MFH: 25 June

Today is the 127th anniversary of the birth of my great-grandmother, Harriett (Hayes) Hayes. Harriett was born 25 June 1881 in Vincent, Washington County, Ohio. She was third daughter and fourth (of seven total) child born to Lewis C. and Adda R. (Seely) Hayes. On 22 February 1913, Harriett married my great-grandfather, Thomas Francis Hayes. The two Hayes families were not related.

Harriett was the second wife of Thomas. His first wife was Harriett's younger sister, Shirley (b: 01 August 1883 in Vincent, Washington County, Ohio). Shirley and Thomas were married on 03 May 1905 in Washington County, Ohio. On 12 December 1906, Shirley gave birth to a son, Lewis F. Hayes. One week later, on 19 December 1906, Shirley died at the age of 23 years, 4 months, and 18 days. Thomas gave his week old son to Harriett to raise.

Later when Harriett wanted to marry, her former brother-in-law, gave her an ultimatum. She could marry the man she wanted and never see the nephew she had been raising for the last 6.5 years. Or, she could marry him, Thomas, and continue to raise her nephew. She could not stand the thought of never seeing Lewis again, so she married Thomas. Together they had four more children (three sons and a daughter).

This photo of Harriett was taken on the front steps of her home on Fourth Street in Marietta, Washington County, Ohio in the 1940s.