CHARLES HAYES. The sturdy persistence of English character, which, having once aimed at a certain mark will vanquish obstacles which would seem insurmountable to a less determined spirit, is well exemplified in the career of the gentleman above named, a resident of Jubilee Township. He has a most excellent reputation as a public school teacher, perhaps one of the best proofs of the regard in which he is held being the fact that he has taught the home school eight successive years. It being generally true that a “Prophet is not without honor save in his own country and among his own people,” it is a great credit to one engaged in the profession of teaching, to have the suffrage of the people in his own neighborhood year after year.
Although school teaching has been the principal business of Mr. Hayes since his nineteenth year he has done good work in opening up a farm, in carrying on the same, and in local public affairs. He is now Commissioner of Highways for Jubilee Township, and Treasurer of the Township Board of Commissioners. He was first elected to this office in 1888 for a two year's term, at the expiration of which he was again elected, this time for three years. From 1878 until 1888 he was Township Clerk and he has also served as School Director three years. His political adherence is given to the Democratic party and he votes a straight ticket. With a fine mind which he has cultivated under good instructors and by well-directed personal efforts, he is well esteemed by those with whom his lot in life is cast.
     Robert Hayes, the grandfather of our subject, was an English laboring man and his son James became an inn-keeper at White Parish, Wiltshire. The latter married Mary Russell, a native of the same shire and daughter of Peter Russell, a dairy farmer. To this couple nine children were born, he of whom we write being next to the youngest. The seventh child, Sidney, died in England. The others accompanied their father to America in 1856, their mother having died four years previously. James Hayes and his family spent two months at Cleveland, Ohio, then went to Chicago, where they sojourned six months. The father did not like the country and returning to his former neighborhood in England, leaving his children behind him in the United States, engaged in farming. Although now seventy-six years old he still follows that occupation. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
     The members of the parental family now living are Mrs. Sophia Legassick, of Delaware County, Iowa; Thomas, of Mt. Ayr, Iowa; Mrs. Harriet Stride, of Sioux Falls, S. Dak.; our subject; and Mrs. Jennie Herriott, of Brimfield, this county. Mrs. Elizabeth L. Pacey died in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1888. George and Henry gave their lives in support of the Union flag during the late war. George enlisted in 1861 in an Illinois Regiment and served until he sickened and died in Kentucky. Henry also enlisted in 1861, going from Iowa to join the Twenty-first Missouri Infantry, and dying of disease two years later .
     The subject of this notice was born at White Parish, England, Jan. 9. 1848, and reared at his birthplace until he was eight years old. He left London with the other members of the family on the sailing vessel “Palestine” to August, 1866, and after a voyage of six weeks landed in New York, whence they went at once to Cleveland. He remained in Cuyahoga County, not far from Cleveland, with his aunt about a year, after which the children together moved to Dyersville, Delaware County, Iowa, and began working out. Our subject worked on a farm for a cousin, attending school winters and finally engaged in teaching when school winters and finally engaged in teaching when nineteen years old. He taught winter schools only during the first two years, after which he put in an entire year's time at pedagogy.
     In the fall of 1869, young Hayes came to Peoria County, Ill., to follow his profession, his first school here being in Rosefield Township. In 1870 he attended the Peoria County Normal School, in the fall returning to his work as instructor, since which time he has taught each winter and also some summers. Although he has had a High School position offered him he has not accepted, but continues to labor in the district schools to which he devotes about six months in each year. For a time he devoted the summers to employment for others, but in 1874 , was able to buy a small farm. It consisted of forty acres on section 7, Jubilee Township, the price being $1,500.
     Locating upon the land he had purchased, Mr. Hayes engaged in farming for himself and has now made a nice place out of his estate. He purchased an additional forty acres, has hedged and tiled the entire acreage, set out a good orchard and groves upon it, and erected a cozy dwelling, adequate barn, granaries, etc. A portion of the estate was owner. Mr. Hayes feeds numbers of hogs and cattle, raises graded cattle and swine, and some excellent horses. He has a convenient market, being but two and a quarter miles form Brimfield. His professional labors in the county have included two years in Rosefield and Brimfield Townships, each, the rest of the time having been given to labor in his own township, and as before stated, largely in his own district.
An important step in the life of our subject took place in Jubilee Township, Dec. 28, 1875, it being no less than his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hindle. This young lady is a daughter of John Hindle, of England, whose history is incorporated in the sketch of his son, James Hindle, which occupies a place in this Album. She was born in Jubilee Township, Apr. 7, 1859, is an intelligent, amiable, useful woman, finding her highest enjoyment in her home duties and the society of husband and children, but by no means neglecting her many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have six children living, viz; Arleigh, Roxanna, Leslie, May, Harry and Jennie A. They lost an infant daughter Edith, who died when but five days old.