Pg 254

         JOHN HAYS, a farmer residing in Jefferson Township, was born in Prussia, Germany, Aug. 27, 1829, and is a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Long) Hays, who were also natives of the same country. When our subject was twelve years old his parents removed to the West India Islands, and there resided for three years. In that country the death of the father occurred, after which the mother with her children returned to Prussia and lived for four years. They then decided to make their home in the New World, so came to America, landing at a port in Maryland, where they remained for a year. In 1847 they came to Iowa, settling in Louisa County, where the mother died in 1853. She had three children: Felden, who died in 1850, at the age of twenty-eight years; our subject; and Catherine, the wife of Mathias Kramer, a merchant of Muscatine, Iowa. The parents were members of the Catholic Church.

Our subject was reared upon a farm, and came to Louisa County in 1847, where his mother rented land, which he and his brother farmed for two years. On the 10th of May, 1849, he was united in marriage with Margaret A. Keever, a native of Vermillion County, Ind., born May 29, 1832. She was a daughter of Elias Keever, who was one of the earliest pioneers of Louisa County, and the second settler of Jefferson Township. He was born in Georgia, and was a son of Peter and Christina (Rogers) Keever, who were natives of Wales. He was reared upon a farm, and they were among the pioneer settlers of Vermillion County, Ind. Mr. Keever remained at home until about 1827, when he was united in marriage with Mary P. Shaw, a native of Maine. In the spring of 1832 they came to Iowa, settling in Jefferson Township, where the husband took a claim and made his home until his death in 1840. The mother died six months later, on the 19th of May. At the time of his death Mr. Keever owned 520 acres of land. He was a thorough business man, a great worker, and one who took an active interest in public affairs. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Keever were the parents of five children, two of whom are still living: Mrs. Hays, the wife of our subject, and W. O. P. Keever, now a farmer of Nodaway County, Mo.; he was a soldier in the war for the union.

Mrs. Hays was only nine years old when her mother died, and she was taken by one of the administrators of her father’s estate, James Guest, to his home, and she there resided until her marriage, with the exception of eight months spent in attending school in Iowa City. Mr. and Mrs. Hays have been the parents of eleven children: Mary, wife of George W. Spitznogle, a resident of Jefferson . . .

Pg 257

… Township; Miranda, wife of Nathan McChesney, of Harrison County, Mo.; Johan O., at home; Lourie, who died at the age of five years; William P., who died in infancy; Joseph M. and Amanda C. (twins), yet residing with their parents; Edward O., also at home; William O., who died in infancy; Hiram F., still at inmate of the parental home, and Elias N., who died in childhood. Politically, Mr. Hays is a Republican. He is the owner of 290 acres of land, and is one of the leading and progressive farmers of Jefferson Township. He is well known and universally respected throughout Louisa County, where he has resided for over forty years.