Yay – a happy ending! We finally got the tombstone of Mary Hayes returned to its original site—perfectly fitting it to the base from which it was broken years ago—at Alexander Cemetery outside the small town of Weston, near McKinney, in Collin County, Texas. Those of you who have heard the story will recall the stone—lying face up in a vacant lot adjacent to the Texas State University campus—came into our possession when a TSU student's father spotted it and reported it to county officials (Co. Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, I believe) last December. University police determined it was on TSU property and allowed us to take it with the stated intention of trying to return it to its point of origin. THANKFULLY, several folks at Texas State had been "on the case" long before HCHC got any call and had, in fact, determined the stone's North Texas origin. With the help of (Find-a-Grave) research by Texas State graduate student Sarah Marshall, who contacted Find-a-Grave member Richard Hollis, the Hays County Historical Commission's Cemetery Committee was able to make contact with Carrol Alexander, the caretaker for Alexander Cemetery, in a rural area of Collin County, near the small town of Weston, Texas.


Texas State University Archivist and Records Manager Kris Toma and HCHC eventually included Joy Gough, Historical Marker and Cemetery Chair for the Collin County Historical Commission, in the conversation. Carrol Alexander was especially gracious in meeting up to guide the HCHC "contingent" to the cemetery and the family plot from which Mary's stone had been taken "years ago." Best to all of you who had a hand in this "restoration" of this stone to the young girl's gravesite some 110 years and two months after her death! Jim Cullen, HCHC


Mary L Hayes stone returned to her gravesite, repaired, pictured with Alexander Cemetery caretaker Carrol Alexander. 25 Jun 2012

from an email exchange with reps of TSU-San Marcos campus. Mary's stone was found behind some campus apartments in Nov 2011.

The pieces of the puzzle finally came together yesterday. While talking with a friend after work, she mentioned that there was a mystery headstone outside of her campus building - and this morning I was able to confirm that it was the same headstone that we have been researching in the University Archives.

Mr. Nichols called back and said HE'D determined where it belongs---exactly the match you determined....MANY THANKS for THAT (and your confirmation today). Of course, I wasn't aware (nor was Mr. Nichols) that wheels were already turning there at the Library (and Swinney House...and with Mr. Hollis.

Employees working at Swinney House noticed the headstone in mid-November. A report was filed with the University Police Department and Jim Cullen at the Hays County Historical Society took posession of the headstone yesterday when UPD repleased it to him. So the stone is in good hands and will eventually be returned to Alexander Cemetery.

TOO wonderful to see the base of little Mary's headstone still in place up in Alexander Cemetery...and attached is documenting photo I took yesterday of the top of the stone we've been dealing with here in San Marcos.

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Mary L Hayse
Age: 8
Birth Date: Apr 1892
Birthplace: Texas
Home in 1900: Justice Precinct 3, Collin, Texas
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: John T Hayse (looks like John F Hayse)
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Sally Hayse
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household Members: Name Age
John T Hayse 36
Sally Hayse 36
Mary L Hayse 8
Delina A Carter 63

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 3, Collin, Texas; Roll: T623_1621; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 11.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census