Hays Family Holds Reunion

WAITSBURG - The third reunion of the Joseph and Ebby Breeze Hays family was held July 8-10 in Waitsburg and Walla Walla.

In 1899, the family migrated west when Joseph and Ebby Hays brought three of their children from Jefferson County, Illinois, to Hood River, Oregon.

Going back eight months later to the Ebby's farm in Illinois, the family was destined to return to the West, settling in Waitsburg as cousin Elmer Stonecipher started growing wheat.

With a need for workers, he brought out the eldest, Robert Mancel in 1912 at the age of 19. Floa Myrtle arrived in 1913 at the age of 17, arriving in the spring and soon cooking for a harvest crew and becoming the nanny for a farmer up Whoop Um Up Hollow.

The rest of the family moved into the Waitsburg valley, settling up Dusty Hollow in 1914 on 80 acres. Eighteen months later, the family moved to Flora, Oregon. The family traded for acreage and leased two more farms to work for the next three years. Some of the family would return to Jefferson County in 1919, leaving four siblings in Waitsburg. Another sibling would move to Waitsburg in 1946.

Eventually, with five families making Waitsburg their home, the typical summer picnic would be a natural as the next generations were growing up. The family is delighted to start a new tradition with the current generations - the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren of Joseph and Ebby.

The family spent Saturday, July 9, in Waitsburg dedicating the bench at the Waitsburg Cemetery War Memorial fulfilling a commitment to the community; taking a bus tour of homesteads or lands leased between 1914 and 1980 by Burton Hillis, Bob Hillis, Clarence Hays, and Walter Hays; having family photos taken by local photographer Vance Price; ending with dinner at the Lion's Clubhouse at the fairgrounds that included stories and a collection of photos for preservation shared via a scripted slideshow

Family members attending the weekend reunion are listed geographically. Any names bring back memories? Many still come to the Walla Walla valley to visit.

Yakima: Bob & Cay Hays; Brian Hays; Virginia Hays; and Scott Elder. Waitsburg: Joan Hays; John & Susan Segraves; Shaun Segraves; Rhiana Crawford;

Nadine Clarke; Brian and Sonia Segraves; and Bill and Linda Stonecipher. Walla Walla: Glenda, Steve and Zachary Thompson; Carolina and Josh Goodson; Mike and Nola Hays; Paul, Misty and Damien Daniel; Ervin Hays; Jim and Karen Hays; Kara, Brent and Ryan Hays; Eric Hays, Brandy Ziegele Hays, Kenaula, Keoki and Cole Ziegle, Chance Hays; Ken Hays; Kevin Hays; Bob Hillis; Becky Donley and Diane and Don Elder. Spokane: Mike, Debbra and Andrew Henze. Kennewick: Ginger and Dewayne Henze; Bob, Diane, Samantha and Natalie Henze; Greater Seattle area: Howard and Shirley Hays; Angela Hays and Jonah Hays Murrey. Washington Coast: Linda Hays Burton. Oregon: Kelly, Kelsey and Kristin Rowan; and Charlotte and Irvin Jones. Illinois: Wilmer and Carol Hays. Wisconsin: Laverne and Sandy Hays; Rhonda Schissel. Missouri: Alvin Whitsell and Tom Whitsell.

The next reunion will be the weekend of July 12-14, 2013.