HAYS, MARSHALL

HAYS, MARSHALL, COOK, SCOTT

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 3/24/2004 at 15:10:39

Biography reproduced from page 561 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

The late Marshall Hays was for more than thirty years prominently and successfully identified with the agricultural development of Garfield township, where he owned a valuable farm of three hundred and thirty-three acres, which is now being cultivated by his son. He was born in Brook county, West Virginia, on the 6th of February, 1837, and was a son of Enoch and Nancy (Marshall) Hays, natives of Virginia. The father, who was an agriculturist, for many years owned and operated a farm in West Virginia, six miles from Steubenville, Ohio, and there he passed away on the 13th of February, 1872. He was long survived by the mother, whose death occurred in 1892.

Marshall Hays was reared and educated in West Virginia, passing the first twenty-six years of his life on his father’s plantation. He early responded to the Union’s call for men and on the 29th of August, 1862, enlisted at Wheeling in Company K, Twelfth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, remaining at the front until the close of hostilities. He was mustered out at Richmond, Virginia, on the 10th of June, 1865. In February, 1867, he came to Iowa, locating in Clayton county, where he engaged in drilling wells until 1871, when he removed to Kossuth county. The same year he bought his farm in Garfield township and in 1872 settled there with his family, giving his undivided attention to its further improvement and cultivation during the remainder of his active life. In 1902, he withdrew from the work of the fields and renting his homestead to his son Roy, lived in retirement until his death on October 16, 1911, at the age of seventy-four years.

On the 17th of July, 1873, Mr. Hays was married to Miss Alice C. Cook, a daughter of George L. and Sabrina (Scott) Cook, natives of Vermont, as is also Mrs. Hays, whose birth occurred July 7, 1843. The father farmed in Vermont until 1846, when he came to Iowa, locating in Clayton county. He settled some land nine miles from McGregor and walked fifty miles to the land office at Dubuque to file on it. For thirty years he industriously applied himself to the cultivation of his farm, and during that time he increased his acreage by the purchase of adjoining tracts. In 1876, he sold his place and went to Madison county, where he bought another farm which he cultivated until his death in 1891. The mother passed away on the 16th of February, 1889. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hays as follows: Clarence Marshall, who is farming in the vicinity of Rodman, Iowa; E. Scott, who engages in agricultural pursuits in Cresco township, Kossuth county; Howard Roy, who is operating the home place; and Winnie Alice, who is living at home with the mother, who is now sixty-nine years of age.

Mr. Hays was a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife and daughter belong to that of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and he was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. He accorded his political support to the republican party, the principles of which he deemed best adapted to subserve the highest interests of the majority. He worked earnestly and persistently in the development of his interests and his industry was a strong factor in winning the success that ultimately crowned his efforts, and numbered him among the capable agriculturists and substantial citizens of Kossuth county.