Thomas R. Hays was born in Washington County, Kentucky, and married Mary McDonald there in 1822; the 1882 history gives his birth as February 14, 1800, and the 1910 history as February 14, 1801. He went to McDonough County, Illinois, as a young man (in 1830 by one account, 1831 by another) and in 1859 brought his large family to Nodaway County, settling at Burr Oak, four miles west of Skidmore, where he died in 1885. The 1910 history says Mary was a twin and bore two sets of twins herself, Isabella and Mary Frances, and Joseph W. and John G., and that Thomas gave each child 160 acres. His son William R. Hays spent four months of 1863 in Libby Prison and was mustered out in 1865 as major of the 11th Illinois Cavalry, and his son James T. Hays served in the 48th Missouri Infantry, later sold Page woven wire fence from Maryville, and his grandson Milton Ray Hays returned to the old home farm in Monroe Township in 1896. Every fact below is cited to a public-domain Nodaway County history.
Where the family starts
William H. Hays and Susanah (Ray) Haysborn 1770Most recent in our records
Milton Ray Haysborn 1871Tap a name to jump to that person.
Parents of Thomas R. Hays, according to the 1882 history
Settled at Burr Oak, four miles west of Skidmore, in 1859
Daughter of Thomas R. and Mary (McDonald) Hays
Farmer, section 32; major of the 11th Illinois Cavalry
WILLIAM R. HAYS, farmer, section 32, was born in McDonough County, Illinois, on the 27th day of September, 1834. He is the son of Thomas R. and Mary (McDonald) Hays. His father a native of Washington County, Kentucky, born February 14, 1800, and his mother of the same county, born on the 20th of November, 1804. They were married December 28, 1822, and then settled in that county William spent his boyhood days and received his education in his native county, attending college in Fulton County in 1855-6. He clerked for his father in 1857, an in 1858, in company with John Grigsby and A. M. Colton, James T. Hays came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and purchased some 1,800 acres of land, and with his parents moved here in the spring of 1859. The fall of 1860 William returned to McDonough County, Ill., and in September, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He was on detached duty from June, 1862, till January, 1863, and was taken prisoner January 5, 1863, and confined in Libby prison till May 5, 1863. He was exchanged and returned to his command. He was mustered out July 1865, as major of that regiment. Mr. H. moved to Nodaway County. Missouri, the same year. His farm is composed of 299 acres of good land. He was married December 30, 1863, to Miss Lucy E. Kirk, a native of McDonough County, Illinois, born May 9, 1840. She is the daughter of John and Nancy 1 Coe) Kirk. Her father was a native of Marion County, Kentucky, born November 24, 1791, and died November 11, 1856. Her mother, a native of Virginia, was born June 19, 1797, and died August 1, 1863. They were married on the 9th of March, 1 <S 1 5, and then settled in Marion County, Kentucky, moving from there to McDonough County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. II. are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. II.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, Union soldier, and fence agent at Maryville
JAMES T. HAYS.
One of Nodaway county's substantial and highly honored farmers, now living in retirement in his pleasant Maryville home, enjoying the fruits of his former years of activity and well directed energy, is James T. Hays, a native of the Prairie state, having been born near Blandinsville, McDonough county. Illinois, April 4, 1838, the son of Thomas R. Hays, born in Washington county, Kentucky, February 14, 1801. His grandfather, Hillory Hays, a native of Virginia and a tanner by trade, came to Washington county, Kentucky, when a young man and there reared a large family, which is of Scotch-Irish stock.
In 1830 Thomas R. Hays and two brothers went to McDonough county, Illinois, and settled on a farm. There Thomas R. lived for twenty-nine years. In 1859 he and his family removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, locating on a farm four miles west of Skidmore, where he lived until his death, February 4, 1885, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Mary McDonald, wife of Thomas R. Hays, was born in Washington county, Kentucky, where she was reared and where she married. Her death occurred in 1896. To this union thirteen children were born, named as follows: Elizabeth died when seventeen years old; Mrs. Clarissa Grigsby is deceased: Ann Maria is deceased; Isabella U. and Mary Frances (twins); the former lives on the home farm; the latter, now deceased, was the wife of John Hudson; William R. lives in Denver, Colorado; James T., of this review; Martha J. lives in Wray, Colorado; Joseph W. and John G. (twins) both live on the home farm; Marcus F. died when four years old and two others died in infancy.
The mother of James T. Hays was a twin and she and her twin sister each became the mother of two sets of twins.
James T. Hays was born in Illinois, where he received his education in the common schools and the local seminary. He began working on the farm when a mere boy, coming to Nodaway county with his parents in 1859. and on his twenty-first birthday he began life for himself on one hundred and sixty acres of land which his father gave him, having given an equal amount to all his children. Mr. Hays was active in farm work and very successful until sixteen years ago when he moved to Maryville. Then he and his son farmer forty acres near town for a short time. Mr. Hays then engaged in the milling business, operating the Banner Mill for seven months. He then took a special agency for the Page Woven Wire Fence Company. His success with the same soon resulted in his appointment to a “block” of counties where he continued to work in a manner that greatly increased the company's prestige, but, owing to illness, he gave up the work, although he still represents the company in Maryville. He is now engaged in real estate, and often gets colonization parties together.
Mr. Hays married, February 14, 1868, Laura A. Young, daughter of Milton and Mary J. (Richardson) Young. She was born near Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio. Her parents came to Missouri in 1865 and to Nod away county in 1866, settling on a farm west of Skidmore where the family remained until Mr. Young’s death, in November, 1868. Mrs. Young then married Samuel Hull, and her death occurred on December 12, 1891. Mrs. Hays is one of a family of ten children, only two others living, viz: William M. Young lives in California, and Mrs. Kate Cheney, who lives in Osceola, St. Clair county, Missouri. Mrs. Hays’ father, Milton Young, was in Company I, Twenty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was a prisoner in Libby and Danville prisons and died from the effects of prison life.
Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hays, namely: Nellie, wife of William A. Argo, of Burrow Grove, this county; Milton R., also of Burrow Grove; Eddie C. lives in Hooker county, Nebraska, on six hundred and sixty acres of land, which he owns; Pearl C. lives near Skidmore, this county; Elvira B. lives near DuQuoin, Illinois: Herminoe died when eighteen years of age: J. T. Hays lives in Hooker, Nebraska; Laura L. is at home; Willie and Samuel died in infancy.
James T. Hays, of this review, was one of Missouri’s Union soldiers, having been a member of Company I, Forty-eighth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and he saw service during all but five months of the war. He was in many skirmishes where the bullets fell thick and fast, including the battle of Lexington and others. His service was mostly in Missouri where a strong guard was needed.
Mr. and Mrs. Hays are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Maryville. The former's parents were also Methodists, while the mother of Mrs. Hays was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Hays belongs to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Republican in politics, having cast his first vote for Lincoln, the votes of his family and one other which they influenced being the only votes cast for Lincoln in Hughes township, Nodaway county.
Mr. Hays delights to tell of the pilgrimage of his father’s family from Illinois to Missouri in the early days, starting from their old home on March 8, 1859, arriving in Nodaway county on April 4, following, traveling over land, their caravan constituting two three-yoke ox teams, one four-horse team, one carriage, thirty head of stock, including cattle, etc. They were compelled to ford the Grand river twice and the Nodaway river near Burlington Junction once. There were no bridges over the Nodaway river at that time. He tells many interesting reminiscences of this journey which abounded in thrilling experiences.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer and stock raiser, section 3
JOHN G. HAYS, farmer and stock raiser, section 3, is a native of McDonough County, Illinois, and was born on the 28th day of August, 1844, and is a twin brother of Joseph W. Hays, and a son of Thomas R. and Mary (McDonald) Hays, who were married December 28, 1822. His father was a native of Washington County, Kentucky, and was born February 14, 1800. He was the son of William H. and Susanah (Ray) Hays, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1770, and died in 1845. His mother was a native of Maryland, born 1773, and died in 1854. They were married in 1799 and settled in Kentucky. Thomas R. spent his boyhood days in his native state, and with his parents moved to McDonough County, Illinois, in 1831, and commenced farming for himself. In 1859 he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, settling at Burr Oak, west of Skidmore. He was married on the 28th of December, 1822, to Miss Mary McDonald, a native of Washington County, Kentucky, born on the 20th of November, 1804. She is the daughter of Richard and Mary (Long) McDonald. Her father was a native of Virginia, boni in 1773. He died in 1809. Her mother was a native of Virginia, born in 1774 and died in 185 1. They were married in 1790. Thomas R. Hays and wife were pioneers of McDonough County, Illinois, and afterwards came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled where they now reside. The country at that time was but a vast wide wild prairie. They now have a pleasant home with their children, the complement of their family circle numbering eight: Clarrissa P., Isabella O., Mary F., Richard W., James T., Martha J., Joseph W., and John G. They have lost Elizabeth S., Maria, and Lafayette M. All are members of the M. E. Church.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer on the old home farm, Monroe Township; son of James T.
MILTON RAY HAYS.
In Monroe township are to be found some of the best farms and most progressive and enterprising farmers in Nodaway county, and in this class must be numbered Milton R. Hays, whose splendid and well cultivated farm, four miles west of Skidmore, is maintained at a high standard of agricultural excellence. Mr. Hays is widely known because of his success as a farmer and is well liked because of his splendid personal qualities and genuine worth.
Mr. Hays was born at Burr Oak Grove, this county, on August 2, 1871, and is a son of James and Laura A. (Young) Hays. James T. Hays was born near Blandinsville, McDonough county. Illinois, April 4, 1838, a son of Thomas R. Hays, a native of Washington county, Kentucky, and a grandson of Hillory Hays, a native of Virginia. In 1859 James T. Hays accompanied his parents on their removal to Nodaway county, Missouri, where they located on a farm four miles west of Skidmore. When he attained his legal majority he began farming on his own account and he remained devoted to this line of work, with gratifying success, until about sixteen years ago, when he gave up active labor and removed to Maryville, where he now resides. For a short time he was interested in a farm near that town, and then for about seven months he was engaged in the milling ioo6 business. At the end of that period he took the agency for the Page Woven Wire Fence Company, which he conducted with marked success, though, because of ill health, he is not now covering as much territory as formerly. He is also to some extent engaged in the real estate business at Maryville, in which he is fairly successful. Mr. Hays married Laura A. Young, the daughter of Milton and Mary J. (Richardson) Young, her birth having occurred near Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hays became the parents of ten children, namely: Nellie, wife of William A. Argo, of Burr Oak Grove, this county; Milton R., also of Burr Oak Grove, and whose name heads this sketch; Eddie C., of Hooker county, Nebraska; Pearl C., of near Skidmore, this county; Elvira B., of near DuQuoin. Illinois; Hermione died at the age of eighteen years; J. T., of Hooker, Nebraska; Laura L., at home; Willie and Samuel died in infancy.
Milton R. Hays spent his boyhood days in the neighborhood Where he was born, and his preliminary education was obtained in the common schools, being supplemented by studies at the Maryville Seminary, where he was graduated and received a diploma in 1892. In March, 1893, his parents removed to Maryville, and during that summer the subject lived on the farm of his uncle, John G. Hays. He then rejoined the family in Maryville, but in the spring of 1896 he returned to the old home farm, four miles west of Skidmore, in Monroe township, where he has since resided. He has given wise direction to his farming operations and his efforts have been rewarded with a gratifying measure of success. The farm is well improved and, under the careful tending of Mr. Hays, it has produced splendid crops annually.
On February 15. 1899, Mr. Hays married Alice Knepper, the youngest daughter of Hiram and Fredericka (Stull) Knepper. She was born in Ogle county, Illinois, and came to Missouri with her parents when she was about two years old. They located in the southeastern part of Atchison county, where her father soon bought a farm and it has been the family home ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Hays became the parents of six children, namely: Hol lis Richardson, Hermione, Opal Pauline and Victor Raymond: Guy Eldon and Merril Owen died in infancy.
Fraternally, Mr. Hays is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and religiously, he and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they give a generous support. Mr. Hays possesses a genial disposition, makes friends readily and is well liked by all who know him.
As printed in the source2. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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