He married Mary Bramley in Chesterfield in 1873 and had four children, three sons, and a daughter.
He was elected as president of the DMA in 1890 and served until 1898, when he was narrowly defeated by Barnet Kenyon.
While in office, he wrote Miners' Leaders: thirty portraits and biographical sketches, an important source of information on leading figures in miners' trade unions up to that point.
[1] Hallam contested the presidency against Kenyon each year until his premature death in 1902, but was never successful.
[2] He died from a heart affection on the 4th of July 1902 at his Staveley home and was survived by his wife, three sons and daughter.