David Sturret Hays and Harriet B. Heasley

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Husband David Sturret Hays ^{1 2}

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           Born: Apr 1840 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 4 Jul 1889 - Iowa 2
         Buried:  - Irwin Cemetery, Irwin, Shelby Co, IA

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         Father: James Hays (1810-1884) 1
         Mother: Eliza Gilliland (Abt 1810-1878) 3

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       Marriage: 31 Jul 1863 2

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Wife Harriet B. Heasley ²

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           Born: 29 Jan 1841 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 31 Jan 1927 - Grassy Butte, McKenzie Co, ND 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Heasley (      -      ) 2 4
         Mother: Hannah Kiser (      -      ) 2

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Children

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1 M Gilbert "Mike" Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1957 - ? North Dakota 5
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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2 M Lyle Hays ⁵

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           Born: 4 Feb 1866 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 1932 5
         Buried:  - Grassy Butte, McKenzie Co, ND

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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3 M Charles Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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4 M Clyde Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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5 M Mond Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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6 F Cora Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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         Spouse: [Unk] Hemminger (      -      ) 5

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7 F Kate Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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         Buried: 

         Spouse: [Unk] Iler (      -      ) 5

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8 F Zoe Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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         Spouse: [Unk] Tobin (      -      ) 5

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9 F Nora Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: [Unk] Tobin (      -      ) 5

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10 M Harry Hays ⁵

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           Born: 
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           Died: 
         Buried: 

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11 M Dorm Hays ⁵

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           Born: 18 Oct 1877 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 1948 5
         Buried:  - Grassy Butte, McKenzie Co, ND

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - David Sturret Hays

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He reportedly was drafted for the Civil War but he paid a substitute to take his place. He loaded his family into an ox-drawn wagon and headed to Iowa. They settled first in Lacelle (now a ghost town) and then moved to Murray, Iowa (both in Clarke County). David was the town blacksmith and the town dentist.

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General Notes: Wife - Harriet B. Heasley

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After her husband's death she and her family moved to South Dakota. Around 1904 they left for North Dakota because sons Mike and Lyle wanted to run cattle. They built their first ranch buildings down in the 'cedar brakes" in the area of Gassy Butte, northeast of where they eventually homesteaded. Their early mail bore the postmark "Fayette, ND." When the family first settled in the area, "broomtails" and buffalo wolf still existed. When the land opened up for homesteading, the family moved up on the high ground and filed claims in 1912. They claimed three quarters and put their shanties in the middle of the section with Harriet on one and Mike and Lyle building another one across both of their quarters, which became known as the "bunkhouse".
The Hays brothers were very successful in their farming and ranching endeavors. Many others who came to the area to homestead found themselves less successful and unable to afford food; many families left, feeling fortunate to be able do so. After establishing themselves, the Hays family was able to survive the winters and elements and through the years Harriet acted as a mother to the community. She often took people in and provided them with food and shelter. She became known as "Mam Hays".

Death Summons "Mam" Hays
Monday night at 11:30 "Mam" Hays of Grassy Butte (ND), as she was familiarly called by all who knew her, died at the age of 85 yeas and one day. About 9 months ago the elderly lady suffered a paralytic stroke which confined her to her bed almost continuously. This, together with advanced age, made recovery impossible. In other days when homes were few and far apart in that great prairie land, visitors and tired travelers found a haven of rest and comfort and happiness in the Hays home, presided over by the silver-haired gentle old lady. And it has always been that way -- it is the way of mothers. With her two boys, her declining yeas were filled with the happiness of numerous endearing friendships that will bless her memory long after her pleasant voice has been hushed and her gentle hands stilled.... The attendance at the funeral was one of the lagest in the area's history.

1 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1021.

2 Pat H. Roberts, Hays (Self-published, 1999), Pg 42.

3 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1012, 1021.

4 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 385.

5 Pat H. Roberts, Hays (Self-published, 1999), Pg 44.