Compiled and posted by Rita

HAYES

The tiny, almost ghost-town of HAYES was named after the Hayes Creek, which runs just to the west of the village. The creek was named after an early logger who was gone by the time the village began. Later reports state that it was named after US President Rutherford B. Hayes, however, the original Hayes family was by then living in Oconto. 

Regarding August or Gust Bartz of Hayes, brother of William and Fredrick of How and Mountain:

April 3, 1903
From Town of How Scrapbook by Bruce K. Paulson, 1986 via Carl Listle, Milwaukee, WI via internet:

"Gust Bartz bought the Hayes Cheese Factory from H. Muiller for $535.00. 
He is putting on and addition."

August 21, 1906
Gus Bartz is in the process of erecting a new cheese factory. It will be built of brick. Paul Bartz, Alvin Hischke and Wm. Buhrandt are at work on the same. Such a building and business will be a credit to Hayes. Mr. 
Bartz's activity in his own town had been and is a benefit to the farmers, it encourages people to keep cows and gives employment to boys 
in their own homes. Information provided by Kathy Barlament

According to the Oconto County Reporter in the 1890's, Hayes was a large and prosperous town. It had two hotels, several saloons, two general stores, barber shop, dress maker, photography studio (proprietor was Mr. A.G. Cato, originally from Chautauqua County, New York, who offered "the good people of this locality an opportunity to 'secure the shadow ere the substance fades'."), one feed and grain store, the Lutheran church and school, the Methodist Church, blacksmith shop, cooper shop, wagonmaker and repair shop, furniture factory, a stage coach office, dray service, livery, and "many fine houses, mostly of newer design."