Owen G. Hayes, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Owen G. Hayes
OWEN G. HAYES - The well remembered Owen G. Hayes, who was the son of John P. and Sarah Hayes, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, was one of the following children born to his parents: Owen, Arthur, Nelson, Sherman, Edward, George, Paul; Clara, the wife of Eugene Bennett; Alice; the widow of Nelson Ingram; and Anna, the wife of Andrew Wheeler. Owen G. Hayes was united in marriage in 1891 in Valparaiso, Indiana, and during his lifetime he was well known as a blacksmith, operating a shop in that city.
Mrs. Hayes was the daughter of Peter and Philomen (Santa) Aber, who were natives of Canada and were early arrivals in Porter County. The father still resides in this county, making his home with a son and daughter in Valparaiso. To Owen and Mrs. Hayes were born three sons and one daughter: Harry, the eldest, was born December 1, 1891; John Carroll was born December 24, 1893; Peter Lester was born September 23, 1895; and Mary Lucy, the wife ,of Carl Bell, was born August 7, 1903. The three sons saw service in the World war; Harry enlisted in the Aviation Corps in December, 1917, and served with the Motor Mechanics Regiment, Aviation Section Signal Corps, as an electrical worker in the Fourth Platoon, Thirteenth Company. He was first stationed at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and later at Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as flying instructor and mechanic until he was discharged with the rank of sergeant April 4, 1919. John Carroll enlisted October 20, 1917, and was assigned to the Twenty-third Engineers. His subsequent service was as sergeant in Truck Company No. 10 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and his later service was at Camp Burnie, Maryland. After this he saw sixteen months' service in France, and was honorably discharged at Camp Sherman in December, 1919. Both boys returned to Valparaiso and subsequently entered the employ of the Lincolnway Garage. A most unfortunate tragedy occurred March 12, 1922, when both met an untimely death at the crossing of the Pennsylvania Railroad and South Franklin Street. The auto was struck by a fast-moving passenger train and both were killed instantly. They were members of the American Legion, Elks, and the Modern Woodmen, and Harry was a member of the Odd Fellows. The joint funeral services were conducted by the American Legion, with full military honors bestowed. As a tribute, business was suspended in this, city on the day of the funeral.
Peter Lester, the other son, enlisted for service December 12, 1917, at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, later serving at Camp Sevier, South Carolina, and at that time was assigned to the Engineers Corps. He was stricken with pneumonia, and died January 23, 1918, at Base Hospital at Camp Sevier. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Mrs. Hayes was one of five children born to her parents, she being the second in order of birth. The others were Edward, William, Elizabeth, and Lucky. Mrs. Hayes and her daughter are members of the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 640-641
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook