Hayes Floyd

HAYES FLOYD. One of the best known figures in the public life of Ness County is Hayes Floyd, who a few years ago retired from the office of register of deeds and has since joined his brother Howard Floyd in the real estate, abstract and loan business. The firm is now Floyd & Floyd, and they have their offices in Ness City, with a clientage all over the county.

Mr. Floyd has been a resident of Ness County since 1885, when he was nine years of age, and belongs to one of the early family of settlers in this locality. Reference to other members of the family will be found on other pages. He was born in Doniphan, Kansas, November 8, 1876, was educated in the district schools of Ness County and in 1899 graduated from the Ness City High School.

After his education Mr. Floyd worked for a short time in the station department of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company at Hoisington. Then followed a brief experience as a salesman with the International Harvester Company. Mr. Floyd has experienced all the ups and downs and vicissitudes and fortunes of the grain raiser in Ness County, and for a number of years was growing wheat and other farm products near McCracken. He is still in that business on a modest scale.

In 1906, he was elected register of deeds of the county, being nominated against six competitors, and he was elected to succeed his brother Howard I. Floyd, who had just completed four years in the office. Hayes Floyd was also register of deeds four years, and his successor was Miss Temple. After retiring from office he became associated with his brother in the real estate and abstract business.

A recognized leader in republican politics in Ness County, Hayes Floyd cast his first presidential vote for William McKinley. He has never missed a presidential election since. He has been a member of the board of education in Ness City and for about seven years served as treasurer of the board. In Masonry he is a past master of Walnut Valley Lodge No. 191, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, for a number of years was a delegate to the grand lodge and is now serving his third term as district deputy grand master. He also belongs to the Eastern Star, of which he is past patron. Religious work has always received a generous portion of his time, and he has served as trustee and is now a member of the official board of the Ness City Methodist Church, and in 1912 attended the conference of the Larned district at Hutchinson.

In Rush County, Kansas, December 8, 1903, Mr. Floyd married Miss Vella Dutton, a daughter of Dr. S. W. and Susie (Lawrence) Dutton of McCracken, Kansas. Dr. Dutton brought his family to Ness County from Butler County, Kansas. His children are: Dr. C. L. Dutton, of Meridian, Idaho; Mrs. Floyd, who was born August 11, 1879; Jack, of McCracken, Kansas, who is now in France with Uncle Sam's army; and Mattie, wife of Pearl Mitchell, of Colorado. Mrs. Floyd was educated in the schools at McCracken and finished in the university at Boulder, Colorado. Prior to her marriage she taught a term or so in the country schools near McCracken. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd have two children: Leda Dutton and Chesney Irwin.

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