Vandette Leona (Meador) Hays (abt. 1875 - 1954)

Born about 21 Oct 1875 in Simpson County, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of John W Meador [uncertain] and Sarah A (Bruce) Meador

Wife of John Thomas Hays I — married 7 Jan 1898 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson, Arkansas, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Sep 1954 at about age 78 in Brazoria, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lora Wolfe [send private message]

Biography

Last name listed as Meador on birth record, later listed as Meadows on census and other documents. Believed that stepfather made the change when he married her mother Sarah Meadows (Meador). Vandette was born in Simpson County, Kentucky in 1875 to Sarah A. Bruce and John W. Meador. On subsequent census records her name was listed as Meadows or Meadors by family members other than her parents. Her father died in late 1870s and her mother remarried A. Williams, moving to Illinois by 1800. Mother died within a year and she was sent to live with an elderly grandmother, then an aunt and finally in her late teens to live with her uncle Mathew Bruce in Arkansas. There she married John Thomas Hays and lived until the family moved to Oyster Creek, Brazoria, Texas (1909), just in time for the hurricane, loosing their roof. John Hays had explored Texas Gulf Coast after delivering a barge/boat of lumber to New Orleans to sell. John and Vandette lived the rest of their lives in Oyster Creek after making a land purchase along the creek. They raised their four girls (born in Arkansas), two sons born in Oyster Creek and Vandette's orphaned niece at the family homestead on Oyster Creek Bend. Part of the land of John and Vandette, was developed along Hays Road and home sites were sold. John Hays worked for the railroad and helped engineer and build a railroad bridge over the Brazos River in Freeport. John and Vandette also had a vegetable farm , selling produce as far away as Galveston, traveling by boat. John also did work for the Corps of Engineers along the water ways , as did his sons. John was a skilled carpenter and about 1930s they built a small "tourist court" with small rooms for rent along the creek. Throughout the community they were known as "Mama Hays and Papa Hays" by all residents , to whom they frequently gave vegetables to those in need. The are considered one of the oldest families of the town, and 4 generations since have lived in Oyster Creek and other parts of Brazoria County. One of their grandsons, Robert Bruce Hays became the first Marshall for the town , building and developing the police force, until his death. The town placed a memorial to him at the police station and renamed it in his honor.

Sources

[1] Kentucky, Birth Records, 1847-1911 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Kentucky. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records – Microfilm (1852-1910). Microfilm rolls #994027-994058. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.

[2] Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA , 1903-1982 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:

[3] Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[4]Year: 1880; Census Place: Plainview, Saline, Illinois; Roll: 248; Page: 144B; Enumeration District:

• Hays , A Century in Oyster Creek. The Facts newspaper. Freeport, Texas, July 24, 2005. Pages 26 and 27.

[5] Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1900, United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Year: 1900; Census Place: Vaugine, Jefferson, Arkansas; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0098; FHL microfilm: 1240063

[6] Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 7, Brazoria, Texas; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 2342035

[7] Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com .Year: 1910; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Brazoria, Texas; Roll: T624_1534; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 1375547