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Embree Cemetery ~ Eugene Hayter ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Eugene Hayter
LAST NAME: Hayter FIRST NAME: Eugene MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 16 Oct 1860 DIED: 9 Feb 1951 BURIED:  (Embree Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  County Clerk
BIRTH PLACE:  Dallas, Polk Co, Oregon
DEATH PLACE: Dallas, Polk Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
1900 OR CENSUS - Eugene Hayter, age 39, occupation county clerk, b. Oct 1860 in Oregon, is enumerated with his wife of 11 years, Evaline, age 28, mother of 1, b. Sep 1871 in Oregon, and Frankie L., age 10, b. Apr 1890 in Oregon.  Also enumerated with the family is Rachel M. Harned, identified as servant, age 20, b. Jan 1880 in Indiana.
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OSBH DC (Polk County 1951) #2249 - Eugene Hayter, married (Eva), b. 16 Oct 1860 in Dallas, Oregon, d. 9 Feb 1951 in Dallas, Oregon at the age of 90, name of father Thomas J. Hayter, maiden name of mother Mary Embree, interment Embree Cemetery, informant Frank Patterson.
OBITUARY: 
DEATH CLOSES GENE HAYTER'S FINE CAREER -- Funeral Services Monday At First Christian Church; Active Life Dated Back to Early Pioneer Days.  Eugene Hayter, 90, who occupied a singular place of respect and admiration among his hundreds of friends, died Friday in the Dallas hospital after a continuously active life that won him prominence in business, church work, civic affairs and education.
Funeral services were Monday at 11 a.m. in the First Christian church with Kenneth Johnston, pastor, officiating.  Burial was at the family cemetery, known as the Embree cemetery, east of Dalla at private committal services.  The body lay in state Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Bollman Funeral home.
As one of the oldest and few remaining native sons, Mr. Hayter was able to link early Polk county pioneer days to the present, and almost to the time of his death was able to recall events of the pioneer times clearly and accurately.  "Gene Hayter will know" became a frequent reply here when anyone asked information of bygone years.

Mr. Hayter was born October 16, 1860, on the donation land claim of his father, Thomas J. Hayter, east of Dallas.  Both his father and his mother, the former May Embree were among the earliest pioneers.  The mother crossed the plains to Oregon in 1845 and the father first came to Oregon as a young man in 1852.
In his early boyhood he received his first education with his father as tutor.  His formal education did not start until he was 11 years of age when he attended school at Rickreall and then Fir Villa.  Eugene's education was completed at LaCreole Academy.
On November 21, 1888, he was married to Eva Shultz and they began building a home life that was not only an inspiration to their relatives and friends but endeared them to the community as well.  In November, 1950, they observed their 62nd anniversary in a quiet occasion at their home, 208 Main street, where they lived for 61 years. Their lives together were commemorated in the Christian church yearbook of 1948-1949 and their home was fittingly described in these words, “Theirs is a real family hearthstone around which a host of friends delight to sit and visit.”
Mr Hayter was principal of the first grade school erected in Dallas, serving in that capacity for one term in 1882, the second year after it was built. His interest in education continued and he became a trustee of LaCreole Academy. Although the academy was disbanded by 1913, the board of trustees remained intact and culminated only with the death of the members. W.R. Howe now is believed to be the only living member of the board.
For two years Gene operated a general merchandise store, but the business was lost in the Cleveland panic of the early nineties. In 1896 he was elected county clerk, an office he held for two terms of two years each. He was in the office when the old courthouse burned in 1898 and managed to save most of the important county records. At later dates he served as deputy assessor and bookkeeper in the sheriff’s office.
In 1903 he became associated with the Dallas City bank. A year later he assisted Ralph E. Williams in establishing the Dallas National bank which opened for business in 1905. He was soon made vice president and remained in that capacity until 1934 when the Dallas City bank purchased the Dallas National bank.
Following the death of a brother, Carey, Mr and Mrs Hayter had taken over the operation of the Hayter book store and continued there until 1943 when they sold it to R.R. Turner.
Mr Hayter was always keenly interested in timber and forestry work. He became secretary of the Polk County Fire Patrol association and held the position for many years, until the state board of forestry superseded it in 1946. He was also a member of the Dallas ambulance commission for many years.
Gene was a member of the “Dallas Terror company,” the earliest volunteer fire fighting organization in the city, formed just before the turn of the century. He was a member of the fire department for a number of years and had long since been considered an honorary member. On the occasion of his 90trh birthday members of the present department took a cake to him in the hospital and visited with him. ene described the day as one of the happiest occasions of his life.
It was just a few years ago – when he was in his late 80’s – that the roof of his home caught fire. Rather than call the fire department, he procured a ladder, climbed to the roof and extinguished the blaze himself with the aid of only a garden hose.
A faithful member of the Christian church, Mr Hayter joined the denomination in 1884. He was clerk and treasurer of the church for many years, and also served as a member of the board of trustees of Northwest Christian college.
For a number of years he was a member of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
Gene Hayter’s life was closely interwoven with the history of the community. His many activities brought him close to hundreds of people; his kindly personality endeared him to all ages; but at the same time he was content to remain out of the limelight, preferring to serve quietly and leave the attention and leadership to others.
Friends have eulogized him in these words: “He loved the community; he loved people; he loved the great out-of-doors; he loved his home and family; he never grew tired of life. The years could not dim his interest in the world in which he lived.”
Eugene was the oldest and last of five brothers, four of whom achieved prominence, and the fifth, Frank, died at an early age. Oscar Hayter, Dallas attorney, who gained a reputation of high integrity all over the state, died suddenly in 1943. Carey Hayter, a former editor of the Dallas Observer, was killed in an auto accident. Mary Hayter, dentist, died a number of years ago. A sister, Alice, also preceded him in heath.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs Eva Hayter, Dallas; a daughter, Mrs H.R. Patterson, Corvallis; a son, Charles Carey Hayter, Seattle, Wash; and one grandchild, James Carey Hayter, Seattle. 
Itemizer Observer, Thursday, February 15, 1951
INSCRIPTION: 
Eugene Hayter
1860 - 1951
SOURCES: 
Branigar Survey
Saucy Survey & Photographs
1900 OR CENSUS (Polk Co., Dallas, ED 173, sheet 17B)
Itemizer Observer, Thursday, February 15, 1951
CONTACTS: 
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