William Roy Hayes

William Roy Hayes

Joyceann Gray

Quick Facts

Significance:

Nebraska Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Brunswick, Chariton, Missouri

Date of Birth:

17 July 1889

Place of Death:

Fall River, South Dakota

Date of Death:

12 May 1944

Place of Burial:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Valentine, Nebraska

William Roy Hayes was born 17 July 1889 in Brunswick, Chariton, Missouri to Caroline Burch and Ewiel Lafayette Hayes.

At age 26, William Roy Hayes followed his father’s lead and took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862 for free land to farm. Hayes applied for his homestead June 10, 1912, entry # 07616. Within 3 months Hayes built a 14x16 sod house, with board and Ruberoid roof, a 12x16 barn frame with a board roof, a windmill and dug an 80-100 ft deep well. He also strung two miles of three wire fence. All this was valued at $800.

William R. Hayes proved up on December 28, 1915 and was issued Land Patent #509535 for 295.88 acres on January 24, 1916.

Hayes married Goldie Walker in 1917, shortly after he went off to fight in WWI in France in 1918. He wrote to the Department of Interior, questioning whether his wife would still be able to apply for land on her own since he proved upon his land prior to their marriage and if he is eligible to purchase land in another state.  William Roy also wanted to know since he served in the US Army for 12 months how much longer would he need to live on his property to prove up since the homestead was in small parts spread out and how far apart could they be?

He suffered from a gas attack, (which is reflected in his medical records during his rehab in the National Home for Disabled Soldiers). Chronic arthritis and weaken lungs caused him to reconsider his farming. He was already leasing his land to rancher Gilmore McCloud and continued to after returning home.  By 1920, Roy could no longer manage farm work, so they sold much of their property and moved just outside of Valentine. Hayes family grew to five with Goldie teaching school and Hayes worked part time training horses on the McCloud place when his health allowed.

After the passing of William Roy Hayes in 1944, his wife Goldie would go on to be elected the County delegate for the Teachers Association in 1947 at the Nebraska Statewide convention (The Chicago Defender (National edition) (1921-1967); Oct 18, 1947) and Principal in Norris, South Dakota in 1954. She died a year & a half later in July 1956 of Tuberculosis. They are buried together in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Valentine Nebraska.

Patent Details - BLM GLO Records

~ Contributed by Joyceann Gray, SSG USA RET, homestead descendant

Joyceann Gray
Photo Credit: J. Gray

Joyceann is the granddaughter of William Roy Hayes and Goldie G. (Walker) Hayes. Once retired from the Army, she has devoted much time to family historical researching and writing. She is the author of; ‘Yes We Remember’ which is devoted to the historical accountings of her ancestors, and ‘DeWitty and Now We Speak’ which is a historical fiction about the women of DeWitty, Nebraska. Joyceann is a Contributing Writer of many Notable African Americans, and Ambassadors on BlackPast.org. She holds memberships in local genealogical societies and the Charles Town, WV Researchers. Joyceann was an integral part of the Descendants of DeWitty who not only helped raised money but facilitate the erecting of the Historical marker in honor of the Homesteaders of DeWitty along Hwy 83, near Brownlee, Nebraska, April 2015.