Hayes, Thomas J.

HAYES

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/11/2007 at 22:40:52

Jackson Sentinel, March 15, 1921:

FUNERAL OF THOMAS J. HAYES HELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

The funeral of the late T.J. Hayes, who passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Ryan, last Thursday forenoon, was held Sunday afternoon from the Ryan home at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. W. M. Purce of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church officiating. Although the weather was very inclement, many friends gathered to pay their respect to one of our best citizens and one who had possibly as many acquaintances as any person in this vicinity.

Mr. Hayes was born in Huntington, Blair County, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1841, and with his parents came to Stephenson County, Illinois, in 1852 and worked on a farm there until 1861. He enlisted in Company M, 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at the outbreak of the Civil War and was mustered out of service at Rock Island, Illinois in 1864. A year later he took up railroading and in the same year was united in marriage to Lydia Ann Young at Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

Mr. Hayes was a natural railroad man, and his ability was readily recognized by railway officials and he served as agent and operator at Beloit and Burlington, Wisconsin and Thompson, Illinois, being transferred to Maquoketa in 1879, where he has tendered faithful service for 42 years as local agent for the C. M. & St. Paul Railroad Company. W.C. Brown, former president of the New York Central lines, studied and mastered telegraphy under the tutorage of Mr. Hayes.

Not only was Mr. Hays the oldest employee of this division, but possibly the best known railroad man in the state. Rarely one speaks of a railroad man who did not know “Tom” and respected him.

On Saturday February 26, he was at his post at the depot and three days later was obliged to take to his bed and was moved to the home of his daughter, where he passed away last Thursday, this date marking his 80th birthday anniversary.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were born two daughters, Mrs. Elmer Ely of Chicago, and Mrs. George Ryan of this city; two brothers, R.C. of Omaha, and John B. of Des Moines, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Darling of Cincinnati; and 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren are left to mourn the loss of a devoted grandparent.

As a citizen he was honored by all; as a soldier he proved his loyalty to flag and country; as a husband , brother and father he was ever kind indulgent and true, and as a man he stood aloof of every form of ungallantry and wrongdoing. As evidence of the esteem in which Mr. Hayes was held by the officials of the railroad company, the following notables of the company attended the funeral: C. H. Marshall, Division Supt., Cedar Rapids; L. A. Turner, Asst. Supt., of Marion; C. L. Sherwood, Pass. Agt., of Cedar Rapids; R. C. Hayes, brother of deceased, Gen. Agt., C.B. & Q., Omaha.

Other relatives and friends from a distance were: J. B. Hayes of Des Moines, Tom Ely and family, Cedar Rapids, Mrs. F. C. Simpson, Lawton, Oklahoma, Mrs. H. A. Schlager, Chicago, Elmer Ely, and family of Chicago.

The pallbearers, escort, firing squad and buglers were chosen from the ranks of the American Legion, and those boys of the late world war beautifully decorated, accorded military honors to their elder brother American, who years ago had defended the same flag, which waved triumphantly at the head of our valiant heroes in the recent conflict. Interment was made in Mt. Hope Cemetery