Paris Lincoln Hayzlett (1860 - 1940)

Born 6 Oct 1860 in Mount Vernon, Linn Co, IA

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Morson Boynton — married 23 Sep 1886 in La Porte City, Black Hawk Co, IA

Descendants

Died 31 Jan 1940 at age 79 in Red Oak, Montgomery Co, IA

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Biography of Paris Lincoln Hayzlett Research and Commentary by Sara Stevens Patton

Paris Lincoln Hayzlett was the second of four sons born to George and Melissa (Waln) Hayzlett. He was born in Mt. Vernon, Linn Co, IA, where both of his grandfathers had settled in the earliest period of settlement. When he was two years old, his parents decided to move 60 miles north to the newly created village of La Porte City in Black Hawk Co. His father hoped to establish a general store in the new town.

His earliest childhood coincided with the Civil War but it apparently had little effect on the Hayzletts. As the son of one of the leading citizens of the town, Paris, or Perry as he was called, lived a somewhat privileged life – that is, if there was any privilege in such a tiny village on the edge of the Iowa frontier. He spent most of his boyhood in La Porte City until 1872 when he was 12 years old. That year, his father was elected as the County Sheriff and the family moved to Waterloo, the county seat. When Perry finished high school, he attended the University of Iowa where he studied law.

After his graduation from Law School, he returned to La Porte City to practice law. "He graduated from the University of Iowa, attended Cornell college and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1881." (Red Oak Sun Friday Feb 2, 1940: p.1 col 4) "He was a graduate of the University of Iowa law college in 1881, and admitted to practice immediately after his graduation.” (Red Oak Express, Thursday, Feb 1, 1910 p. 6 col. 6 --Paris Hayzlett obituary)

Five years later, at the age of 26, he married the beautiful daughter of the town druggist, Mary Boynton, age 22. Note in Mt. Vernon "Hawkeye", Friday, October 18, 1886: "Paris Hayzlett, a former Waterloo student, now practicing law at La Porte, was married last week to Miss Mary Boynton of the same place."

Blackhawk Co Marriage Register: Vol 1 -1880-1896, p. 64 License #3930 dated 9-21-1886. No affadavit; "Known to clerk" Groom: Parris Lincoln Hayzlett - 26 next birthday b. Mt. Vernon, IA 1st marriage Residence: La Porte City, IA Occupation: attorney Father: GW Hayzlett; Mother-Melissa J. Waln (looks like Wales) Bride: Mary Morson Boynton - 24 next birthday b. Brooklyn, IA 1st marriage Residence: La Porte City Father: Flint S. Boynton Mother: Mary A. Tomlinson

Married at La Porte City Sept 23, 1886 Witness: Wm McVeigh Married by August Taylor, Pastor Presbyterian Church, La Porte City

The Boynton-Hayzlett Family Bible lists "Mary Morrison" (Boynton) and Paris L. Hayzlett married September 23 1886 La Porte City, Iowa by Rev. A. Taylor."

After 2 ½ years of marriage, the couple had their first child, Ruby Florence Hayzlett and 3 ½ years later, their son, Paul Boynton Hayzlett was born. In between the births, Perry was elected mayor of La Porte City in 1891 and his father elected to the same post in 1908 but died shortly afterwards. [John C. Hartman, History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its People, 1915, -Google Books online p. 288.] Both men, father and son, also sold insurance in addition to their other occupations.

While the children were growing up, the Hayzletts lived across the street from the Boyntons on Chestnut Street. The children loved stopping by their grandparents house on the way home from school for milk and cookies. Both houses were still standing in 2009. After the death of his father-in-law in 1901, Mary Hayzlett's mother, Mary Ann Boynton, came to live with Paris and Mary, for the remainder of her very long life. Perry’s own father died in 1908 and his mother in 1914.

Perry practiced law in La Porte City and later moved to Marshalltown where a close friend, a doctor, persuaded them to move, arguing a law practice in a larger town would be more successful. At this point both children, Paul and Ruby, had finished high school and Ruby was engaged to her childhood sweetheart, Cliff Unger. Perry would help to establish a building and loan association in Marshalltown and continue to work as a lawyer.

In 1908, Ruby and Cliff Unger married and moved in with the Hayzletts. Cliff worked in a shoe store while his brother-in-law, Paul Hayzlett, became a traveling salesman.

Perry was never especially successful as a lawyer, because (according to his son-in-law Cliff Unger) he lacked the ability to argue his cases in court. However, he always had enough of a practice to provide a good living for his family. (His daughter once said that his law office was such a mess that her mother never went there.) He was an avid reader and very bright but preferred his flowers and vegetable garden more!

The family lived in Marshalltown for about 5 years, buying a nice home there. However, Perry's law practice continued to be mediocre. So when their unmarried son Paul relocated to Red Oak in southwestern Iowa, the Hayzletts and “Grandma Boynton” moved there in 1915. At first they rented a house but later Paul and "Dad" Hayzlett built the house at 1209 Corning - a brick two story bungalow - around 1920. Paul had his office in the den upstairs and had a phone in the den (a fact that was notable to Cliff Unger in days when homes had only 1 phone!) But in 1921, Paul married and moved away—ultimately to St. Louis, leaving Perry and Mary, along with 92 year old Mary Ann Boynton, in Red Oak. Perry appears to have been very fond of his aging mother-in-law, keeping biographical notes of her life and family and having her recite poems, etc. from memory. Mary Ann died in 1924 at the age of 95. For the first time in years (and only for the next few years), were the Hayzletts alone in their home.

In the meantime, Cliff and Ruby Unger remained in Marshalltown where their two daughters—Mary and Barbara were born. When Cliff lost his shoe store, the Ungers also moved to Red Oak (in 1928) and eventually moved back in with the Hayzletts.

In 1927 or thereabouts, Perry became a justice of the peace and presided over many trials in the Montgomery County Court House. He continued with his first love, gardening, planting a grape arbor and other beautiful flowers in the yard, as well as a vegetable garden. He and his neighbor competed for the biggest and best vegetables. Mary was also an avid gardner, joining the Ladies Gardening Club. She also joined the DAR and Eastern Star and Perry continued his membership in the Masons. Both Mary and Perry were active members of the Congregational Church, Perry being a deacon.

In 1935, Mary became ill and died a year later at the age of 73. At that point, the Ungers had already moved into the Hayzlett home and Ruby cared for her mother. After Mary’s death, the Ungers continued to care for Perry. The entire Unger family adored him. According to Bobbie Unger, her grandfather was a warm hearted, loving man who adored children. He spent many hours playing games -- checkers, card games, etc. -- with his grandchildren. They would tease and beg him to take them to a movie, which he often did. She also says he should have been a farmer, not a lawyer. He loved to read, a favorite being Zane Grey. According to Bobbie, he wasn't terribly successful at his profession, "since he was too good hearted." Still, he continued to preside over the Montgomery County court even into his 70s.

Perry finally passed away at the age of 79 surrounded by his loving family. He was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, next to his wife of almost 50 years. Harry Stevens was an honorary pallbearer.

Obituaries:
Red Oak Sun Friday Feb 2, 1940: p.1 col 4
"P.L. Hayzlett, Attorney, Dies
Five Weeks Illness Ends in Death for Well-Known Lawyer and Justice of Peace
P.L. Hayzlett, 79, Red Oak attorney and justice of the peace, died Wednesday morning at his home of complications developed with advancing years. He had been bedfast for five weeks.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today (Friday) from the Boileau & Thomas Garden Chapel with Rev. Robert A. Edgar, pastor of the Congregational church in charge. Masonic rites also will be given at the chapel, rather than at the grave, in view of the inclement weather. Active pall bearers will be Lester L. Orsborn, H.O. LeGrande, Floyd Billings, John Conkel, Harry Petty and A.B. Hayes. Honorary pall bearers will be P.A. Michel, Geo. Stinemates, Harry Stevens, Floyd Pratt, Chas. Longstreet and Evan Evans. The music will be by Mrs. R. D. Morris and Mrs. Harold Avery, vocalists, and Miss Mabelle Reimers, organist. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Paris Lincoln Hayzlett was born Oct. 9, 1860, at Mt. Vernon, Ia, a son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Hayzlett. He graduated from the University of Iowa, attended Cornell college, and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1881. He was married Sept. 23, 1886, at LaPorte City, to Mary M. Boynton. After practicing law a number years in Marshalltown, he moved to Red Oak about 25 years ago, where he continued the practice of law. He has been a justice of the peace for more than a decade.
Mr. Hayzlett was a member of the Masonic lodge and would have received a 50-year certificate of membership this year. He belonged to the Congregational church, where he served as a deacon.
Surviving are two children, Mrs. Ruby Unger of Red Oak and Paul Boynton Hayzlett of Richmond Heights, St. Louis county, Mo. Mrs and Mrs. Paul Hayzlett and Mr. Hayzlett's granddaughter, Mrs. Jack Stevens, and husband and their daughter, of Corning, are here for the funeral."

RED OAK EXPRESS, Thursday, Feb 1, 1910 p. 6 col. 6 -- article has photo --
"HAYZLETT DIES AFTER 5 WEEKS
Rites Friday; Was Member of Bar 58 Years.
P. L. Hayzlett, a member of the Iowa bar for 58 years, died at his home, 1209 Corning street, Wednesday morning at 10:45 o'clock after an illness of five weeks.
He was 79 years old.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Boileau and Thomas Garden Chapel, with the Rev. Robert Edgar of the Congregational church in charge. A Masonic service will be conducted, and interment made in the local cemetery.
Justice 13 Years.
Mr. Hayzlett has served as justice of the peace of Red Oak township for 13 years, with offices at the Montgomery county courthouse. He had resided in Red Oak since 1915.
A native of Mount Vernon, where he was born October 6, 1860, the judge was married Sept. 23, 1886, at La Porte City, Ia., to Mary M. Boynton. He was a graduate of the University of Iowa law college in 1881, and admitted to practice immediately after his graduation. In 1908 he went to Marshalltown to help establish and continued as secretary of the building and loan association until he moved to Red Oak.
Two Children.
Survivors are two children, Mrs. Ruby Florence Unger of Red Oak and Paul B. Hayzlett of Richmond Heights, Mo.; and three brothers, C.A. Hayzlett, J.G. Hayzlett and Ernest Hayzlett of La Porte City. (note: his three brothers predeceased him.)
Honorary pallbearers Friday will be fellow-officials at the courthouse, Floyd M. Pratt, Charles Longstreet, Paul Michel, Harry Stevens, Evan J. Evans and George Stinemates. The active bearers will be Lester Orsborn, H.O. LeGrande, Floyd E. Billings, John Conkel, Harry Petty and Al Hayes.
The music will be arranged by Mrs. R.D. Morris and Mabelle Reimers, organist."

La Porte Progress Review
"P.L. Hayzlett Dead at Red Oak
Word has been received here of the death of P.L. Hayzlett, attorney, formerly of La Porte City and for the past several years of Red Oak. Mr. Hayzlett was the brother of Chas. Hayzlett of La Porte City and John Hayzlett of Vinton. His last visit to La Porte City was to attend the funeral of Mrs. R.T. Paige's father, H. C. Unger."

Other Documents:
Census records:
1870 Black Hawk Co, Big Creek Twp, p. 320 26/34
Geo. W. Hayzlett 33 b. IN Merchant $4500/500
Melissa J. ____ 30 b. OH Keeping house (attending school?!)
Charles 11 b. IA (1858-59)
Paris 9 b. IA (1860-61) 3 oldest boys attending school
John 7 b. IA (1862-63)
Ernest E. 4 b. IA (1865-66)

1880 Waterloo, Blackhawk Co, IA p. 616 D -Image 8 16 June #70-73
10th & Franklin/Sycamore
George W. HAZELETTE -43 IN County Sheriff VA VA
Melissa " - 39 OH wife VA OH
Charles " - 21 IA son laborer
Paris L. " - 19 IA son school
John G. " - 16 IA son school
Ernest D. " -14 IA son school

1885 census shows for La Porte City, page 122
19 Hayzlett, George W. 45 Farmer b. Ind.
20 " , Melissa J. 44 K.H. Oh
21 " , Charles A. 26 Railroads Ia
22 " , Parris L. 24 Lawyer Ia
23 " , John G. 22 Farmer Ia
24 " . Earnest E. 19 Teleg. op. Ia
25 Krebbs, Emma 16 Domestic

26 Hayzlett, Andrew 82 Ret. Farmer Va
27 " , Elizabeth 80 Va
They were in two houses, on East Side of State Street.

1895 census shows for La Porte City, page 111 (this census is almost alphabetical by surname--keeping families together--)
15 Hayzlett, Paris L. 34 Lawyer b. Linn Co. Protestant
16 " , Mary A. 31 b. Floyd Co. Presbyterian
17 " , Ruby F. 6 "
18 " , Paul R. 2 "
19 Boyer, Lydia 72 Illinois "

25 Hayzlett, George W. 57? Agricultural Imp. Ind. Methodist
26 " . Melissa J. 54 Oh "
27 " , Eanest E. 28 Operator Ia

1900 Black Hawk Co, Big Creek Twp, La Porte City, IA p. 20/4B 5 June
Chestnut Street 104/105 not far from Boyntons also on Chestnut
Hayzlett, Paris L. - lawyer -39 b. Oct 1860 IA md 12 yrs. f.-KY m.-OH
", Mary A. - wife -36 b. Mar 1864 IN 2 births/2 living f. MA m. NY
", Ruby F. - dau -11 b. Mar 1889 IA
", Paul B. - son - 7 b. Nov 1892 IA

1910 Marshalltown, IA p. 99 15 April 401 Church St.
Paris L. Hayzlett -48 IA md 23 yrs attorney f. IN m. IN
Mary B. " -46 IA 2 births/2 living wife f. MA m. NY
Paul " -17 IA son
Ruby Unger -21 IA dau md 0 yrs 0 births
Clifford Unger -23 IA son in law md 0 yrs shoe salesman f. IA m. IA
Mary Boynton -81 NY mother in law widow 5 births, 2 living f. Ireland m. Eng.

1920 Montgomery Co, Red Oak IA: p. 10 B 1209 Corning Street
P.L. Hayzlett 57 b. IA father b. IN; mother b. IA (wrong!) Attorney
Mary (wf) 53 b. IA " b. MA " b. NY
Paul B. (son) 27 b. IA commercial trader-auto accessories
Mary Boynton 92 b. NY widow - mother in law father b. Ireland; mother b. England. (she reads)

1925 IA Census, Red Oak, Montgomery Co, IA
Perry L. Hayzlett- 64 b. IA 2 yrs. of college, lawyer; parents Geo W. Hayzlett b. IN
Melissa Walm (sic-Waln) b. IA
Mary P. (sic) Hayzlett- 61 b. IA completed high school; parents Samuel Flint (sic- Flint Samuel Boynton) b. VT (sic-MA), Mary A. Tomlinson b. NY md NY.

1930 Red Oak, Montgomery Co, IA Census image p. 17B 1209 Corning
Paris L. Hayzlet- - 69 IA married age 23 Lawyer-still working; parents born Iowa (incorrect-f. b. IN, m. b. OH) owns home worth $7500
Mary-wife - 65 IA married age 21 parents both born NY.(father actually b. MA)

Buried along side his wife at Red Oak Cemetery: Headstone reads Paris L. Hayzlett and gives dates 1860-1940. No death record at the court house.

Sources

• WikiTree profile Hayzlett-6 created through the import of boynton- flint-tomlinson.ged on Mar 20, 2012 by Sara Stevens. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Sara and others.

• Source: Boynton-Hayzlett-Unger Family Bible in possession of Sara Stevens Patton: "Mary Morrison (Boynton) and Paris L. Hayzlett married; September 23rd AD 1886 La Porte City, Iowa: By Rev A. Taylor"

Sara Stevens Patton Note: Several styles of handwriting shown. I recognized the handwriting listing children of Mary and Jack Stevens as Ruby Hayzlett Unger's. Probably the handwriting showing the births of the Unger children is Mary Boynton Hayzlett, and the handwriting showing Mary Morson Boynton (Hayzlett) looks to be either Mary Ann Tomlinson Boynton's or Jerusha Flint Boynton's. This last handwriting is the earliest and lists all of the Cyrus Boynton family. Because it lists the minister who married Jerusha and Cyrus, I think it is Jerusha Flint Boynton's. Under Deaths on last page, the handwriting showing deaths of Paris Hayzlett and Charlotte Hayzlett is Ruby Unger's. The handwriting showing deaths of Mary A. Boynton and Mary Hayzlett looks to be Paris Hayzlett's. The writing showing death of Samuel Flint Boyton is probably that of Mary M. Hayzlett. June always written in full. Jan=January Repository:

• Source: Black Hawk Co, IA Marriage Register
• Source: Mt. Vernon, IA Hawkeye newspaper