Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 519.
 
SETH S. HAYES

     a leading and influential citizen of Sherman county, and one of the best
known and highly esteemed, is at present manager of W. A. Gordon & Company's
Bank, at Moro. He is the son of Seth W. and Polly A. (Stillwell) Hayes, both
natives of Ohio. The paternal grandparents of our subject were early pioneers in
the Buckeye State. The family came to Linn county, Oregon, in 1853, having made
the perilous trip across the plains with ox teams. A sister of the father died
while crossing the Blue Mountains. Seth W. Hayes located a donation claim where
now stands the town of Halsey, Linn county. It was a sad tragedy that ended the
life of the worthy father of a worthy son, November 1, 1876, the elder Hayes was
killed by an illicit liquor seller. For this foul crime the murdered was
executed. The assassin first accused him of criticizing his business and then
deliberately stabbed him. Seth W. Hayes was a stanch Republican, but never was
an aspirant for official position. In life he had made a financial success and
was a highly respected citizen. To the entire community his wanton, cold-blooded
murder was a great shock.
     The subject of this biographical sketch received the rudiments of a solid
business education in the district schools of his neighborhood. He was then
matriculated in the Portland Business College where he took a full course in
bookkeeping and commercial law, subsequently keeping books one year for the
Grange store in Halsey. He then served as administrator of his father's estate,
which, included the townsite of Halsey. The elder Hayes donated forty acres of
land to the railroad. The mother of our subject died on the old farm.
     For the two succeeding years our subject engaged in the drug business, and
then disposed of the property owing to the illness of his wife, remaining
entirely out of business nearly two years, and taking her to various climates in
the hope of regaining her health. Their marriage occurred in June, 1880, at
Halsey. The bride's name was Almira Stevenson, a native of Michigan. She died
October 10, 1881. In June, 1882, Mr. Hayes came to Sherman county where be
secured land and engaged in stock raising for a number of years. In 1892 he was
elected county clerk, succeeding V. C. Brock, the first clerk of Sherman county.
He served two terms, and a few months after his last term, with a number of
associates, he organized the Moro Mercantile Company, of which he was secretary
until 1900, when he disposed of his interest and became connected with the
Columbia Southern Warehouse Company and has charge of the three warehouse at
Moro, De Moss and Hay Canyon. March 20, 1903, the W. A. Gordon Company of
Portland established a bank at Moro of which our subject assumed the management.
He also buys grain for them.
     At Halsey, Mr. Hayes was united in marriage to Ella E. Porter, born in Linn
county Oregon. She is the daughter of James T. and Nancy (Knott) Porter, the
father a native of Virginia. The latter died at Harrisburg, Linn county, Oregon,
in 1880. He came to Oregon in 1853, crossing the plains with ox teams, and
secured donation land in the county in which he died.
     Our subscriber has one brother, Daniel J., in Halsey; one half brother,
Frank, at Hoquiam, Washington ; and one half sister, Gertrude, wife of Edwin C.
Pentland, a newspaper man of Eureka, California. Mrs. Hayes has one brother,
James C., a farmer near Halsey, and two sisters, Elizabeth, wife of James
McCartney, a retired farmer and carpenter, residing at Portland, and Melinda,
widow of John McCartney, a brother of the above, living at Harrisburg.
     Our subject has three children ; Dean H,. born July 7, 1888; Beulah, born
November 12, 1893 ; and Seth Seymour, born January 5, 1897. Fraternally he is a
member of Eureka Lodge, No. 121, A. F. & A. M., and Moro Lodge, No. 113, 1. O.
O. F., of which he is past grand, both fraternities of Moro. He has been
delegate to the grand lodges. Mrs. Hayes is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Politically our subject is a Republican, but not active. He owns one of the
finest residences in Main, a two-story edifice surrounded by spacious grounds,
and shade trees, orchard, etc., situated at the upper end of the principal
street and but one block beyond the business portion of the town.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.