Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. pp. 331-332.

MELVIN HAYTER is a native of Oregon, the son of a pioneer in its settlement and
has been a resident of Coos county for almost 50 years.  During this time he has
gained the respect and esteem of his friends and acquaintances by reason of a
consistently honest, upright and straightforward life.  He was born in Polk
county, near The Dalles, on March 15, 1863, and is a son of W. L. And Sarah
(Crowley) Hayter, natives of Platt City, Missouri.  They were married in that
section and crossed the plains in pioneer times, locating in Polk county where
they took up a donation land claim upon which they lived until 1865.  In that
year they disposed of their property and came to Coos county where the father
took up land near Fishtrap on the Coquille river, which he improved and operated
for a number of years, disposing of his holdings eventually in order to purchase
one hundred and sixty acres in the same section.  After a time he sold this
ranch also and bought a farm near Arago and after a few years successful
cultivation of the soil in that section moved to Bandon where he lived retired
until his death which occurred in 1909.  He and his wife became the parents of
fifteen children:  Theodosia and Richard M., who reside in California; Sarah,
who has passed away; Melvin, the subject of this review; James, also a resident
of California; William, whose residence is unknown; Priscilla, the wife of R. S.
Knowlton of Coquille, Oregon; Robert, who makes his home in Marshfield; Ella,
the widow of Robert Long of Polk county, Oregon; Cora, who married John
Lindebeck of California; Edith, who became the wife of Grant Beal, also of
California; May, the wife of Alva Lee, a resident of Myrtle Point; Andrew J.,
who makes his home in the same city; Wilbur O., of California; and Charles, who
is deceased.

Melvin Hayter grew up upon his father's farm and at an early date became
acquainted with the best agricultural methods and gained a personal experience
in the details of farm operation.  He had the distinction of attending the first
school in Coos county and pursued the usual course of studies until he was
fourteen years of age.  He then went to work in the logging camps and followed
lumbering for twenty-eight years, abandoning the occupation at the end of that
time in favor of general farming.  He pre-empted a homestead claim of one
hundred and sixty acres which he cultivated and improved for a number of years,
bringing it to a high state of development.  He recently sold this property and
bought a home in Riverton where he resided only a short time afterward leasing
his father's property upon which he resided for a year and a half.  He then
retired from independent agricultural life, purchased other property in Riverton
and now works upon neighboring farms.

In 1895 Mr. Hayter was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Pearl Steward, a sister
of George A. Steward of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.  To
their union was born two children:  Lusta H., who was born in 1901, and who is a
pupil in the public schools of her native city; and Alvin, whose birth occurred
in 1904, and who is also attending school.

Mr. Hayter is liberal in his political views preferring not to affiliate with
any party. He takes an intelligent interest in public affairs but has never
sought office.  He belongs to the Woodmen of the World, his only fraternal
affiliation.  During the forty-eight years of his residence in Oregon he has won
true success in gaining the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.


Transcriber's comments: 
Note:  The name of his firstborn was Lester H. Hayter.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2007 by Sue Steward, ssteward at
ccountry dot net.