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Daniel Fuss Hays-Grand Army of the Republic

HAYS, FUSS, WELLER, FRITZ

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 3/17/2016 at 09:57:24

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Sept. 8, 2014

GRAND ARMY
OF THE REPUBLIC

DANIEL FUSS HAYS

2015 will mark the 150th anniversary of the end of America's Civil War. Grinnell Historical Museum volunteers Karen Groves, Ann Igoe, Julie Young and Shane Estes have created biographies of men who were participants in a local project just after World War I to photograph Civil War veterans. The Mna Wayne Grau Studio photographed the Grinnell veterans in 1922. Over 200 Civil War veterans are buried in Hazelwood Cemetery, including most of the veterans photographed in 1922. Here is one of those portraits and biographies:
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Daniel F. Hays, was born to Joseph and Elizabeth Fuss Hays in Frederick County, Md., on Aug. 1, 1834. Joseph Hays was a blacksmith who brought his four children to Poweshiek County in 1856 after his wife, died. Joseph Hays purchased a farm in Chester Township and built the third house in the township.

Daniel Hays enlisted in Company E of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry in September of 1862. The regiment participated in the Mississippi campaign, including the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Guntown, and in General Wilson's campaigns in Alabama and Georgia in 1865. Hays was mustered out of the army on June 17, 1865, and returned to Poweshiek County.

Daniel Hays' granddaughter, Lucile Hays Fritz, captured the Civil War stories her grandfather told her based on the diary he kept during the war in a document called "Three Years in the Union Army." Hays detailed his journey from his Iowa farm to Davenport for training and on a steamship to Helena, Ark., to join the regiment. The memoirs continue with reports about the life of a soldier, including the battles, marches, camp duties and many stories about the other soldiers with whom he served. A copy of this diary may be found at the Grinnell Historical Museum.

Hays farmed in Chester Township until he moved to Grinnell in 1904 where he conducted a blacksmith business.

Daniel Hays and Susan Weller were married on Dec. 12, 1867, and had a family of six children, all of whom attended college. After moving to Grinnell the family resided at 1717 Sixth Ave.

Hays was one of the founders of Chester Township and held many township offices. He was a member of the Methodist church and of the Grand Army of the Republic Post in Grinnell, an organization of Civil War veterans.

Education was important to Daniel and Susan Hays, and they directly or indirectly assisted in building every schoolhouse in Chester Township. Hays worked with Professor Parker of Grinnell College to write a history of Poweshiek County.

In an article in the Oct. 17, 1929, edition of the Grinnell Register Hays spoke of his memories of an early Grinnell and the progress the town had made. He talked about the prairie and the awesome sight of a prairie fire as well as the beauty of the prairie in winter.

Daniel Hays died at the age of 96 on Nov. 6, 1930, and is buried in Hazelwood Cemetery. His wife Susan and four children were then living, J.W., Harvey G., Charles W., and Grace S.

NOTE: Photo was included in the Grinnell newspaper publication.


 

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