Individual Details

Said to be a son of Joel and Rebecca - parents died before he was a year old.
FindAGrave #9440574
Was born in Granville County, North Carolina, September 8, 1824 and departed this life December 12, 1910, aged 86 years, 3 months and 4 days.
(undated note)
Mr. Hayes parents died when he was less than one year old. At the age of 14 years he became dissatisfied with his surroundings and started west. After weeks of hardships and privations, he arrived in Dickson County, Tennessee, penniless and almost friendless. Here he works at whatever his hands found to do.
He was united in marriage with Susannah McCaslin, December 31, 1843. To this union ten children [I have found names for eight of them[ were born, three of whom, Mrs. James W. Casey, J. W. Jr., and Louis F., are now living.
After the death of his first wife, he married Caroline Casey Prater. To this union ten children were born, two of whom, Thomas J. and Samuel M., are now living.

Marriage Record, Dickson Co, TN
1843 - License, 30 Dec. John Hayse to Susan McCaslin. Executed by me on the 31 Decr 1843, John Brown, JP for Dickson County

1850 Census. Dickson Co, TN, Hh 927
John W. Hays, 25, b. NC, Frmer
Susan, 26, b. TN
Mary E., 1, b. TN

1860 Census. Montgomery Co, IL, Hh 1718
John W. Hayes, 35, Farmer, b. NC
Susanna, 36, b. TN
Mary E., 12, b. TN
Kesiah S., 8, b. TN
John, Jr., 5, b. IL
Louisa C., 2, b. IL

Gravestone near Susanna in the Abner Casey Cemetery, Fillmore, Montgomery Co, IL is unreadable but these is a child's grave:
Emelia E. Hayes, daughter of J. W. and S. Hayes

John W. married Nancy Caroline (Casey) Prater, a widow with two children, 13 August 1863, Fayette Co, IL.

1870 Census. Ramsey, Fayette Co, IL, Hh 61
John Fays, 46, Farming, b. NC
Nancy 30, b. TN
Kesiah, 17, b. IL
Wm, 16, b. IL
Elizabeth, 10, b. IL
Elizabeth Prater, 10, b. IL (Prater step-children)
Wm Prater, 8, b. IL
Frances Hays, 7
Franklin, 6
(Nancy's children)
Thomas, 4
Letta R., 2

1880 Census. Ramsey, Fayette, IL, Hh 243
John Hays, 55, Farmer, b. NC
Nancy, 39, Wife, b. TN
William, 25, son, b. IL
Sarah F., 18, dau, b. IL
Thomas, 16, son, b. IL
Nora, 2, daughter, b. IL

1900 Census. Ramsey, Fayette, IL, Hh 202
John W. Hayes, b. Sep 1824, 75, married 37 years, b. NC as were his parents, Farmer
Nancy C., wife, b. Feb 1839, 61, 10 children - 4 are living, b. TN
Samuel, son, b. Jun 1882, 17, b. IL

1910 Census. Ramsey, Fayette, IL, Hh 59
Sam M. Hayes, 28, married 10 years, b. IL
Omah, wife, 28, 5 children - 4 are living, b. IL
Orval, son, 6
Oral, son, 6
Leo, son, 4
Verna, dau, 7 months
John W., father, 86, married 50 years
Caroline, mother, 70, 7 children - 4 are living

Birth	8 Sep 1824	Granville County, North Carolina
Marriage	31 Dec 1843	Dickson County, Tennessee - Susannah Louise McCaslin
Marriage	13 Aug 1863	Fayette County, Illinois - Nancy Caroline Casey
Death	12 Dec 1910	Ramsey, Fayette County, Illinois

Spouse	Susannah Louise McCaslin (1823 - 1863)
Child	Mary E. Hays (1848 - )
Child	Kesiah Susan Hays (1851 - 1932)
Child	Emelia E Hayes ( - )
Child	John William Hays Jr (1855 - )
Child	Louisa C. Hays (1858 - )
Child	Elizabeth Hays (1860 - )
Child	Sarah Frances Hays (1861 - 1894)
Child	Louis Franklin Hays (1863 - 1931)

Spouse	Nancy Caroline Casey (1839 - 1915)
Child	Thomas Joel Hays (1864 - 1934)
Child	Letta R. Hays (1868 - )
Child	Noi Hays (1879 - 1897)
Child	Samuel M Hayes (1882 - 1946)

Father	Joel Hays ( - 1825)
Mother	Rebecca Critcher (1795 - )