Hayes, Michael

HAYES, HUFFAKER, KINDER

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 15:02:07

Michael Hayes, a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 7, Washington Township, is a pioneer among pioneers, locating in this county as early as 1840. He was born in Madison County, Ill., Dec. 21, 1809, and is supposed to be the oldest white person born in that State. His father, Henry Hayes, was born near Brandywine, Pa., and was a boy at the time of the Revolutionary War. His mother, Rebecca (Huffaker) Hayes, was born in Tennessee. They were married in Tennessee where two children were born, Catherine and John. In the spring or summer of 1809, the family settled in Madison County, Ill., at which time there were but a few scattering houses, where Mr. Hayes made a claim and opened up a farm. He subsequently removed to the American bottom, opposite St. Louis, at which time there was but one American in that vicinity, and he was an Indian trader. The country was then one vast wilderness, and was full of Indians. At the time of the War of 1812, the Indians in that vicinity became very troublesome, and block-houses were erected by the settlers for their protection. St. Louis was the trading point for the family and for all settlers in that country. The only means of crossing the river was in canoes. At that time the women made all the cloth used for clothing the family. There were seven children born in Illinois, of whom Michael, the subject of this sketch, is the only surviving one. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes both died and were buried on their old homestead where they lived for so many years.

Michael Hayes, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon a farm, and received but a limited education in the subscription schools of his native State. The old log school-house in which he received the rudiments of an English education, is well remembered by him. Its puncheon floors, clapboard roof, puncheon seats, and greased window-lights come to his mind day by day. While not to be compared with the more modern structures, from the old log school-houses of pioneer times have been graduated many of the most noted men of the entire country. Michael Hayes and Miss Eliza Kinder were united in marriage in Madison County, Ill., in 1833. She was also a native of that county, born in 1820. Nine children were born unto them: Nancy married frank Martin, and resides in this county; Patience is the wife of J. G. Stewart, now of Vinton, Benton Co., Iowa; Mary is the wife of J.P. Randall, of Keokuk Co., Iowa; George, John, Caroline, Rebecca, Albert and Perry all reside in this county. Mrs. Hayes died some years ago.

In 1839 Mr. Hayes first visited Washington County, Iowa, and being well pleased with the country, determined to locate here. Returning to his home in Illinois, he in the spring of 1840, moved with his family and located on the spot where he now lives, and which has been his home for forty-seven years. The trip to this county was made by a boat to Burlington, Iowa, and from thence by team. At the time of his settlement there were but eighty votes cast in the entire county, about all of which were in the eastern part. The line of the first Indian purchase was about one-half mile west of his residence. During the first five years of his residence in Washington County he could scarcely obtain money enough to pay his taxes. Wheat was only worth twenty-five cents per bushel. At the time he came to this county he purchased 300 acres of land, to which he has since added other purchases from time to time, until he now owns over 1,000 acres, all of which is under cultivation, and the greater art lying in the vicinity of Washington.

In early life, Mr. Hayes was politically a Whig, but on the death of the Whig party, he became a Democrat, with which party he has since continued to act. Always opposed to slavery, he desired it to be wiped out by other means than that of blood. As already stated, Mr. Hayes has been a citizen of Washington County for nearly half a century. Today there are but few persons living in the county that can boast of so long a residence, and but few are better known or more universally respected than Michael Hayes.

The fine portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes which are here given, will be appreciated by every old settler in Washington County, where they are so well known.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Michael Hayes, pages 475-476. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hayes on pages 472-473.