Benton Jay Hall

Biography

Benton Jay Hall, born in 1835, practiced law and devoted himself to Iowa’s growing towns, believing that honest governance could lift entire counties. He brought his legal training and moral compass to the United States House of Representatives, where he served Iowa communities with integrity and a focus on rural interests.

After Congress he represented the United States abroad as a diplomat, strengthening bonds with Serbia and Romania and proving that Midwestern resolve could stand alongside international diplomacy. He is buried at Aspen Grove Cemetery, where his dual service at home and abroad is fondly recalled.