FREW HAYS.
One of the best-improved and most productive farms in Greeley township, this county, is that of the gentleman whose name the reader notes above, a farm which he has converted from the virgin prairie to a highly-cultivated tract on which is situated a fine home and commodious farm buildings, one of the model farms of the neighborhood in which it is located.
Frew Hays was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, December 1, 1854, the son of Frew and Mary (Robbins) Hays, natives of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, farming people and the parents of nine children, of whom Frew, Jr., was the youngest. The senior Hays died in the year in which his youngest son was born, and the latter lived with his mother until he was married. In 1876 the widowed mother came to Audubon county, where her son, Samuel, previously had located, and later moved to Guthrie county, her home being on the Audubon-Guthrie line.
Following his marriage in 1875, Frew Hays rented a farm in Rock Island county, Illinois, on which he made his home until 1879, in which year he moved to Audubon county, arriving here the latter part of January, he some years previously having bought a farm of eighty acres of railroad land on section 13, of Greeley township, paying for the same eight dollars an acre. On this farm he established his home, his first dwelling house being a building eighteen by twenty-two feet, divided into three rooms, his barn being but a straw shed. On this farm Mr. Hays prospered from the very beginning and he presently added to his holdings by the purchase of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres adjoining. In 1899 he built a large house and in 1904 built a commodious barn, the outbuildings of the place corresponding, and now he has one of the best-improved farms in Greeley township and is accounted well-to-do. He is active and energetic and deserves all the success which has come to him.
On December 8, 1875, at Muscatine, Iowa, Frew Hays was united in marriage with Louesa M. Reed, who was born in Mercer county, Illinois, the daughter of Leonidas V. and Elizabeth (Thur) Reed, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and of Germany. To this union nine children were born, eight of whom are still living: Loro M., who married Oscar Miller, of Greeley township, this county, and has three children, Olive, Winnie and Iva; Jennie L., who married John Shoesmith and has two children, Ronald and Velma May; Nina B., who married William Alt and has two children, Ruth and Raymond; Mary lives at home; Lennie, who married George Alt and has three children, Harley, Gilbert and Mainard; F. Lee, who married Nellie Noe; and Alburtis and Winnie, who live at home. Emma died at the tender age of ten years.
The Hays family are all members of the Baptist church, and are actively interested in the good work of the community and are held in the highest regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Hays is a Democrat, but apart from exercising his right of franchise takes little interest in politics. He is a substantial farmer, a good citizen, an excellent neighbor and naturally enough has the full confidence of his community.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 804-805.
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