John Byron Hays

b. Feb 19, 1864, d. Sep 23, 1902
FatherMitchell E. Hays1,2,3,4 b. Feb 21, 1829, d. Mar 2, 1913
MotherHarriett Electa Bowen1,2,3,4 b. Feb 29, 1836, d. Aug 9, 1916
     John was born in Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA, on Feb 19, 1864. (Obituary and FamilySearch record say born in Jackson Co, IA.)5,6,1,7,2,3,8,4,9
     Harriett, Mary, James, Ida, Rachel, John and Mitchell was listed as a household member living with Mitchell E. Hays on the 1870 Census in Shellrock Township, Butler Co, IA.4
     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.5
     He married Eldora J. Hawley on Mar 8, 1885.6,1,2,10,11
     John Byron Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell E. Hays's household in the census report in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS, in 1885.12
     
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

     Rutherford and John was ill in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Nov 2, 1893.13
     A census listed John as head of household in Banner Township, Smith Co, KS, in 1895. John was a farmer with 160 acres, 120 of which were in cultivation. 160 acres were under fence; 580 rods of hedge fence and 100 rods of wire fence. The farm was worth $2,000. In the fall of 1884, he planted 35 acres of winter wheat. In the spring of 1885, he planted 40 acres of corn, 5 acres of oats, and had 5 acres of prairie meadow. The family had 2 horses, 2 milch cows, 2 swine and 2 dogs..7,14
     John was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census in Banner Township, Smith Co, KS. John was identified as a farmer, renting a farm. Eldora had borne 7 children; all 7 were still living. The children were in school..6
     John died on Sep 23, 1902 in home, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, at age 38. The cause of death was consumption.1,15,3,10,11,16,17 He was buried on Sep 24, 1902 at Fairview Cemetery, in Smith Center, Smith Co, in KS. Funeral service held at home. Funeral service preached by Rev. Henry Slater.1,10,16
Eldora and John Hays
Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS
Photo by Julia Langel, July 2011
An obituary was published on Sep 25, 1902 in the Smith County Pioneer in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.3

Family

Eldora J. Hawley b. May 9, 1867, d. March 7, 1949
Children
  • Jenney M. Hays7,1 b. May, 1885, d. before Mar, 1949
  • Milo Jess Hays7,1,17 b. Dec 9, 1886, d. May 29, 1965
  • John Lawren Hays7,1,6 b. Dec, 1888, d. 1938
  • James Marion Hays6,18,7,1 b. Dec 14, 1891, d. Aug 12, 1976
  • Jay Marvin Hays7,1,6 b. Dec, 1892, d. before Mar, 1949
  • Geraldine "Jirl" Mendin Hays6,19 b. Apr 17, 1895, d. Sep 30, 1975
  • Jenneys Edwin Hays6,20 b. Apr 1, 1898, d. Jan 16, 1960
  • Ethel Hays21 b. Aug 15, 1901, d. Jul, 1984

Citations

  1. [S136] Family Group Sheet, Hays, John Byron.
  2. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays.
  3. [S151] Smith County Pioneer, September 25, 1902, page 1.
  4. [S1408] 1870 U. S. Census, Iowa, Butler County, Shellrock Township, sheet 17/721, line 1, dwelling 127, family 134, Iowa, Butler County.
  5. [S43] 1880 KS Census, Hays, Mitchell.
  6. [S45] 1900 Census KS, Hays, John B.
  7. [S137] Census 1895, KS -- Smith Co, Hays, John.
  8. [S57] Book, History of Smith Centre , page 4.
  9. [S2024] Eldora and John Hays Cemetery Marker, Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, This source says 1865.
  10. [S151] Smith County Pioneer, September 25, 1902, page 1, page 1, column 6.
  11. [S526] Obituary, Jahnke, Dora, March 17, 1949, page 9, column 3.
  12. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays , page 18, line 12, household 105/9 (Mitchell Hays household).
  13. [S443] News Clipping, Hays John Rudy fever , page 3, column 3.
  14. [S137] Census 1895, KS -- Smith Co, Hays, John , Page 12 & 13, household 81 ( John Hayes household); agriculture schedule line 20.
  15. [S141] 1905 Census -- KS, Smith Co, Eldora Hays.
  16. [S2024] Eldora and John Hays Cemetery Marker, Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.
  17. [S2082] Smith County Pioneer, June 1965.
  18. [S135] Family Group Sheet, Hays, James Marion.
  19. [S131] Family Group Sheet, Hays, Geraldine.
  20. [S134] Family Group Sheet, Hays, Edwin.
  21. [S132] Family Group Sheet, Giese, Joachim.
Copyright 2017 Julia Langel. This is a work in progress, so please be patient with errors and omissions!