General farming and stock-raising engages the attention of John W.
Hays, who owns between five and six hundred acres of excellent land,
located on sections 24, 26 and 35, North Otter township, part of which
is under cultivation. He was born on the place where he now resides on
the 27th of January, 1837, being a son of Eli and Nellie (Hurley) .Hays,
the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Germany. The father
came to Macoupin county in the early ’30s and preempted two hundred and
forty acres of land, the papers issued by the government giving him
title to the property now in the possession of the son John W. Mr. Hays
engaged in the cultivation of this land until his demise in 1881. The
mother passed away about ten years previously. To Mr. and Mrs. Hays were
born ten children, namely: William, Willis, James, Aaron and Jane, all
of whom are deceased; John W., our subject; and Nancy, Sarah and Mary,
also deceased; and Elizabeth, the widow of the late Ely Jones, of
Girard.
John W. Hays began his agricultural career at the age of
eight years, when he was put to work plowing with a team of steers. In
the acquirement of his education he attended the district schools of the
vicinity at such times as his services were not required for the work
about the farm. After becoming familiar with the common branches, he
devoted his entire attention to farming. He had acquired extensive
holdings prior to the death of his father, following which he purchased
the interests of the other heirs in the homestead. In connection with
the tilling of his extensive fields he raises and feeds many cattle and
hogs. A man of practical ideas at the same time progressive in his
methods he has met with excellent success and is now known as one of the
affluent agriculturists of Macoupin county. He has practically lived
retired for the past ten years, leaving it to his children to carry on
the farm work.
On the 6th of December, 1856, John W. Hays was
united in marriage to Miss Lucinda England, a daughter of Joseph and
Mary (Hays) England. Mrs. Hays passed away on the 28th of December,
1892, and was laid to rest in Union cemetery in North Otter township.
Mr. and Mrs. Hays were parents of twelve children: George and Samuel,
both residents of Macoupin county; Edward, who is at home; Mary Ellen,
the wife of Edward Coe; Osa Lee, who is deceased; Robert Owen, also a
resident of Macoupin county; Cephas, living on the old home farm; and
Cenie, also at home. The four eldest children died in infancy.
The religious faith of the family is manifested through their
affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which the mother
held membership. Politically Mr. Hays is a democrat; he always takes an
active interest in community affairs and has held various township
offices. In every sense of the word Mr. Hays is a self-made man, having
acquired practically all he owns through his own personal endeavors. His
life is but one more proof of the fact that success is not so much a
matter of opportunity as it is the ability to recognize and adapt
opportunity to individual needs.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 551-552.
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