Harriett Isabelle "Belle" Hays

b. Oct 3, 1875, d. Sep 9, 1963
FatherMitchell E. Hays1,2,3,4,5 b. Feb 21, 1829, d. Mar 2, 1913
MotherHarriett Electa Bowen2,3,4,5 b. Feb 29, 1836, d. Aug 9, 1916
     Harriett was born in Shell Rock, Butler Co, IA, on Oct 3, 1875. (Obituary says Bremer Co, Iowa.)1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
     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..6,10,11,12,4,7,5,13,14,15
     Harriett was listed as a daughter in Mitchell E. Hays's household on the 1880 Census in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS.1
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell E. Hays's household in the census report in Centre Township, Smith Co, KS, in 1885.16
     
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

     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" Hays was listed as a resident in Mitchell E. Hays's household in the census report in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, in 1895.2,17
     She married Lawrence Calvin Weltmer in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Sep 22, 1895.4,5,6,7
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" Weltmer was left a widow by Lawrence Calvin Weltmer's death on Apr 21, 1902 in Smith Co, KS.7,18
     She married Francis M. McElfresh on Jan 24, 1906.6,10,12,7,8,9
     They resided in Smith Co, KS, in Feb, 1906, in farm 5 mi southwest Smith Center.7
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" McElfresh was listed as a resident in Francis M. McElfresh's household in the census report in Banner Township, Smith Co, KS, on Sep 10, 1910.19
     She resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Mar 6, 1913.12
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" McElfresh and Francis M. McElfresh appeared on the census of Jan 16, 1920 in Banner Township, Smith Co, KS; Francis owned a farm, with a mortgage, and he and the boys were working it.20
     Harriett was a Spring Creek Ladies Aid member. Charter member.5,7
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" McElfresh was listed as a wife in Francis M. McElfresh's household on the 1930 Census in Banner Township, Smith Co, KS.8
     She resided in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Oct 25, 1945.10,11
     Harriett Isabelle "Belle" McElfresh was left a widow by Francis M. McElfresh's death on Sep 16, 1947.7,9
     They resided in Smith Co, KS, in Oct, 1947, in farm.5,7
     She was baptized in United Brethren church, Banner Township, Smith Co, KS, before 1954.5,7
     They moved in 1954 to Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.5,7
     Harriett was listed as a member of First Presbyterian church in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, after 1954.5,7
     Harriett died on Sep 9, 1963 in home, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, at age 87.4,7,9 Her funeral was held in Simmons chapel, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS, on Sep 11, 1963. Rev. Don Mueller. Lawrence Kern was vocalist. Clarence Hinshaw, Wayne Hommon, John Larson, Bernard Brink, Otto Naumann and Henry Kuhlman were pallbearers..5,7 She was buried on Sep 11, 1963 at Fairview Cemetery, in Smith Center, Smith Co, in KS.7,9
Francis McElfresh, Belle Hays Weltmer McElfresh, George Weltmer
Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS
Photo by Julia Langel, July 2011
An obituary was published on Sep 12, 1963 in the Smith County Pioneer in Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.5

Family 1

Lawrence Calvin Weltmer b. December 22, 1874, d. April 21, 1902
Children
  • Son Weltmer5 b. between October 1895 and Apri, d. in infancy
  • George Floyd Weltmer5,19,8 b. May 26, 1896, d. Feb 19, 1989
  • Alice Belle Weltmer5 b. Nov 4, 1897, d. Jan 4, 1993
  • Charles Lawrence Weltmer5 b. Aug 21, 1899, d. May, 1980

Family 2

Francis M. McElfresh b. 1872, d. September 16, 1947
Child
  • Jessie Florence McElfresh b. circa 1896, d. Dec 29, 1976

Citations

  1. [S43] 1880 KS Census, Hays, Mitchell.
  2. [S139] 1895 Census -- KS, Smith Center -- Mitchell Hays.
  3. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays.
  4. [S378] Charlotte Shaffer, "Re: Pictures," e-mail to Julia Langel, February 10, 2000.
  5. [S457] Smith County Pioneer, v92, n7, September 12, 1963, page 3.
  6. [S57] Book, History of Smith Centre , page 4.
  7. [S457] Smith County Pioneer, v92, n7, September 12, 1963, page 3, page 3, column 4.
  8. [S1112] 1930 U. S. Census, Kansas, Smith County, Banner Township, ED 1, sheet 3A, line 22, family 55, Kansas, Smith County.
  9. [S1998] Francis M. McElfresh, Belle McElfresh and George Weltmer Cemetery Marker, Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Smith Co, KS.
  10. [S153] Chapman Advertiser, October 25, 1945, page 1, column 5 and 6.
  11. [S153] Chapman Advertiser, October 25, 1945, page 1, column 5 and 6, page 1, column 5 and 6.
  12. [S200] Smith County Journal, March 6, 1913.
  13. [S463] Smith County Pioneer, v80, n11, October 25, 1951, page 1.
  14. [S463] Smith County Pioneer, v80, n11, October 25, 1951, page 1, page 1, column 6.
  15. [S549] Obituary, Ida Hays Sigsbee, January 3, 1935, page 3, column 3; page 1, column 3.
  16. [S140] 1885 Census -- KS, Smith County, Mitchell Hays , page 18, line 12, household 105/9 (Mitchell Hays household).
  17. [S139] 1895 Census -- KS, Smith Center -- Mitchell Hays , page 1, line 11.
  18. [S2042] Lawrence Weltmer Cemetery Marker, Gaylord Cemetery, Gaylord, Smith Co, KS.
  19. [S598] 1910 U. S. population census, ED 196, sheet 8B, line93, dwelling 176, family 178, Kansas, Smith County.
  20. [S571] 1920 U.S. Population Census, E.D. 208, shee 4, line 41, dwelling 82, family 82, Kansas, Smith County.
Copyright 2017 Julia Langel. This is a work in progress, so please be patient with errors and omissions!