In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of La Salle County, Illinois : (1906), Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois (1900)
G. L. HAYER.
G. L. Hayer, one of the prominent farmers of LaSalle county, has long been a resident of Miller township, near Stavanger. He was born in the state of Iowa, November 12, 1848, and is a son of Austin and Elizabeth (Jacobs) Hayer and a grandson of Lars Hayer. His father was a native of
Norway and was a member of the colony founded by the Norsemen in Rock county, Wisconsin. From that state he moved into Iowa and settled in Lee county. Here he met Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, who also was a native of the Norseland, but had been reared and educated on this side of the ocean. Their acquaintance ripened into love and culminated in their marriage, but their wedded life was to be of short duration. Two children were born to them, — G. L. and Lars A. The latter died in infancy and in 1850, when our subject was but two years of age the mother was called to the better land. The father took a second wife in the person of Miss Annie Danielson and by her had six children, only three of whom are now living, viz.: Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Oleson, of Grundy county. Illinois; Emma, wife of Charles Wiley, of Polk county, Missouri; and Electa, wife of H. Hoie, of Miller township. The father was an elder in the church of the Latter Day Saints and also took an active interest in the Republican party. His death occurred March 9, 1896. at the age of seventy years.
G. L. Hayer was educated in the public schools and helped his father with such chores as a lad could do. As he grew older he took a more active part in the work and became a good farmer and one who adopted the more progressive method of work, and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of LaSalle county. When twenty-one years of age he was married to Miss Malina Hagland, who was born in Norway, a daughter of Thosten and Bertha Hagland. Her parents came to the United States, settling in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where she was educated and grew to young womanhood. Six children blessed their union, two of whom have been taken to blossom in the garden of the blessed Redeemer, — little Minnie Theresa, who lived but four short years, and an infant that died unnamed; Albert Elias resides with his parents; Bertha is the wife of Oscar Johnson, of this neighborhood; Zenas Milton and Walter T. Mr. and Mrs. Hayer are members of the church of the Latter Day Saints and are worthy Christian people. He has always supported the Republican party, but devotes little time to politics, as his time is fully occupied with looking after his personal interests.
As printed in Biographical and genealogical record of LaSalle County, Illinois (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
GOODMAN L. HAYER.
Goodman L. Hayer, living on section 24, Miller township, where he is engaged in general farm ing, dates his residence in Illinois from 1851, at which time he arrived with his parents in LaSalle county. He has always resided in the middle west and possesses much of the spirit of enterprise which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country. He was born in Lee county, Iowa, November 12, 1848, a son of Austin Hayer, a native of Nor way, who came to the new world when a youth of fifteen years. He afterward went to Iowa, but was married in LaSalle county, Illinois, to
Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, also a native of the land of the midnight sun. Mr. Hayer resided for two years in Lee county, Iowa, and while there lost his first wife. He afterward returned to LaSalle county, where he married again and located on a farm in Miller township, owning and cultivating a tract of land of one hundred and eighty-one acres. Upon this place he reared his family and continued to make his home until called to his final rest on the 9th of March, 1899. His wife survived him until the spring of 1905.
Goodman L. Hayer is the only surviving child of the father’s first marriage. He was reared to manhood in this county, spending his boyhood days on the old home farm, where he worked at such tasks as were assigned him by his father, becoming familiar with the labors of the fields from the time of early spring planting until the crops were gathered in the late autumn. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and made preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage in Miller township on the 9th of August, 1869, to Miss Melina Hegland, a native of Norway, who came to this country when a child and re side in Minnesota for some years. Following his marriage Mr. Hayer rented land, which he cultivated for four years and then purchased the farm upon which he now resides, comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 24, Miller township. Few improvements had been made upon it and he at once began to bring it under cultivation. He has since erected a good substantial two-story residence, a barn and corn crib. He has also put in a wind pump and feed mill and has tiled his land, making it very productive. None of the equipments of a model farm are now lacking and in connection with the cultivation of the fields he has raised and fed stock, his business interests being carefully directed in both departments of this work. He owned and operated a thresher during the sea sons for thirty years and also engaged in operating a corn sheller. His life has been one of untiring industry and the success which always comes as the reward of persistent, earnest and unremitting labor is now his.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayer are the parents of six children, of whom four are living: Albert E.. who is married and resides upon a farm in Miller township; Zenas M., a resident farmer of the same township; W alter, at home; Bertha, the wife of Oscar H. Johnson, a farmer of Miller township; Minnie Theresa, who died at the age of two and a half years; and one who died in infancy. The parents are members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, in which he is serving as an officer and in the work of the church and Sunday-school they take an active part. For several years he served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has been a life long republican and though never an office seeker has kept in touch with the questions and issues of the day. What he possesses has come to him as the reward of his perseverance and diligence. He is known as an active and energetic farmer and has the respect of all with whom he has been associated. His residence in the county covers fifty-five years. His youth was spent amid pioneer surroundings and environments, for when his father returned to LaSalle county it was a largely unimproved and unsettled district. Much of the land was still uncultivated and comparatively few roads had been laid out. The homes of the settlers were widely scattered and all farm work was largely done by hand, the machinery then in use being very crude as compared to that of the present time. Great changes have been wrought as the years have gone by and the farm now owned by Mr. Hayer is a valuable property and in its cultivation he displays a spirit of modern progress that is most commendable.
As printed in History of LaSalle County, Illinois : (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Charles Wiley (b. 1861) Lars Hayer (b. 1846) Oscar H. Johnson
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.