Ann Jane Laird

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51672938
• Name: Ann Jane Hays
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-96065

Notes:

Former Haysville Resident Reaches Century Mark

(Lucknow Sentinel) Few there are, very few, who will live to be one hundred years of age. Few there are, possibly, who would wish to do so, unless, living could still possess for them some of the pleasures that it still holds for Mrs. Robert Hays, who on Monday celebrated her hundredth birthday.

In the comfortable home of her daughter, Mrs. A. G. Elliot, Mrs. Hays met hundreds of people on Monday. She shook hands with them, she talked with them, she laughed with them and she thoroughly enjoyed the day. She was quite excited over it all, as excited as a youngster waiting for Santa Claus. Seated at her side, while she met her callers, was her oldest living friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Courtney, of Kincardine, who is 81 years of age.

A highlight of this rarely occurring event was the presentation to Mrs. Hay of a birthday cake, by Lucknow residents, who were former friends at Seaforth. Adorning the cake were 100 candles, which were lighted at four o'clock on Monday afternoon when this group of friends called in a body. To Mrs. Courtney went the task of blowing out the lighted. candles and Mr. George S. Robertson had the honor of cutting the cake. Mr. Robertson and Mrs. Hays had a happy time for a few minutes as they recalled bygone days at Seaforth, where years ago Mr. Robertson delivered bread to the Hays home. Mr. McNab, another member of the circle of friends, first learned to know Mrs. Hays, under the same circumstances.

This past summer, Mrs. Hays enjoyed a motor trip to Seaforth with Mr. Hill to meet old friends and on Monday, when Mr. Hill called, she recalled the trip and expressed an eagerness to repeat the journey this coming summer. In reply to a remark by Mrs. McNab, about how well she looked, Mrs. Hay remarked, "Do I look well? You should have seen me 25 years ago!' she said. Those responsible for this fitting presentation were Mr. George S. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. McNab, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Murdie, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Carnochan, Misses Elizabeth and Isobel Murdie, Mr and Mrs. J. W. Joynt and Mrs. Freeman.

Prior to her birthday and throughout the day messages of congratulations and best wishes poured in. Among the messages was a letter from Mayor A. D. Sutherland on behalf of the people of Seaforth. Mayor Sutherland is a brother of Mrs. Wm. Murdie. The home was a mass of cut flowers and potted blooms, the gifts of a host of admiring friends. A beautiful bouquet of roses was presented by the Village of Lucknow.

A continuous stream of visitors called on the old lady to personally extend felicitations. Mrs. Elliott and Mrs. Ian MacRae received the guests.

Asked by the Sentinel, "How does it feel to be one hundred," Mrs. Hays paused for a moment and they made the witty reply, "Well I don't feel much change." Late in the afternoon the Citizen's Band serenaded the centenarian, and then went indoors to meet her and play a few numbers. Mrs. Hays enjoyed the music. She was a soloist in her younger days and even yet can sing quite sweetly and occasionally does.

Mrs. Hays is remarkably active and enjoys splendid health. She eats well and sleeps well and until a few weeks ago was able to, and enjoyed reading. She is now denied this pleasure though, as her sight is dimming. Her memory though failing somewhat, still serves her well. No doubt the day was a delightful one for Lucknow's oldest resident, but it was equally delightful for those who welcomed the opportunity of honoring this beloved lady and sharing the joy of the occasion.

It was at Ingersoll, on December 23rd, 1835, that Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Laird, who came from the north of Ireland, were blessed with a little girl. They called her Ann, and it was she who has survived the marvellous transformation of a century to be spared to celebrate an event, the privilege of few, her one hundredth birthday.

It is somewhat of a coincidence, that it was in this same little Ingersoll home, that Robert Hays first saw the light of day four earlier, and years earlier, err many years, wedding bells were ringing for these two. The Laird and Hays families were lifelong friends, both in Ireland and upon coming to Canada. Haysville was named after Mr. Hays father who became first postmaster there in 1837.

For a time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hays farmed near Seaforth, and later they moved to that town where Mr. Hays died a comparatively young man, when his wife was but forty.

Their early farm home is still in the Hays family and is a stone house which although nearly a century old, attests to the workmanship of the Murdock masonry. This house was built by the late John Murdoch, of Ashfield, and a brother of the late Steele Murdoch.

Mrs. Hays has been a resident of Lucknow for some thirty-five fears, coming here to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Elliott, and the late Dr. A. G. Elliott. One had only to visit the home on Monday to realize the circle of friends this lovely lady has formed during her life here, and that she may yet enjoy a long period of health, pleasure and comfort is the expression of good will on every tongue.

Mrs. Hays spent part of her girlhood days in the Haysville district where she is still remembered by many of the older people. Mrs. R. B. Puddicombe, of this town, who is now in her 88th year, has been a lifelong close friend of Mrs. Hays since their early days. The late Joseph K. Laird, a former reeve of New Hamburg, was a cousin of the Lucknow centenarian.

New Hamburg Independent 1 Jan 1936

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Districts Only Centenarian Passed Away Saturday

Mrs. Robert Hays Passed Away Saturday Morning In Her 101st Year - Had Been In Feeble Health For Some Time Funeral Was On Monday To Greenhill Cemetery.

Within four months of her 101st birthday, Mrs. Robert Hays, formerly Ann Jane Laird, passed away about 8 o'clock on Saturday morning at the home of her only daughter, Mrs. A. G. Elliott of Lucknow. In her passing this village loses one who has been held in high regard during a long residence here, and this area loses its oldest resident.

On December 23rd last, Mrs. Hays celebrated her one hundredth birthday and was duly and fittingly honored by the village and her friends at that time. The occasion seemingly was the crowning achievement of a long and estimable life. Since then she has been confined to bed for a greater part of the time and for the past month only a stalwart heart has kept life in the frail body of this district's only centenarian, On Saturday morning she peacefully passed away after a month, when each night it was believed, she could not live until morning.

Mrs. Hays was born near Ingersoll. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Laird were of Irish birth. After her marriage to Robert Hays (the two) families having been friends of long standing) the young couple took up farming near Seaforth, later moving into that town to reside. Mrs. Hays was left a widow sixty years ago. For upwards to two score years she has lived in Lucknow.

The funeral service was held privately on Monday afternoon, with only a few intimate friends present. Her pastor, Rev. C. H. MacDonald had charge of the service, assisted by Rev. J. H Geoghegan, Interment was in Greenhill cemetery with G. S. Robertson, Wm. Murdie, W. W. Hill. Wm. MacKenzie. G. H. Smith and J…

Lucknow Sentinel 3 Sep 1936

Ann — Robert Alexander Hays. Robert (son of Robert Hays and Eleanor "Ellen" Torrance) was born 31 May 1832, Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada; died 22 Dec 1878, , Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Maitlandbank Cemetery, McKillop Twp, Huron Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155050106
• Residence: Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-216308
• Occupation: 1852, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Occupation: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Occupation: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Canada Presbyterian

Samuel married Jane Gallagher , Ireland. Jane was born 31 Oct 1793, , Donegal, Ireland; died 23 Aug 1901, Seaforth, Huron Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Brussels Cemetery, Brussels, Grey Twp., Huron Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155050127
• Name: Jane Laird
• Name: Jean Gallagher
• Residence: Ingersoll, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-216310
• Immigration: 1835, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Presbyterian
• Residence: 1871, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Canada Presbyterian

Notes:

107 YEARS OLD

The Seaforth Expositor thus refers to the death of the late Mrs. Laird grandmother of Messrs Samuel Seamon and Hilton Laird, of Goderich, which occurred on the 23rd of August:

"The oldest resident of the county of Huron, and perhaps the oldest in the Province, passed peacefully from earth on Friday last. We refer to the death of Mrs. John Gallagher Laird, relict of the late Samuel Laird, watch took place at the residence of her son, Mr. John Laird, Seaforth. Mrs Laird had reached the the extraordinary age of 107 years, 9 months and 23 days. Mrs. Laird was a native of Donegal, Ireland. Immediately after her marriage to Mr. Laird, 75 years ago, they started for Canada. They first settled in Ingersoll, but soon after removed to the Township of Wilmot, Waterloo County, where they spent the greater part of life. Mr. Laird died about 17 years ago, in the Township of Morris, and was over 80 years of age. Mrs Laird had a family of three sons and two daughters, but only one son and one daughter survive her. These are Mr. John Laird, of Seaforth, and Mrs. Robert Hayes, of Lucknow. She had been blind for a great many years, but aside from this affliction she enjoyed good health until within a few months of her death, and was remarkably active. She was a most entertaining conversationalist, and took mach pleasure in recounting the incidents of her early and middle life. She was a witness to many and great changes. For the last week of her life she was unconscious, and finally passed away as if in sleep, a complete wearing out of a once remarkably robust physical constitution. The remains were taken to Brussels on Tuesday, and interred in the cemetery there beside those of her deceased husband"

The Chronicle Telegraph, 19 Sep 1901, p. 1

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-25464