William Robert Hayes was born in Hickory county, Missouri, December 30, 1835. His forefathers on his father's side came from England to Virginia about the first settlement of Jamestown and afterwards lived in the Carolinas. His grandmother on his mother's side, named Young, came from the Emerald Isle. In 1846 his father, Joseph Hayes, sold his farm in Missouri and started to Texas, but stopped in Sevier county, Arkansas, and remained there, water bound, until 1854, when he moved to Medina county, Texas.

         The subject of this sketch, by consent, left the parents' roof in March, 1854, and shipped with Jim Sparks, as conductor of a "prairie schooner" with three yoke of oxen as motive power, from Fort Smith to California.

         Reaching Salt Lake City late in August, too late to cross the Sierras, the train went into winter quarters there, and in the Spring of 1855 he went with a portion of Colonel Steptoe's Government train via Fremont's route to Southern California, and engaged in mining there until December, 1858, having made a trip to Frazier river, in the British possessions; he then came to San Antonio via Tehauntepec and New Orleans. He went to Bee county in April, 1859, bought land, and is living on the same place now, engaged in farming and stock-raising.

         He was married in 1861. He served for three years in Col. Hobby's regiment, and was then transferred to Edwards' company of Pyron's cavalry just before the close of the war.

             He was appointed Treasurer of Bee county in 1870 and continued to fill that office, being re-elected, until 1876, when he was elected County Judge, and is now serving his seventh term of that office.

         At the age of eighteen, Mr. Hayes made a trip to California, and for many years "roughed it," as he expressed it, in his younger days, chasing buffaloes on the plains, skirmishing with Indians often, and hunting elk in the mountains near Salt Lake City. He also worked in the mines in California. During all of this time he was blessed with remarkable health, and in these extensive travels on mountain and plain never missed a guard duty. The same may be said of his service during the war; in the three years he was never on the sick list nor reported absent without leave. A part of his religion is to believe in no secret societies. He is a member of the Christian or Campbellite church.

         Mr. Hayes has managed to accumulate a competency, and owns a pleasant home in one of the fairest parts of the State. He is engaged extensively in raising improved stock horses and cattle and in farming.

         They have eight children, to-wit: Fanny, Mary, Horace, Lucy, Homer, Annie, Travis and Vivian.

             Judge Hayes takes an active interest in all public affairs and his hand has been conspicuous in every enterprise which has helped to build up Beeville and Bee county. With J. W. Flournoy he was on a committee to negotiate for the extension of the Aransas Pass road to Beeville, and closed the trade with President Lott to that effect. He contributed five hundred dollars of the bonus given to that road, and to the Southern Pacific one hundred dollars to build to Beeville. He has been instrumental also in causing the erection of numerous churches in his county during the past twenty years, contributing liberally of his means for the purpose. Indeed, we may say, that his liberality to schools, churches and all charitable purposes is one of his highest characteristics. He has an abiding faith that in so doing he is but casting his bread upon the waters and will reap again after many days.

         For a long time Judge Hayes has been ex-officio superintendent of the public schools of his county, in which position he has made an enviable record, and as a delegate to the State Superintendents' annual meeting has been distinguished by his intelligence and zeal in the cause of education. He is universally respected and esteemed by all who know him, as an honest man, an upright and impartial judge, a public spirited citizen and a Christian gentleman; moreover, he is a man of fine, decidedly martial appearance, being six feet in height and as straight as an arrow; and, though somewhat advanced in years, he moves with a soldierly step and bearing. He weighs 175 pounds, has a fair complexion and has blue eyes. Though rather sober and dignified in his general intercourse with men, he has a keen appreciation of the ludicrous, and not infrequently his eyes twinkle with a silent humor which few would suspect. He is courteous and affable in manner, and is easily approached by those even of the most humble station. It were to be wished that Texas had many more citizens of his character and stamp.