From his arrival in Westchester County he has deeply interested himself in its politics. Being a Democrat, he immediately identified himself with his party in IMamaroneck, and was elected in 1877 supervisor of the town, an ofiice he continues to hold. Tiie liberal course pursued by him in the County Board so won tiie apj)roval of his jtarty that in 188') lie was made their nominee for surrogate, and received a large majority of the votes cast at the election. A previously rendered decision, however, to the effect that no vacancy existed, deprived him of the ofiice.

In 1849 Mr. Banta married Miss Eliza Gedney. They have three children, -- Hannah M., wife of William A.Turner; Everetta, wife of F. S. Sheldon ; and Eloise J.

He is an attendant of tlie Methodist Church, of Maniaroneck, and is highly respected in the community as an honorable and useful eitizen.

HOX. ERNEST HALL.

Hon. Ernest Hall, prominent as a member of the bar, and a judge of the City Court of New York, was born in London, England, October 24, 1844. His father, Henry B. Hall, was a landscape and portrait engraver, came to America with his family in 1850 and settled at Woodstock, in Morrisania. He afterwards removed to George Street, near the Boston road, where he died in 1884.

Judge Hall attended the old Public School No. 3, on Fordham Avenue (now Third Avenue), near One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Street, from 1851 to 1858, when he graduated. He then obtained a position in the well-known publishing house of the Putnams, and remained until 186(1. In the fall of that year he began the study of law in the office of Henry Spratley, of Morrisania. He continued there until