Representative Gordon Hayes View All Years

HON. GORDON HAYES

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions and befitting memorial on the life, character and public services of the Honorable Gordon Hayes, a member of the Thirty-fourth General Assembly, beg leave to report as follows:

Gordon Hayes was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 22, 1872. His father Edward Hayes was a native of Connecticut and his mother of New York, while his early ancestors came from Scotland. He came with his parents to Red Oak in 1876, where he has since resided. He departed this life March 26, 1923.

He received his education in the Red Oak high school, supplemented by a business course; he then attended Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois for a year, and followed this up with a year’s special work at the Berlitz School of Languages in Chicago. He graduated from the law department of the State University in Iowa City in 1896 and was admitted to the bar the same year.

At the time of his death he was associated with his father in the real estate business. His father who preceded him in death by a very few hours, had charge of the sale of land for the railroad company in the early days and in recent years the father and son were actively engaged in buying and improving farms in the vicinity of Red Oak and subsequently aided young farmers to purchase and develop them. At the time of his death they were holders of more than a thousand acres of land in Montgomery county. Mr. Hayes was interested in organizing the first farmers short course ever held away from the State College in Ames and was for several years secretary of this short course which was conducted successfully in Red Oak. He was a member of the Rotary Club and other civic organizations and was very prominent in the affairs of the community and extensively interested in all things that tended to promote the welfare and prosperity of the community in which he lived.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1910 on the democratic ticket, being the only democrat ever elected to the General Assembly from Montgomery county which is overwhelmingly republican. On December 27, 1900 he was married to Addle Clark, who with the following children, Alice, Virginia, Charlotte, Douglas and Mary, survives him.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to present this tribute to the memory or his character and public service, and to express appreciation of his character and public service, and at the same time extend to the widow and relatives most sincere sympathy.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be printed in the Journal of the House and that the chief clerk be directed to forward to the family of the deceased an engrossed copy.

ALFRED WILLIAMS,

DR. T. E. POWERS,

W. C. CHILDREN,

Committee.

Adopted April 12, 1923.