Oscar Lee Hays

b. Dec 6, 1870, d. Jan 7, 1939
FatherMitchell E. Hays1,2,3,4 b. Feb 21, 1829, d. Mar 2, 1913
MotherHarriett Electa Bowen2,3,4 b. Feb 29, 1836, d. Aug 9, 1916
     Oscar was born in Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA, on Dec 6, 1870.5,1,6,2,7,8,3,9,4,10,11
     James, John, Mitchell, Oscar and Rutherford was listed as a son in Mitchell E. Hays's household on the 1880 Census in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS.12
     Oscar Lee Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell E. Hays's household in the census report in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS, in 1885.13
     
Photo courtesy Ladonna Weltmer by way of Charlotte Shaffer
Back row: James Peleg and John Byron (not sure which is which), Mitchell Elmer, Oscar Lee, Harriet Isabelle "Belle"
Front row: Mitchell, Rutherford "Rudy", Harriet Electra, Rachel Ellen, Ida Jane.
This would have been taken before Rudy's death in 1902

     He bought property from James "Jim" Peleg Hays in Smith Co, KS, on Oct 20, 1894. The property was described as the E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 28 in Township 3S Range 13W. The price was $825, plus O.L. assumed half of the $850 mortgage on the land.14

     He married Pruda Stowers in 1895.15,8,16,10,11
     Oscar Lee Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell Elmer Hays's household in the census report in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1895.15
     Oscar Lee Hays was listed as a son in Mitchell E. Hays's household on the 1900 Census in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.1,17
     He bought property from Harriett Electa Hays in Smith Co, KS, on Sep 22, 1904. The property was described as all of lot 11 in Block 34 in the original town of Smith Center. The price was $110.18
Image credit: Julia Langel

     A census listed Oscar as head of household in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1905. Also resident -- Menerve Storvers, 53, female, born Indiana, and Mort Storvers, 22, male, born KS. Pruda's family? Oscar is a farmer with 20 acres under cultivation in the city. The buildings have a value of $2,500, and the land is worth $400. They have 2 horses and 1 milch cow. (Agriculture schedule).7,19 Oscar was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS. Oscar was a laborer, working with a dray wagon. They owned their own house. Nellie and Harry were in school..8,20
     He became the owner of draying business in before Dec 8, 1910. Ad in Smith County Journal, December 8, 1910: "Oscar Hays, Transfer, Light and Heavy Hauling, phone 207".21,4
     He resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Mar 6, 1913.22
     A census listed Oscar as head of household in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1915. Oscar was in the transfer business. Nellie was a collector. They owned a home, with a mortgage. Verle was in school..9
     Oscar's barn burned August 4, 1916.23
     They moved circa 1916 to Brush, Morgan Co, CO.4
     Oscar was listed as the head of a family on the 1920 Census in Lincoln Co, CO. Oscar and Ralph were farmers, renting. Verle and Vernta were in school. There was a Henry Novis living with the family, a laborer..10
     Oscar was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census in 309 Clifton? Street, Brush Township, Morgan Co, CO. Oscar was a farm laborer. The family was renting for $25 per month. They had a radio. 'Bernita' was in school.11
     Oscar died on Jan 7, 1939 in Brush, Morgan Co, CO, at age 68.16,4,24 His funeral was held in Brush, Morgan Co, CO, before Jan 12, 1939.4 An obituary was published on Jan 12, 1939 in the Smith County Pioneer in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.4

Family

Pruda Stowers b. circa 1876
Children

Citations

  1. [S42] 1900 KS Census, Hays, Mitchell.
  2. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays.
  3. [S144] IGI - birth, Hays, Oscar Lee.
  4. [S444] Smith County Pioneer, January 12, 1939, page 1.
  5. [S19] 1910 U. S. Census, unknown cd2.
  6. [S57] Book, History of Smith Centre , page 4.
  7. [S142] 1905 Census -- KS, Smith Co, Mitchell Hays.
  8. [S143] 1910 Census -- KS, Smith Center, Hays.
  9. [S375] 1915 Census -- Kansas, Smith Co, Smith Center , Smith Center part 2, page 1, line 15, dwelling 205, family 212, O.L. Hays household.
  10. [S995] 1920 U. S. Census, Colorado, Lincoln County, Precinct 6, ED 175, sheet 5B, line 92, dwelling 18, family 19, Colorado, Lincoln County.
  11. [S1210] 1930 U. S. Census, Colorado, Morgan County, Brush Township, ED 23, sheet 3A/254, line 2, 309 Clifton? Street, dwelling 58, family 61, Colorado, Morgan County.
  12. [S43] 1880 KS Census, Hays, Mitchell.
  13. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays , page 18, line 12, household 105/9 (Mitchell Hays household).
  14. [S2084] Unknown short title: Deed Book Volume 5.
  15. [S139] 1895 Census -- KS, Smith Center -- Mitchell Hays.
  16. [S378] Charlotte Shaffer, "Re: Pictures," e-mail to Julia Langel, February 10, 2000.
  17. [S42] 1900 KS Census, Hays, Mitchell , ED 165, Sheet 5B, Line 98 (Mitchel Hays Household).
  18. [S2084] Unknown short title: Deed Book Volume X.
  19. [S142] 1905 Census -- KS, Smith Co, Mitchell Hays , page 17, family 120, line 16 (Oscar Hays household).
  20. [S143] 1910 Census -- KS, Smith Center, Hays , ED 200, sheet 2B, dwelling 42, family 43 (Oscar Hayes household).
  21. [S202] Newspaper ad, Hays, Oscar.
  22. [S200] Smith County Journal, March 6, 1913.
  23. [S204] News clipping, Hays, Oscar barn fire , KSHS S1478, page 1, column 2.
  24. [S444] Smith County Pioneer, January 12, 1939, page 1, page 1, column 4.
  25. [S375] 1915 Census -- Kansas, Smith Co, Smith Center.
Copyright 2017 Julia Langel. This is a work in progress, so please be patient with errors and omissions!