Mitchell Elmer Hays

     Mitchell was born in Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA, on May 25, 1868.^{4,5,6,1,7,8,9,10,11,3}
     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.³
     They moved in Nov, 1877 to 1 mile southeast of town, Smith Centre, Smith Co, KS. (James Hays' obituary says move occurred in 1872. Mitchell's obituary says 1878. Belle's obituary says move occurred when she was 2, which would be in 10/87-10/88 range. Elmer's obituary says July 1877. Ida's obituary says November 23, 1877.) The family came in a covered wagon..^{8,12,13,14,15,16,17,2,10,18}
     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.⁴
     Mitchell Elmer Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell E. Hays's household in the census report in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS, in 1885.¹⁹
     He married Emma Jane Morrow in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Jul 9, 1888.^{6,15,20,2,21,22,23,24,10,11,7}
     They moved in Jul, 1888 to farm, Smith Co, KS. One-half mile south and one mile west of home? town?.^2,10
     Emma and Mitchell was listed as a member of a Baptist church in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, after 1888.^20,2,23,10
     He became the owner of dray and coal line in after 1890.^2,10
     They moved after 1890 to Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.^2,10
     He bought property from Mitchell E. Hays in Smith Co, KS, on Aug 22, 1891. The land was described as the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 28 Township 3S in Range 13W. The purchase price was $800 plus the assumption of half of a $850 mortgage on the land.²⁵
     
     A census listed Mitchell as head of household in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1895.²⁶
     He became the owner of blacksmith shop in on Aug 13, 1898.^2,10
     He employed Russell Gene Hays in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, Aug, 1898.¹⁰
     Mitchell was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS. Elmer is a blacksmith. They own their own home..²⁷
     Mitchell Elmer Hays was employed as a blacksmith in 1900 in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.⁶
     A census listed Mitchell as head of household in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1905. Elmer is a blacksmith. They live next to J. Bass Anderson, 41, also a blacksmith. They have 19 acres under cultivation in the city. The land is worth $500, the buildings, $2,500. They have 1 horse, 3 milch cows, and 10 swine..²⁸
     Mitchell was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS. Elmer is a blacksmith. Pearl works in a printing office. All of the children attended school in the previous year. They own their own house..²²
     He resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Mar 6, 1913.¹⁴
     A census listed Mitchell as head of household in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1915. Elmer and Gene are blacksmiths. Vern and Ralph are laborers. Arden is in school. They own a home, with a mortgage..⁹
     Mitchell was listed as the head of a family on the 1920 Census in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS. Elmer is a blacksmith; Ralph is a farm hand. They own their home..^29,30
     Mitchell was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census in 426 Washington, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS. Elmer and Ralph were working in Elmer's blacksmith shop. The family owned their home, worth $2600, and had a radio set..¹¹
     They resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in Mar, 1938.^20,31,23,24
     He resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Oct 25, 1945.^12,13
     Mitchell died on Oct 17, 1951 in home, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, at age 83.^15,10,7 His funeral was held in Simmons-Olliff mortuary, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Oct 21, 1951. Ira N. Faurot, Presbyterian church, officiated..^2,10 He was buried on Oct 21, 1951 at Fairview Cemetery, in Smith Center, Smith Co, in KS.^10,7 An obituary was published on Oct 25, 1951 in the Smith County Pioneer in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.²