My Genealogy Hound

Will H. Hayes, sheriff of Mississippi County, and a prominent farmer, residing near Elmot, was born in Tennessee, in 1852, and while growing up was instructed in all the details of farm life. At the age of twenty he engaged in commercial pursuits, which he continued for two years. In 1874, he came to Mississippi County, Ark., and was engaged in a general store, at Osceola, where he continued for a period of two years, but failing health caused him to abandon this, and he afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits on rented land. At the end of two years he purchased his present farm near Elmot, and there he has since remained, engaged in the arduous duties of the farm. The success which seems to attend his efforts in this industry is well merited, for no one is more thoroughly interested in this calling or gives it greater attention. There were 900 acres in the tract, with about ninety acres cleared, when he first purchased it. Now he has 300 acres under cultivation, and this large tract is all capable of being cleared and cultivated, and is destined to become a fine plantation. Mr. Hayes has always been active in politics, and in 1886 he was elected sheriff of Mississippi County, and so successful was his career in this office, and so well did he conduct the affairs of the same, that he was re-elected in 1888. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, and has served as director almost all the time that he has been a resident of this county. Mr. Hayes is a married man, his union with Miss Sallie McKinney having transpired in March, 1876. She is a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of one of the early settlers of this county. They became the parents of these children: Lulu Maud, Harrie D., Bessie G. and Lemon. Mr. Hayes’ parents, S. D. and Martha (Smith) Hayes, were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father was a successful agriculturist.