Stephen A. Hays

HAYS, GOOD, MENDENHALL, COLE, GAMBLE, MCDANIEL

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 7/16/2006 at 21:04:13

Winterset Madisonian - Wednesday, August 14, 1946

Stephen A. Hays, for half a century a Winterset attorney, and widely known throughout the county, died last Thursday at the Buchanan Nursing home in St. Charles, after several years of failing health.

Mr. Hays had been a resident of Madison county since early childhood, and during his long citizenship in Winterset took an active part in the civil affairs of this community.

Mr. Hays was a native of Macon county, Illinois, where he was born Jan. 13, 1865, the son of William and Fannie Good Hays. He came to Madison county with his parents that same year, and settled in the Worthington neighborhood of Douglas township.

When he was 9 years old his father died and two years later the death of his mother occurred. After that he lived with his guardian, George Duff, until he was 18 years old.

As a young man he taught in the rural schools of Madison county, and then attended and was graduated from the Burlington Business college at Burlington. He next attended the State University of Iowa at Iowa City where he graduated in law with the class of 1890.

He returned to Winterset to start the practice of law, and this community remained his home until his death. Here he was a member of the Presbyterian church, the Masonic lodge, and the Knights of Pythias. He served on the school board and held other local offices.

He was married on June 8, 1891, to Elsie Tidrick Mendenhall, who preceded him in death. He is survived by four children: Mrs. Louise Cole of Spirit Lake, Guy M. Hays of Earlham, H. G. Hays of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Gladys Gamble of St. Charles. He also leaves 21 grandchildren; a brother, Ben Hays of Twin Falls, Ida.; and one sister, Mrs. Annie McDaniel of Macon county, Mo.

Funeral services were held here Sunday from the Ramsey-Richards funeral home, in charge of the Rev. Howard Strong, pastor of the Presbyterian church. The local lodge of the Masonic order participated with its ritual. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.