Eugenio K. Hayes

As printed in 1910

EUGENIO K. HAYES.

The name of Eugenio K. Hayes is inseparably interwoven with the industrial history of Galva and he was widely known as one of the foremost inventors of agricultural machinery. His ability placed him on a plane far above the majority of his fellows and yet in all of those qualities which make for pleasant social ties he was richly endowed and, therefore, enjoyed the warm friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he came in contact. Moreover he held to high ideals of life, believing in and supporting all those measures which work for the betterment of mankind at large.

A native of Stark county, Illinois, he was born May 21, 1848, and was the son of Harry and Harriet Hayes, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The progenitor of the Hayes family in this country was Nathaniel Hayes, who was one of the founders and one of the original grantors of Norwalk, Connecticut. He came from England or Ireland but was of Scotch lineage. Harry Hayes, the father of our subject, was born at Galway, New York, and became one of the pioneer residents of Stark county, Illinois, operating a woolen mill at LaFayette. He was always known by the title of Colonel Hayes and was one of the representative men of the community, prominent, active and influential in public affairs. On the 29th of January, 1829, he wedded Harriet Wright and they became parents of four children: Julia A., Mary E., Margaret T. and Eugenio K. The father, who was born April 17, 1806, passed away. June II, 1888. His wife was born September 24, 1824.

Eugenio K. Hayes was indebted to the pubHc-school system of Stark and Henry counties for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed. He was a man of receptive mind and retentive memory and from the experiences of life learned many valuable lessons which were factors in his later success. In his youthful days he resided upon a farm near Saxon and, taking up agricultural pursuits when he attained his majority, he afterward purchased a farm near Kewanee, where he made his home for six years. In 1881 he removed to Kewanee and there entered into partnership with H. A. Perkins in the manufacture of shoveling boards. The firm maintained a brief existence and then Mr. Hayes purchased his partner's interest, remaining in the business alone in Kewanee until 1886 when he removed to Galva. He was one of the foremost inventors of agricultural machinery in the country for his practical experience on the farm had taught him the needs of that life and his inventive genius enabled him to meet these needs. He gave his attention almost wholly to the improvement of corn-raising machinery and took out over sixty patents, securing the first, a patent on a stock cutter, when he was twenty-two years of age. His most noted invention is the corn planter which bears his name. As the years went by he continued experiment and invention until he gave to the world many valuable devices. There was such a demand for his planters and pumps and the other products of his factory that in 1891 he organized a stock company which was capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, a sum that was afterward increased to two hundred thousand dollars. With this increase of capital the facilities for manufacturing were enlarged until the plant of the Hayes Pump & Planter Company became one of the leading institutions of the kind in the country. The business is still conducted and is a monument to his memory as well as to the enterprise of the men who are now at its head. His work was of signal usefulness and value to the world at large and especially to the agricultural classes and he well merited the success which crowned his efforts. Not only did he possess inventive ingenuity but had the qualities of successful business management which are too rarely found in the inventor. He carefully formulated his plans, was determined in their execution and as the years passed enjoyed the rewards of earnest and persistent labor and sound and discriminating judgment.

On the 19th of January, 1871, Mr. Hayes was joined in wedlock to Miss Matilda J. Back and unto them were born five sons: Ralph W. E., of Galva; A. LesHe, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Forrest S., Fred D. and Percy E., all of Galva. Mr. Hayes was devoted to the welfare of his family and was ever a stalwart champion of projects and movements for the benefit and betterment of the community. His life was actuated by high and honorable motives that found their rise in his Christian faith and belief. When about twenty years of age he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he remained a loyal adherent until called to his final rest. In the various branches of the church work he took deep and helpful interest and contributed generously of his means to its support. He was for several years a member of the official board and for nine years was superintendent of the Sunday school. He believed firmly in the early religious instruction of the young, recognized the wisdom of the Psalmist's utterance, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Mr. Hayes believed, too, in temperance and in all those agencies which work for upright, honorable manhood. He not only followed the strict temperance principles himself but endeavored to secure their adoption in the support which he gave to the prohibition party which he represented as a candidate for congress and for state treasurer. He took a very active part in the local campaigns against the saloon when the question of their license was before the public. He was a member of Camp No. 241, M. W. A., but was not particularly active in fraternal organizations, preferring to give his attention outside of business hours to his home, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside in the midst of his family.

In the later years of his life he retired somewhat from the active management of the Hayes Pump & Planter Company, resigning from the presidency which he had filled for several years but accepting the office of vice president. He passed away July 25, 1903, and in his death Galva lost one of her most prominent and successful men who, however, never made his manufacturing interests the paramount issue of his life. He always had time for those higher, holier duties and fully recognized his obligations to his fellowmen. As an employer he was just; as a friend, kindly and considerate; and as a Christian, thoroughly loyal to the church in which he held his membership.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.