal of Carver High School in Plymouth MA.
In the 1930 US Census he was 36 years old and rented at 22 Andrew St in Everett, MA with his wife, Mildred F., who was 32 years old. They married when he was 29 and she was 25. They had a six year-old daughter named Helen. He was a public school teacher and listed as a veteran. They owned a radio set.
In 1932 the family lived in Everett, MA.
In the 1940 US Census he was 46 years old and still lived at 22 Andrew St in Everett, MA. His wife Mildred F was 42 and had attended 3 years of college. Walton had attended 5 years of college. Daughter Helen was 16 and it said she had completed through the 4th year of college (This seems unlikely, given her age. Perhaps a census worker error). Walton worked 38 weeks per year and made $2700. This was the highest salary shown on his census page. This is the last census to be made public.
Malden City Directories show that he moved back to his parents’ house at 23 Park St. by 1954, presumably upon their death. The 1957 directory lists is occupation as teacher. The directories 1958, 1960 & 1964 show his address as 23 Park St.
He is shown in the Everett High School Yearbooks of 1942 (page 9) and 1953 (page 22).
The 1949 Report of the Attorney General of Massachusetts shows that Walton attempted to get retirement credit for his military service but was denied because he was never actually inducted into the military. He reported to Camp Devens on 21 July 1918 and was released on 29 July 1918 because he was declared unfit for service. This may be due to the scoliosis mentioned in your book.
Walton Shepard Hall died 17 April 1973. His wife Mildred died in June of 1975. There was a Walton S. Hall Fund in his memory at the Malden Public Library.