Biographical Sketches

LINVILLE HAYES

Has for 53 years resided upon his farm in Westport township, Jackson county. The family located in Missouri when it was a wild and desolate region, there being few settlements west of St. Louis. For miles stretched uncultivated prairies and unbroken forests, which served as hunting grounds for the Indians, while the timbered regions were the haunts of many wild animals, native to this clime.

Mr. Hayes is a descendant from a family of pioneers. His paternal grandmother was a daughter of Daniel Boone, the explorer who first made his way into the wilderness of Kentucky, traveling over the “dark and bloody ground” before another white man had set foot upon the soil of that now rich and populous state. His daughter and 2 girls of the name of Calloway were captured by the Indians, but a party soon started in pursuit and they were retaken. The grandparents were married in Kentucky, and the grandfather was killed there. A large family was born of their union, including Boone Hayes, father of our subject, who was the oldest. After the death of his father, he went to live with his grandfather, Daniel Boone, and with him came to Missouri, locating in St. Charles county.

After he had arrived at man's estate he returned to Kentucky, where he married Lydia Shull, a native of that state and a representative of one of its old families. He then took his bride to his home in St. Charles county, and about 1820 removed to Callaway county. In March 1837, he became a resident of Jackson county, where he purchased 160 acres of land owned by Daniel Boone, Jr. 12 acres of this tract was fenced, while the remainder was in its primitive condition. The locality was indeed sparsely settled, the Indians being far more in numbers than their white neighbors. The father also purchased 120 acres of land from Governor Boggs and improved his property, transforming it into a fine farm. In 1849, after the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, he crossed the plains to California, accompanied by his 3 sons, Amazon, Linville and Upton. After a 3 month journey with ox teams they reached Sacramento. At Weaverville, California, then called Hangtown, the father established a boarding house, which he conducted for several years. His death occurred there, while his wife died in this county, about 1840, and was laid to rest in the family cemetery. He was a typical pioneer, fearless and undaunted and honorable in all things. Before moving to Missouri he served in an Indian war.

Boone and Lydia Hayes were the parents of 10 children who grew to maturity. Alfred, the eldest, died in 1838. Louisa became the wife of Thomas Krump, and both are now deceased. They had 3 sons: Henry, of Independence, Missouri; Richard, who is living in Clay county, Texas; and Daniel, a resident of Saline county, Missouri. Shrelda became the wife of James McMurtrie and they also have passed away. Their children were Levi, who is living in Wichita Falls, Texas; James, of California, and Samuel, who was killed in the civil war. Eleanor married Francis Chick, and they also have departed this life, leaving 2 living children: Martha, of Callaway county, and Lydia, who is living in northern Missouri. Fannie Robinson, living in western Kansas. Amazon married Agnes McMurtrie, who died leaving 1 son, James, who is now county judge of Bates county, Missouri. After the death of his first wife he wedded Mary Berry, and they have 3 daughers: Sophie, widow of John Booth, who is serving as postmistress of Westport; Fannie, wife of Teson Howell, of Paola, Kansas; and Anna, wife of Green Bates, also of Paola. Linville is the next in order of birth. Samuel, deceased, married Rebecca Berry, who has also passed away, and the members of their family are as follows: Mary Lob; Robert, of California, who married Miss Muir, now deceased; Jennie, wife of Foster Asbury, of Westport township, by whom she has one daughter, Mary Agnes; Lou, deceased; Fred, the wife of William Smith, of Independence, Missouri; R. F. Hayes, who is living in Las Vegas, New Mexico; Amazon, of California; Upton, who resides in Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Ella, deceased. Miriam, the 8th member of the Hayes family, became the wife of David McMurtrie, and both have passed away. They had 2 children: Mary Agnes Utz, of California; and Calvin, of Callaway county, Missouri, who married Lizzie McCubbin. Mary wedded Amstead Hughes, and they died living 3 children: Reece, of Callaway county, Missouri; Linville and Laura Peters, who were also living in the same place. Upton, now deceased, married Miss Margaret Watts, and had 4 children: John N., who married Lillie Mills and lives in California; Bettie, wife of Thomas Mutrey, of California; Fleeda, wife of Tim Eppeson, of California; and Jenup, wife of Joseph Whitesides, of California. Two sons of this family were soldiers in the civil war.

Upton raised a regiment for the Confederate service and was commissioned colonel. His command was attached to the army of General Joseph Shelby, and he was a brave and able officer, beloved throughout the regiment. He was shot through the head at the battle of Newtonia, and was buried on the field. His remains were afterward transferred to the Confederate cemetery in Kansas City in 1871, and now rest in Forest Hill cemetery. His memory is still green in the hearts of those who knew him.

Linville Hayes, whose name introduces this review, was born in Callaway county, Missouri, October 20, 1821, and was a youth of 16 years when he came with his father to Jackson county. He remained under the parental roof until 21 years of age, and in 1842, having married, located on the farm which is still his home. It was covered with a dense growth of timber, but entering the forest he cut down the trees, prepared the material and built a hewed-log cabin. There was no one then between him and the vast Indian country to the west. Tree after tree fell before his ax and the bright sun streamed down upon the cleared land, ripening the grain planted there. Mr. Hayes continued to improve and cultivate his farm until 1849, when he went to the gold mines of California, in connection with his father and others, and after spending 20 months there arrived at his home on the 28th of December, 1850.

In June, 1842, Mr. Hayes was united in marriage with Miss Lorinda W. Halloway, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of James A. Halloway, one of the early settlers of the county. She was born April 21, 1827, and died August 13, 1890, after a happy married life of nearly half a century. To her husband she has been a faithful companion and helpmate, ably seconding his efforts in all possible ways. By her marriage she became the mother of 11 children, and in their youth surrounded them with loving care and attention. Eliza Ann, the eldest, born September 12, 1844, became the wife of Henry c. Rout, who was killed during the war. They had one child, James H., now of Westport. Mrs. Rout afterward became the wife of Joel Franklin Thomas, now deceased, who served as a lieutenant in Colonel Hayes' regiment. She died March 24, 1881, leaving one child, Effie, wife of Charles Ellis, of Westport. Alfred, the second of the family, born September 11, 1846, now lives in California. He married Mattie Collins, and their children were Barbara, Oletta, Maggie, William and James. Fannie E., born October 22, 1848, died 4 days later. Isaac T., born September 22, 1851, died April 5, 1852. Van D., born January 20, 1853, lives in Texas. Temperance J., born January 20, 1856, is the wife of James Foster, and their children are Lillie, Benjamin, Edwin, Harry, Carrie and John. Eugene E., born March 11, 1858, died February 1, 1861. Henry Upton, born August 14, 1860, died August 14, 1866. Linville Wiley, born January 7, 1862, is married and lives in Texas, and has one child, Harry. Benjamin T., born October 23, 1868, died October 6, 1869. James M., born May 19, 1871, completes the family.

After his return from California, Mr. Hayes engaged in freighting across the plains for the government, making trips from Kansas City and Leavenworth to Fort Union, Fort Laramie and Fort Craig on the Rio Grande river. In 1864 he joined the army, was elected first lieutenant of Captain Milton Shull's company and commanded the company until the close of the war. He went with Colonel Williams' regiment to Texas and Louisiana and participated in a number of engagements, including those at Little Blue, Big Blue, and Byram Ford. He was the first to cross the Big Blue in the face of the federals and acted as guide to General Shull all through that district of the country.

Mr. Hayes remained in Texas until the Fall of 1865, and after the war resumed freighting. He served as wagonmaster of a train going from Kansas City to old Fort Kearney and to Julesburg. Their route lay by way of Fort Laramie, Fort Reno and Fort Smith, and on the way they had a battle with the Indiana and remained at Fort Smith until a company of United States soldiers arrived to guard them on their trip. Mr. Hayes afterward made another trip to Fort Craig on the Rio Grande. His life since has been devoted to the more quiet pursuits of agriculture, and he still makes his home upon the farm which has been his place of abode for 53 years. In politics he is a democrat and since 1856 has been a member of the Baptist church of Westport. A worthy representative of one of the most honored pioneer families of Jackson county, no one is more worthy of representation in this volume than Linville Hayes.

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This page was last updated August 1, 2006.