52 Ancestors - General Martin Hayes (1907-1960)

Sometimes I don't know how to incorporate the weekly theme into writing about my ancestors, but this week there are so many that I could write about with the theme of "Homestead." However, the one that comes to the forefront is General Martin Hayes. Yes, his name really was General Martin Hayes. I do not know what his mother was thinking, but I digress.

When I think of homestead, I think of this photo in my collection that was given to me by my great Aunt Marilyn Hayes Martin, the author of Uncommon Thread - A Woman, a Brand, a Legacy: The Story of Peacock Alley Fine Linens. If you love historical books written about another family's history, you will love this book. And again, I digress.

Anyway, Aunt Marilyn married David Hayes, the son of Martin Hayes, but she had this lovely photo with the most amazing message on it, written by Martin's mother, Mary Jane Vest. On the back of the photo, she wrote: "To Martin, a Reminder Mother." It's clear that Mary wanted to remind Martin of the little log cabin in which he was raised.

General Martin Hayes was born on 4 April 1907 in Hominy, Oklahoma, a small town nestled in Osage County. He was raised in a modest log cabin, depicted in the photo given to him by his mother, a poignant reminder of his humble upbringing.

Growing up in the early 20th century, Martin’s childhood coincided with a progressing but dark period in Osage County’s history. The region was known for the Osage Nation, which had been relocated to the area in the 19th century. The discovery of oil on Osage land in the early 20th century brought wealth to the Osage people, making them some of the richest individuals in the world. This oil boom, however, also brought a wave of opportunists, criminals, and outsiders seeking to profit from the newfound wealth.

In the 1910 United States Federal Census, Martin, at age 3, was recorded living with his family in Black Dog, Osage County. The Hayes family was not Native American, and while they didn’t benefit from the Osage oil, they likely witnessed firsthand the economic and cultural shifts brought on by the oil boom. The wealth of the Osage attracted not only legitimate business but also corruption, violence, and a series of murders aimed at defrauding Osage tribal members. By the 1920 United States Federal Census, Martin, then 13, was living in Hominy, where the contrast between the oil-rich Osage and the poverty of many non-Native American residents was stark. 

In the early 1930s, Martin married and started a family in Hominy. His first child, Mary Ellen Hayes, was born on 11 September 1931, followed by his son, James T. "Jim" Hays, on 12 January 1934, and another son, David M. Hays, on 23 March 1939. As a young father during the Great Depression, Martin likely faced economic hardships, like many others in rural Oklahoma, as the oil boom began to slow and the effects of the Great Depression rippled across the nation.

Life in Osage County during this time continued to be marked by tension between the wealthy Osage and non-Native American residents. While the Hayes family wasn’t directly involved in the infamous "Osage murders," the atmosphere of fear and distrust in the county would have been ever-present. The 1940 United States Federal Census shows Martin, now 32, living with his wife and children in Hominy, working as a farmer or laborer. 

On 27 October 1943, Martin enlisted in the U.S. Army in Sacramento, California, during World War II.  His enlistment marked a major turning point in his life, taking him far from rural Oklahoma to the bustling war effort on the West Coast. During his time in the military, Martin was exposed to new opportunities, challenges, and experiences far removed from the oil-rich hills of Osage County.

After the war, Martin chose to stay in California, and by 1950 he had settled in Modesto with his family. His post-war life in California marked a significant departure from the hardships and isolation of Oklahoma. In Modesto, Martin found work as a cannery worker, raised his family, and adapted to civilian life in a state that had been dramatically reshaped by the war effort and post-war economic boom.

Martin continued to live in California. His sister, Pearl Hayes, passed away in 1956, and over the next few years, Martin and his family remained in Modesto. Roughly around 1957 Martin and Lillie moved to Turlock. By the time of his death on 17 December 1960, Martin was living in Turlock, Stanislaus County, California, at the age of 53, though he died in Modesto, California.

== Sources ==

- **1910 United States Federal Census**: Name: Martin Hayes, Age: 3, Birth Year: 1907, Birthplace: Oklahoma, Home in 1910: Black Dog, Osage, Oklahoma; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son [https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1020392:7884]

- **1920 United States Federal Census**: Name: Martin Hayes, Age: 13, Birth Year: 1907, Birthplace: Oklahoma, Home in 1920: Hominy, Osage, Oklahoma; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son [https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9457123:7163]

- **1940 United States Federal Census**: Name: Martin Hayes, Age: 32, Birth Year: 1907, Birthplace: Oklahoma, Home in 1940: Hominy, Osage, Oklahoma, Marital Status: Married, Relation to Head of House: Self [https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8447681:6742]

- **U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946**: Name: General Martin Hayes, Enlistment Date: 27 October 1943, Location: Sacramento, California [https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/24611739:8939]

- **California Death Index, 1940-1997**: Name: General Martin Hayes, Birth Date: 4 April 1907, Death Date: 17 December 1960, Death Place: Stanislaus [https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/47392995:5180]

**Contributions of memories by his two granddaughter Marilyn Woolsey and Mary Jane House