Normally I will try to keep spouses next to each other, but in honor of St. Patrick's Day and I completely jumping lines to my maternal grandmother's line and honoring my ancestor John McMillan Hayes who comes from Belfast, Ireland. This is not the Tanner line at all and if you want to know how you're related to him, feel free to email me. I have a wonderful story about him written by his daughter, Margaret Stoll Hayes. She is his daughter from his second wife.
 |
John M Hayes
(copy given to me by Ann Peterson) |
JOHN MCMILLAN HAYES
(Written by his
daughter Margaret Stoll Hayes)
John
McMillan (or McMullen) Hayes was born in Belfast,
County Down, Ireland, September 18th, 1866, the
son of John Orr and Ann McMullen Hays.
 |
John Orr & Ann McMullen Hays
(picture from Ann Peterson) |
His parents were honest, industrious,
God fearing members of the Presbyterian Church. John was one of a family of ten
children. Only the names of eight are available as yet. They are, Robert Brownlee,
who was given a gold medal for being judged the best elocutionist in all
England, Ireland and Scotland, and who played on the stage of London with such
renowned actors as Barry Sullivan; William Hayes, Jean Brownlee Hayes, Margaret
(Maggie) Hayes Hill, Samuel Hayes, Elizabeth Hayes and little Jenny who died
before she was a year old. Despite the duties of caring for such a large
family, no effort was spared by their kind mother in giving the training and
love every child deserves.
Honesty was
one of the outstanding characteristics of the Hayes family. Once when John was
only a small boy he found tuppence on the shelf of the cupboard. Several times
he looked at it and felt it. Finally the temptation became so great that he
took the money and went to the sweet shop and spent it. Candy was not common in
his home and it was a treat that he soon finished. He returned home and soon
his mother asked who had taken the money. No one answered, but no doubt John
looked pretty guilty. At any rate, his mother picked him up and carried him
outside. There was a pump outside with a bucket under it. Quickly she filled the
bucket with water, and before he hardly realized what was happening, she held
him, head down, over the water. He was sure she was going to drown him and in
fright he confessed what he had done. She set him down on his feet and said,
"I would rather have my child dead than that he be a liar." John
never forgot the lesson. This is one of the few incidents he remembered about
his Mother who died when he was only nine years old.
 |
| John M Hayes |
When a
young man he joined a very unpopular religion, the Mormons. His father and
step-mother, who were staunch and devout Presbyterians, were horrified when
they learned, and refused him admittance to their home. They told him he was no
longer their son, and that any clothes or money he might have in the house no
longer belonged to him. This was indeed a sad situation as he had planned to
emigrate to America
and had saved a large portion of his fare. His reputation for honesty stood him
in good stead now for he soon found a friend ready and willing to lend him the
needed money. He sailed for the United States
on the S.S. Nevada, of the Guion Line on Saturday, April 17th, 1886 and arrived
in Salt Lake City
on May 3rd. He met Eliza Stoll, who later became his wife, on the boat.
In Ireland he learned the printing trade so when he
arrived in Salt Lake he went to work as a printer's
devil. (A printer's devil was an apprentice in a printing establishment who
performed a number of task.) But he was determined to make something more of
his life. He soon paid back his emigration loan and then spent all spare money
and time studying book keeping. He was able later to pass the test as a CPA.
 |
John M Hayes
Mission to Great Britain
(picture from Ann Peterson) |
 |
John M Hayes with missionary companions.
He is the top right
(Picture from Ann Peterson) |
 |
John M Hayes
Mission to Great Britain
(Picture from Ann Peterson) |
 |
John M Hayes
Missionary to Great Britain
(Picture from Ann Peterson) |
Not many
years later the Church called him on a mission to his native land and he was
able to visit his people and was reconciled with his family. However, before
they would see him he had to promise that he would never speak to them of his
new religion.
He came to Utah at the time
polygamy was being practiced, and being a dedicated and devoted member of the
Church he felt he should embrace the principle. He was married to Mary Ellen
Fenton in August 1887 and to Eliza Stoll on November 9th of the same year.
 |
| Mary Ellen (Fenton) Hayes |
 |
John M Hayes
(Picture from Ann Peterson) |
 |
Eliza (Stoll) Hayes
(Picture from Ann Peterson) |
It
was a wonderfully happy situation, for the women were kind and unselfish and
loved each other as sisters. It was a sad day for all when the manifesto was
announced, for John could not accept it as the word of the Lord, and turned his
back on the leaders of the Church. This made Eliza feel that there was not
place now for her, and with love still burning in each heart they parted on the
25th of February, 1901.
He was
married four times. Mary Ellen Fenton, his first wife, was the mother of four
sons and two daughters. Clara Jeanie; Robert Fenton, who was killed in a
explosion at the copper mine in Bingham after saving the lives of many others;
John Francis, who died in 1970; Edward Fenton; William Brownlee; and Marian.
Eliza Stoll was the mother of twins; John Stoll who was still born and
Margaret. Agnes Austin, his third wife was the mother of one son, John M Jr.
who died at birth in March 1913 the day after Robert was killed. They were
divorced in California.
The fourth was the most unfortunate marriage. Margaret was a hypochondriac and
that marriage ended very soon in divorce. The last eighteen years of his life
he lived alone in hotel apartments in Los
Angeles, being unwilling to live with any of his
family lest he become a burden to them. During a part of this time, Mrs. Jessie
West, a friend, cooked his meals, drove him in his car wherever he wished to
go, and was a pleasant companion.
.jpg) |
John McMillan with his children; Jeannie, Robert & Francis (Frank) Hayes
(picture from Ann Peterson) |
The following
is copied from a letter written to John's daughter Margaret, at the time of his
death, by Charles T. S. Parsons who was his dear friend and assistant at the
Copper Company. "In 1903 the Utah Copper Company was organized... D.C.
Jackling, one of the primer movers of the venture, who was making an inspection
trip at the time, inquired of Lawrence Greene, a prominent Salt Lake
business man, if he knew of an accountant he might get to make an analysis of
the construction accounts. Mr. Greene had hear of Mr. Hayes' ability and
recommended him for the assignment. Mr. Hayes performed the task so
satisfactorily that Mr. Jackling remarked to Mr. Green: "Hayes is my
man."
 |
| John McMillan Hayes |
"General
offices of the Copper Company up to this time had been maintained in Colorado Springs. It was
decided to expand the offices in Salt
Lake City and Mr. Hayes was placed in charge. He put
his analytical mind to work on the problems and in a short time the office was
functioning smoothly and efficiently.
During this
period of early development many other problems presented themselves for
solution and Mr. Jackling made good use of Mr. Hayes' ever expanding capacity.
There was a matter of obtaining additional land facilities in which Mr. Hayes'
sound judgment and careful bargaining abilities were manifest. In the matter of
obtaining an adequate water supply for increased milling operations his contribution
was outstanding. Then there was the problem of legislative enactments affecting
the growing mining industry. Mr. Hayes' keen judgment and understanding did
much to promote a reasonable tax climate for the industry. There was also the
necessity for sound public relations, and Mr. Hayes proved himself
exceptionally capable in this assignment. His abundance of friendliness, his
rare wit and humor, his sense of fairness and good judgment did much to lay the
foundation of the good will in which the present officers and employees take
great pride. All of his various assignments were faithfully and effectively
fulfilled and bear the hallmark of a many of many talents.
"Mr.
Hayes resigned his position as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of the Company
on December 31st, 1920, and moved with his family to Los Angeles, California."
He died
March 31, 1950 in a rest home in Los
Angeles at the age of 83. He wished his body to be
cremated and so stated in his will. His ashes were buried in the family plot
beside his wife Mary, in the Salt
Lake City Cemetery
April 12th, 1950. At the time of his death he was survived by three sons and
three daughters, ten grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great
great grandchild. Will and Francis were at his bedside when he passed away. All
of his living children attended his funeral which was held at the Erickson
Funeral Home in Los Angeles.
Short graveside services were held in Salt Lake.
On one of Norman's and my many visits with Papa in Los Angeles, all three of my brothers with
their wives came in to spend the evening. We had a delightful time together,
but someone mentioned the presiding authority of the Mormon Church. It so
happened that he was a person Papa did not like and he spoke out quite strongly
against him. At that time I was a member of the Primary General Board and I
said: "Please Papa, don't say those things about the President of my church.
You know that I would not be where I am, not what I am, if it had not been for
the training and opportunities I have had in the Church." He immediately
reached over to where I was sitting, patted my hand and said: "I am sorry.
I know what the Church has done. I am proud of you. Stay with the Church always
and do what they ask of you."
 |
Riverside Bowling Green May 19, 1928
(picture provided by Ann Peterson) |
At another time Norman and I went to pick him up at the bowling green
at Exposition Park. While there he introduced us to a
friend with whom he had been playing, as his son in law and daughter from Salt Lake.
The man said, "Oh, that's where the --- Mormons live. I was glad to get
through that town between two days." Papa preached him a regular sermon
about the wonderful things the Mormon Church had done and about the outstanding
and growing membership it had. Papa was so wrought up and disturbed that he
talked about it all the way home from the park.
 |
Riverside Bowling Green May 19, 1928
Margaret (Reed) Hayes (4th wife), John M Hayes and Eliza (Stoll) Hayes (2nd wife)
(Picture provided by Ann Peterson) |
At one time
he said to me: "It's hard to admit you were wrong and to say you are
sorry." And so I feel that he must have carried a testimony of the
truthfulness of the Gospel in his heart always.
 |
John M Hayes with his daughters, Jeannie, Margaret & Marian
(picture provided by Ann Peterson) |
He was a
most wonderful, kind and loving Father to all of us.
This story was provided to me by Ann Peterson. I added the pictures which most of them were also given to me by her.
.JPG)
.jpg)
