Kenneth Clair HAYCRAFT
 |
| Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Everett & Charlie. Jolly, Isaac, Glenn, Daisy (Sylvester) & Ken Haycraft. Approximately 1914. |
- BIRTH: 16 February 1907, Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minnesota, USA
Father: Isaac Grant HAYCRAFT
Mother: Daisy Joanne SYLVESTER
Family 1: Alberta Petrie SMITH
- MARRIAGE: 10 Aug 1929; Hennepin Co., Minnesota, USA
- CHILDREN:
- Clair HAYCRAFT
- Sara Stelle HAYCRAFT
Family 2: Marion Laudon MILLER
- MARRIAGE: 9 Apr 1939; DeKalb Co., Illinois, USA
- CHILDREN:
- Thomas James HAYCRAFT (adopted by Kenneth HAYCRAFT; a child from Marion's previous marriage)
- Patricia Ann HAYCRAFT
- Kenneth Clair HAYCRAFT
- Jane Allison HAYCRAFT
_________________________
____________________________|
| |_________________________
_Isaac Grant HAYCRAFT ___|
| | _________________________
| |____________________________|
| |_________________________
|
|--Kenneth Clair HAYCRAFT
|
| _Caleb Barker SYLVESTER _
| _Charles Carroll SYLVESTER _|
| | |_Joanna WHITNEY _________
|_Daisy Joanne SYLVESTER _|
| _Stephen M. BURNS _______
|_Charlotte Clare BURNS _____|
|_Marianne JORDAN ________
Notes
Updated December 29, 2024. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):(1) Millikan, William. "The Red-Baiting of Kenneth C. Haycraft." Minnesota History, Winter 1994, pp. 170-187.
- "Kenneth Clair HAYCRAFT was born in 1907 in a logging camp 30 miles north of Bemidji where his father, Isaac G. HAYCRAFT worked. Times were tough for the lumberjacks of northern Minnesota and would remain so for the HAYCRAFT family for the next 20 years."
- "HAYCRAFT's high-school years were as transient as his childhood."
- "In September 1924, he enrolled in the prelegal course... at the University of Minnesota"
- "Although HAYCRAFT had never played varsity football in high school, he heard that athletes were given well-paid jobs."
- "National football pundits noticed Minnesota's starting left end, selecting him to be first-team end on the 11-man All American teams of the New York Sun, the International News Service, Walter Eckersall, and the prestigious Grantland Rice. By honoring Minnesota with its sixth All American, the national sports press had also made HAYCRAFT one of the state's most famous citizens."
- "By the fall of 1930 he was both a lawyer and a famous football player, attributes that would soon make him a prime prospect for the state's political arena."
- "HAYCRAFT approached the governor [Floyd B. OLSSON]... and was quickly recruited to play an important role in the 1932 campaign"
- "... the governor appointed HAYCRAFT chief investigator of the securities division of the commerce department..."
- "When HAYCRAFT received the assignment, Olson warned, 'You'll be the white-haired boy for all of our people, but I want you to know that you'll be anathema to the Citizens Alliance people for a long time."
- "Although WATSON and HAYCRAFT failed to secure a list of CA agents in the labor movement, they did find evidence to corroborate the governor's accusations... The documents also revealed the Citizen's Alliance's efforts to discredit President Franklin D. ROOSEVELT and undermine federal labor policies..."
- "When Governor Harold E. STASSEN's administration took office in 1939, it announced that all of HAYCRAFT's policies would remain in effect."
- "Farm-Labor leaders realized that they had to find a candidate [for mayor of Minneapolis] who was clearly not a communist... HAYCRAFT, who had no political experience, agreed to run."
- "To HAYCRFT's dismay, the issue of communism returned in the final days before the election... Red-Baiting had ended Kenneth HAYCRAFT's brief political career."
- "The close-knit military community (of the Minnesota National Guard) decided to wreak vengeance... HAYCRAFT's reputation would be destroyed. The first accusation appeared on HAYCRAFT's efficiency report for 1938."
- "The search for revenge was complicated in the spring of 1939 when HAYCRAFT moved to Chicago to work for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There, he joined the Illinois National Guard."
- "Informants were all inside the Minnesota National Guard... Their accusations were outrageous... In 1941 they accused HAYCRAFT of being a Communist party member... and of being married until 1938 to a 'known CP member.'"
- "Yet the Army took no actions on those serious charges, concluding after a 1941 investigation that 'there was nothing'... although his Minneapolis enemies were temporarily thwarted, they had planted dangerous seeds in HAYCRAFT's military files."
- "HAYCRAFT... joined the 104th Infantry for its final push across Europe late in 1944... [and] received a Bronze Star..."
- "After the war HAYCRAFT left the army, returning to live with his family in Minnetonka and accepted a lucrative job as regional counsel for the War Assets Administration... when the U. S. Army telegrammed to offer him a regular commission, however, he accepted..."
- "For three years, HAYCRAFT lived in Japan and served with distinction in the Far East Command, being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by 1949... Meanwhile his enemies continued their stream of accusations..."
- "By the fall of 1953 [Sen. Joseph] McCARTHY had turned his attention to the army... the army reopened its investigation into HAYCRAFT's loyalty... Despite this overwhelmingly favorable testimony, the army recommended on January 11, 1954, that the 46-year-old HAYCRAFT be terminated from service."
- "With the McCARTHY hearings less than six weeks off, the army could not afford any suggestion of being soft on communism... HAYCRAFT was relieved of command..."
- "HAYCRAFT's witnesses throughly destroyed every charge manufactured against him."
- "HAYCRAFT appealed to the one Minnesotan who had both the politcal power and anti-Communist record to counterbalance the fears of the board: Hubert H. HUMPHREY."
- HUMPHREY's determined interest in the case finally overcame the board's fear of retribution for reinstating HAYCRAFT.
- "With the cloud of disloyalty finally lifted from his reputation, HAYCRAFT was promoted to colonel and served out the final six years of his army career as a professor of military science in the ROTC program at the University of Alaska."
- "HAYCRAFT's years of political commitment to the victims of the depression in Minnesota would no longer brand him a Communist. In the end, the red-baiting of Kenneth HAYCRAFT failed."
(2) Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index via Ancestry.com
- Name: Kenneth Claire HAYCRAFT
- Birth Date: 16 Feb 1907
- Birth Place: Beltrami, Minnesota, USA
- Mother Maiden Name: SYLVESTER
- Certificate Number: 1907-01063
(3) 1920 United States Census for Minnesota, Beltrami Co., Village of Solway: Supervisor's District 6; Enumeration District 50; Sheet 1A; January 21, 1920.
Kenneth C. HAYCRAFT is the son of Isaac G. and Daisy J. HAYCRAFT. He is 12 years old, born in Minnesota and is attending school.
(4) Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System via Ancestry.com
- Name: Kenneth C HAYCROFT
- Marriage Date: 10 Aug 1929
- Marriage Place: Hennepin, Minnesota, USA
- Spouse: Alberla P SMITH
- Certificate Number: 3350330
(5) Newspapers.com: Star Tribune; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sun, Jan 13, 1929; Page 34
"Kenneth HAYCRAFT experienced many thrills during the three years that he played football at Minnesota, but the greatest thrill of all came to him during the Gophers' brilliant victory over Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1927, when he nabbed a forward pass from Shorty ALMQUIST back of the Wolverine's goal line to give the Maroon and Gold the winning touchdown. Minnesota's All-American end of 1928 confided this information to the sports editor of The Minneapolis Tribune in reply to a question as to what he considered his biggest moment on the gridiron..."
(6) Wedding via Newspapers.com: The Minneapolis Journal; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sun, Aug 11, 1929; Page 1
"Kenneth HAYCRAFT, U. Grid Star, Weds Alberta P. SMITH. Kenneth C. HAYCRAFT, Minnesota's recent All-American football star and son of Mr. and Mrs. I. G. HAYCRAFT, 310 Twelfth avenue SE., and Alberta P. SMITH, Minneapolis amateur dancer and daughter of Mrs. S. S. SMITH, 1427 Emerson avenue N., were married late yesterday at the home of the bride's parents at Minnetonka Beach, Lake Minnetonka. Miss SMITH's only attendant was Mrs. George GIBSON, wife of the captain of the Minnesota 1928 football team. S. G. HAYCRAFT, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. Mr. HAYCRAFT has been attending the summer session at the university and will complete his course next month. He plans to play professional football with Herbert JOESTING this fall."
(7) 1930 United States Census for Minnesota, Hennepin Co., Minneapolis City, Block 258: Supervisor's District 6; Enumeration District 27-43; Sheet 11A; [undated] 1930.
Kenneth HAYCRAFT, his wife Alberta [SMITH] HAYCRAFT and daughter Alberta HAYCRAFT all reside with Alberta's parents, the Shelle S. SMITH family.
- Address: 1427 Emerson Ave.
- Age: 22 years old at time of census; 21 when first married
- Birthplace: Minnesota, as were his parents
- Occupation: None
(8) U.S., City Directories via Ancestry.com: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 1928: HAYCRAFT Kenneth C clk N W Natl Bank r 1423 S E 5th
- 1929: HAYCRAFT Kenneth C stdt UofM r 310 12th av S E
- 1930: HAYCRAFT Kenneth C (Alberta P) agt Sun Life Assurance Co r 1427 Emerson av N
- 1934: HAYCRAFT Kenneth C (Alberta S) (Smith & Haycraft) h801 E 22d
- 1936: HAYCRAFT Kenneth C (Alberta) (Smith & Haycraft) h4728 29th av S
(9) New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists via Ancestry.com
- Ship: Monarch of Bermuda
- Sailing From: Hamilton, Bermuda; January 8, 1936
- Arriving at: Port of New York, N.Y.; January 10, 1936
- Name in Full: HAYCRAFT, Kenneth C.; b. 1907 in Benidge Minn.; living at 4728-29th Ave S, Minneapolis, Minn.
- Name in Full: HAYCRAFT, Alberta S.; b. 1911 in Worthington Minn.; living at 4728-29th Ave S, Minneapolis, Minn.
(10) Arkansas, U.S., Divorces via Ancestry.com
- Location: Pulaski Chancery Court
- Plaintiff: Alberta P. HAYCRAFT
- Docket Number: 56884
- Defendant: Kenneth C. HAYCRAFT
- Date of Filing: March 7, 1938
- Date of Divorce: 12 Apr 1938
- Petitioner: Wife
- Marriage: August 10, 1929
- Alleged Cause: Indignities
- Residence of Defendant: Out of State
(11) DeKalb County, Illinois Marriages via Ancestry.com
- Name: Kenneth C HAYCRAFT
- Spouse's Name: Marion M BARCLAY
- Marriage Date: 9 Apr 1939
(12) 1940 United States Census for Illinois, DuPage Co., York Twp., Lombard: Supervisor's District 11; Enumeration District 22-61; Sheet 1B; April 2, 1940.
Kenneth HAYCRAFT is head of household, married to Marion [MILLER] HAYCRAFT. Children in the household are Clair, Sara, and Thomas HAYCRAFT. Marion furnished information to the census taker for this household. NOTE: It's not clear from this census record, but Clara and Sara are children from Kenneth's earlier marriage to Alberta SMITH; Thomas is a child from Marion's previous marriage to Robert S. BARCLAY and and Kenneth HAYCRAFT subsequently became his adopted father.
- Address: 426 Main Street
- Home: Renting, valued at $6,200, it is not a farm
- Age: 33, married
- Highest Grade of School Completed: High School - 4th Year
- Birthplace: Minnesota
- Residence on April 1, 1935: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
- At Work: Yes
- Number of hours worked previous week: 40
- Occupation: Attorney, SEC gov agency
- Occupation Code: V26-98-2 (Lawyers and judges; State and local government)
- Number of Weeks Worked in 1939: 39
- Salary: $3,200
- Income Other Than Salary: No
(13) U.S., Select Military Registers via Ancestry.com: U.S. Army; 1951
"HAYCRAFT Kenneth Clair 029704 B-Minn 16 Feb 07 A-Minn BSM Grad Inf Sch Adv O Crse 47 BA 30 LLB 30 Univ of Minn Enl 9 May 32 to 13 Mar 34 2lt FA NG 14 Mar 34 to Lt Col AUS 13 Mar 45 RA Capt Inf 12 July 46 with rank from 16 Feb 42 to Lt Col 2 Jan 49 PL 3639"
(14) U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications via Ancestry.com
- Name: Kenneth Claire HAYCRAFT
- National Number: 82059
- State Number: 59; the Alaska Society of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
- Descendant of: Isaac Van METRE (Private, Virginia Troops under George Rogers CLARK in the Illinois Country)
- Approved and Registered: November 7, 1958
- Inducted in Federal Service
--- 1940: 106th Cavalry (Illinois) National Guard
--- 1941: Instructor O The Cavalry Sch. Ft Riley, Kans
--- 1942: EX O - Weapons Dept, the Cav Sch. Ft Riley, Kans
--- 1943: CO - Officer Candidate School, Ft Riley, Kans
--- 1943-45: 104th Inf Div
--- 1946-Present: Regular Army, Branch Infantry
(15) U.S., Select Military Registers via Ancestry.com: U.S. Army Retirements; 1966
- Name: HAYCRAFT Kenneth Clair
- Grade: Col
- Service No: 029704
- Retirement Code: M1
- Date Retired: 31 Aug 61
- Decorations: BSM (Bronze Star Medal) CR (Combat Action Ribbon)
- Birthdate: 16 Feb 07
(16) Family History, Volume S(4), Sylvester, Daughters of the American Revolution library, Washington, DC., p. 6.
- "Lieut. Col., World War, Two."
(17) Information provided by the HAYCRAFT family, April 1999.
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Additional Notes.
Mayflower lineage: Howland/Tilley -1; Hope Howland -2; Hope Chipman -3; Samuel Cobb -4; Chipman Cobb -5; Andrew Cobb -6 (DAR/SAR ancestor); Hannah Cobb -7; Joanna Whitney -8; Charles Sylvester -9; Daisy Sylvester -10; Kenneth Haycraft -11.