This is the third and last story having to do with the Hayes family and the aftermath of the murder of John and Gussie Hayes. Deanna The third story on the Hayes Family When a man gets a dream for adventure it makes little difference what age he may be. Some dreams are stifled right away. Still others are wistfully carried around for years, while some are put into gear and played out. There are always reasons not to make dreams reality and John Hayes had plenty of excuses to ignore the fantasy that replayed in his head several times a day. He had a lovely family, Janet and six girls, a decent home, a good job at the elevator in Bancroft, Nebraska, and he still helped his dad do the farming. But yet he couldnt help but turn his ear to listen better to the stories of the great out west. John was smart enough to know that some of these stories were probably a little bit exaggerated but the more he heard the more he yearned to go see for himself. Hed like to see grass up to his mares belly, and deer and antelope in herds of seventy five or even a hundred. Sky as big as imagination could take it. Prairies as far as the eye could see with not a tree to break the vision. Valleys green and lush with rivers and creeks clear as glass. Men could lose themselves in thoughts like that. Months went by while he argued with himself until finally one day when he and Janet were sharing the first cup of coffee in the morning he said, Janet, how would you like to go out west? Well Janet wasnt exactly surprised at his question. She had seen the look in his eyes when the stories of homesteading out west were told. She knew John, and it would only be a matter of time till he too would be following the trek westward. They began to make plans and tried to save as much money as possible. Nearly all their household furnishings were sold or given away. Families and friends were hugged and kissed and goodbys said. Suitcases and boxes of essentials were loaded and boarded the train west leaving Nebraska. John had heard about work at Basin Wy. putting in railroad tracks. A man could make good money if he had a strong back and didnt mind hard work. It was decided to leave two of the girls, Essie and Hazel behind in Weeping Water because they were going to Sisters School there and grandpa and grandma Mitchell would be close by if needed. Basin Wy. was home for several months in 1906 and 1907. None of the girls are sure how long as its been so many years ago. They lived along the Bighorn River in tent camps. The girls remember the river and playing along the banks. John became a rail boss and on his crew was a young man by the name of Lee Lenner who was of French-Canadian descent. They became good friends. Lee was a good worker, friendly and pleasant to be around. He spent lots of his off time with the family. Lee would later play a big part in their lives. When work in Basin was about finished they heard of work in eastern Montana so the Hayes family headed up that way. John found work at the settlement of Burns and Intake, this time working on the reclamation project or Intake Dam. The extra money would help with supplies they would need when they got their homestead land. John filed for a homestead while at Intake and was granted the 160 acres north of Culbertson. When work was done they headed for Nebraska to pick up Essie and Hazel and bid farewell once more to the families and friends left behind. As the train traveled through North Dakota on its way to Montana Essie found out about a teaching job in Kenmare. She was only about sixteen but very anxious to try out her new teaching skills so she and her sister, Grace, got off the train and caught a ride to Kenmare. Essie would fill in for a teacher who had to leave her job and Grace would stay with her so she wouldnt be alone. The rest of the family continued on to Culbertson Mt. On leaving the train in Mt. when they arrived at their destination they were able to buy a wagon and team to take them out to their homestead. Loading all their earthly possessions on the wagon and finally themselves, the Hayes begin their ride to the north of Culbertson to their land. Following the map they were given they eventually got there. As each one of them climbed down from the wagon no one spoke a word. Each of them stared at the country around them. There wasnt a tree to be seen anywhere, just a vast prairie. It was big and it was theirs . The tent was once again home and digging a well was first on the agenda. Water wells were hand dug most of the time and a lot of work but of utmost important. The days and a couple weeks or so passed and they had their first visitor. One of the Long brothers informing them they were nesting on the wrong land. He would contact his brother who would come from back east and try to reclaim the land which at one time been given to him as his homestead. Walter Long had homesteaded on the same land several years before, but had never proved up on the property and he had even left the area. The government had reissued the 160 acres to John Hayes. When John realized that he was going to have trouble with the Long brothers over homestead rights he began to worry about his families safety. One night not too long after they arrived someone snuck up and poured gasoline on the tent they were sleeping in and set fire to it. Fortunately John was able to put it out before much damage was done. Everyone was scared , but safe. Not long after that someone tried to poison the girls pet dog theyd got in Culbertson. John poured melted lard down the dogs throat and that saved his life. This all urged the Hayes to hurry and get their sod home built with a real roof over their heads. And Janet was sick to death of tents and yearned for a house, any kind of house. The harassment and bullying from the Longs and their buddys became constant. John began packing a gun whenever he was off by himself. He felt a showdown of some sort was rapidly approaching. Never did he imagine what it would be. With seven women in his care he knew he needed another man around the place to help in case there was bad trouble. There were neighbors willing and wanting to help but they couldnt be there every minute. So he decided to try to find Lee Lenner, his friend, from Basin Wy. He knew Lee had moved to somewhere around Williston N.D.. John wrote to him telling him about his situation and asking him if hed come work with him for awhile. By the time Lee got Johns message and rode to Culbertson, it was all over. John and Gussie were both dead. Killed by the Long brothers and their friends. It meant changing his plans and putting aside his dreams for awhile but Lee felt he should stay with the Hayes ladies until Janet was in better condition to make some decisions. He went ahead and finished the fences, barns and such that John had started. From the time Lee rode into the yard that first day and seen Hazel he was taken by her. It could be that she unknowingly influenced Lee to stay on and help. He was a mans man and now living around six women couldnt have been too appealing to him at first. They were all grieving and so sad over all that had taken place. As time went on though he did enjoy all the girls company and became devoted to the younger ones, Anne and Jessie. They still remember Lee bringing them presents from town, usually candy. But he had eyes only for Hazel and would look for moments to be alone with her which was no easy feat with those little sisters around. The whole family came to love and respect him and he never lacked for attention. Of course he enjoyed it all. Eventually Lee got brave enough to ask Janet if he could be Hazels regular caller and permission was granted. Now they could see each other away from the pesky eyes of the little girls. Lee had been looking for the stability of a family as he wandered and worked in many places since a very young age. He grew to love this family. In Hazel he found what his dreams were made of. She was attractive, intelligent, witty and had a quiet faith about her that spread to those around her. Of course they fell in love and married when Hazel was nineteen. Lee was several years older but it was a good marriage. They would live on the original homestead too working for Janet. The cattle herds were building and there was much to do. A few years later he would help proof up on the Charley Creek homestead for the Hayes and a homestead of his own. Lee and Hazel were never blessed with children. Because Hazel never had little ones at home she became the neighborhood nurse and helper. If someone got sick or needed help Hazel was sent for. When the flu epidemic of 1918 came along many of their neighbors were stricken. Hazel was called out time after time . One neighbor, Bert Powell, his wife and their two boys all came down with the influenza at the same time. Hazel was over there most of the time along with a little help and relief from her sister, Jessie. Jessie would ride over to the Powells each day to do chores or help Hazel where she could. Coming home one night she realized she too was becoming sick. She brought the flu home. Next in line to get sick was Lee. He became deathly ill but then so was half the country side. The virus attacked the respiratory system and seemed to weaken the heart. Lee was sick for over a week, then appeared to be getting better. Hazel had come home to tend to her husband and when he sat up in bed that afternoon and asked for something to drink she felt he was on the mend. But before long he lay back down again and this time she noticed how pale hed become, almost blueish. His breathing became labored and noisy and he began to slip away into unconsciousness. Anne was sent out into the gathering dusk to find the busy and overworked doctor. A few people had phones by then around town so she tried to get to a phone to get some idea where the doctor could be found. it was a tall order. She quickly saddled her horse, jumped on and rode out to the main road. Faster and faster she went, spurred on by the knowledge that Lee might be dying. From up ahead on the main road she could hear and barely see a buggy approaching. Coming closer she recognized her good fortune to encounter the doctor coming home from the north road. With him was the area priest, Father Casey. Frantically she told them that Lee was very ill and needed them right away. Once again death Came to the Hayes home. When Anne, the doctor and Father Casey arrived Lee was barely in this world. Little Hazel, his young wife, sat beside him with her head buried in his motionless arm and blankets. Her exhausted mind and body could handle no more. She was sobbing uncontrollably as Lees life slipped from her. Father Casey anointed Lee with oil and said prayers of the last rites. The doctor gathered the new widow in his arms and told her there was nothing more that could be done. Hazels mother and sisters all stood in the room with them, all crying and sobbing. This new tragedy along with the many sorrows the doctor had seen recently caused the tears to course down his cheeks too. Exhaustion and the emotion of this new death caused even the good doctor to cry. Lee was buried in the Culbertson cemetery next to His friend John Hayes and little Gussie Hayes. Father Casey was stricken with the dreaded flu sometime later and he too died. Many of these people were in service to others and were so drained and spent of energy that when they became ill they had no reserve or strength to fight back and died too. Several years later Hazel was to marry again and this time to Jim Forsyth. He too was a hired hand in the community. They moved into Culbertson where Jim worked at the Moen General Store for years . Jim and Hazel had two children, Jim jr. and Francis and later they all moved to California. Hazel was to live many years and died in her 90s. All the sisters and their mother moved to California eventually, and they all lived to be very old. They were strong ladies, living through events that most of us could never imagine. Im so glad Ive been able to share just some of their story. Deanna H Like
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 19:22:16 +0000
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