The Hays Families of Fayette County, Ohio

D. M. HAYS.

D. M. Hays, agriculturist, Washington, was born in Ross County, August 1, 1824, and is a son of James, jr., and Margaret Hays, and grandson of James Hays, sen., who was grandfather to President

Hayes. Grandfather James jr's father was a native of Kentucky, and his mother of Ohio. They had a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, all living.

The subject of our sketch is the eldest of the family, and was married, in 1848, to Miss Rebecca Mann, daughter of David and Harriet Mann, of this state. They have a family of six children living: Harriet E., Joseph A., Addison N., Margaret M., John B., and Alice D.; and six dead: James D., John W., George W., and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Hays is a member of Bloomingburg Lodge N'o. 449, F. & A. M., and also a member of the Grange, lo. 599; he is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was called from him by death last August, after living together for thirty-three years. He now owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres in this township, well cultivated, and is one of the thorough-going and enterprising farmers of the county. He received his education in Pike County, where his youth was principally spent. He is now extensively engaged in the agricultural implement business, and is doing his full share of the business in Washington.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES D. HAYS.

Charles D. Hays was born in Ross County, this state, in 1826. When about four years of age, he went with his father's family to Pike County, and settled on a farm near the town of Piketon, where he spent seventeen years of his youth assisting on the farm. In 1847, he came to this county, and for nearly three years lived in Union Township. In 1849, he purchased a farm three miles north of Bloomingburg, and in 1850 moved upon it, where he still resides. He has made many improvements; among them the erection of a commodious residence.

lie united in mai-riage, in 1848, with Miss Catherine daughter of John and Mary A. Parker, of Paint Township, Rev, William Dickey officiating. Six children blessed this union; three sons and three daughters: John, George, Grant, Mary A., Emma and Margaret; all living at home except John and George, who are married. George resides in Fayette, and John in Clinton County.

Charles' grandfather was a native of Ireland. (See biography of Morgan Hays.)

James, Charles' father, was born in Kentucky. When ten years old he came to this state with his parents, and to the farm now owned by C. D. Hays. When about twenty years of age he went to Ross County, and made his home with his brothers-in-law, Charles and John Davis.

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C. D. Hays and wife own nearly nine hundred acres of land, part of which is in Clinton County. The farm upon which they live contain two hundred and thirty-eight acres, well improved and beautiful to the eye.

Mr. Hays is a strong Republican, and staunch temperance man. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

John Hays, son of James Hays, and grandson of Robert and Margaret (Maguire Hays, was born m Pike County, Ohio, January 19, 1841, where he spent aiost of his youthful days.

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Mrs. Hays' grandfather was WiUiam Russell, who was born near Londondery, Ireland, about 1784, came to the United States in 1798, and joined his brother John in Philadelphia, who had preceded him to this country. After a few months he left Philadelphia, and stopped with one John Smith, and learned the matter's trade. In 1800 he moved, with Mr. Smith, to Maysville, Kentucky. In 1808 Mr. Russell left Kentucky and came to West Union, Ohio, where he married Nancy Wood, June 8, 1809. He represented Adams County in the State Legislature, from 1811 to 1813, and in the State- Senate from 1818 to 1820. In 1825 he represented Ad- Vane, Brown, Highland, Clinton, and Fayette counties; in 1833 the Ross district, in all eight years. He delivered his farewell address in congress, February 21, 1843. No man in public life ever maintained during the severe trials of many heated contests a pure reputation, and was regarded by all as the honest member. He died at his residence, in Scioto County, September 27, 1845. His wife, Nancy (Wood) Russell, was of English descent, born in New Jersey, about 1790, and died, February 21, 1856.

Mrs. Hays' father, Robert Russell, was born in West Union, Ohio, in 1816, came to Scioto County, with his father's family, in 1833, and married Sarah Heroedh, of Scioto County, Ohio, in-about 1840, who bore one son and one daughter. The son, Robert, is married, and at this writing lives in Scioto County. Annie, the daughter, married John Hays, of Pike County, Ohio. Her father died, September 27, 1845, the same night, and within two hours of the time her grandfather, William Russell, died. Mrs. Hays received her education in the Portsmouth, Ohio, schools. She has been a member of the Baptist Church from youth. She is a good neighbor, wife, and mother.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Willis Hays, farmer, Jeffersonville, is a son of John, who came to this county, from near Cynthiana, Kentucky, in the fall of 1806. He was married, in 1808, to Miss Mary Parrett, who died September, 1821; she bore him two children: William and John J.; Wil-

Jefferson township. 685 liam is deceased. He married Miss Catherine Webrigh, in 1823, our subject's mother. Mr. Hays was one this county's early pioneers. He enlisted as a captain in the war of 1812, and served during the entire war. He lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and was a large and strong man.

Our subject was born, in Paint Township, this county, July 15, 1827, where he was reared, educated, and married Miss Margery J. Janes, daughter of William Janes, April 20, 1854; eleven children are the result of this union: Amy, Ann, George L., Catherine, Lucy, Laura, Ellen, Grant, Noah, Callie and Jessie.

Mr. Hays has a farm, of five hundred and five acres, situated about one and one-half miles, east of Jetfersonville, on the Washington pike. He farms to both grain and stock, and is very successful. He is a well and favorably known citizen, who has many friends throughout his acquaintances.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. W. HAYS.

J. W. Hays, is a son of John and Catherine (Winebright) Hays, and was born in Paint Township, this county, August 20, 1838. The early part of his life was spent on the home farm, laboring and caring for the stock that was constantly on hand, often in great numbers; acquiring his education during the winter when he could be spared from home. His time at school was limited, as his father was a driving business man, with always sufficient work on hand for all the force lie could rally. It may be said in truth of J. W. Hays, that, although the son of a rich man, he never ate any " idle bread." He is now, however, reaping the reward of early toil, having inherited a large estate from his father.

On April 5, 1860, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Able and Jane (Kirkpatrick) Armstrong, of this county. Two sons and four daughters blessed this union: Nora, Alta, Frank, Cora, Dora and Ellis; all are living except Xora, who passed to the spirit-land when very young.

Mr. Hays lives live miles north of Washington, on the Lewis pike, where he owns five hundred and twenty acres of rich and beautiful land. Like his father, he is very fond of fine and fast horses, and has in training four or five that will tell on the track the coming season.

John Hays, our subject's father, was born in Kentucky, December 28, 1788, coming to this state in an early day, and finally settled in Paint Township, this county, where he died August 10, 1860. In many respects Mr. Hays was a wonderful man. He commenced life poor, and at the time of his death was the owner of more than three thousand acres of as fine land as could be found in the county. He possessed controlling power over those with whom he associated. Had he been a man of letters and early mental training, he could have stood beside the Xation's ablest statesman.

An incident may serve to illustrate, the style of man he was: A neighbor had made a large purchase of land in Missouri, and spent the summer in improvements. When he came home in the fall, Mr. Hays called to see and hear about his Missouri purchase, when the following conversation ensued: " Well Jack! I have built several hundred panels of fence, and put a stone under every corner." " What kind of a stone?" said Mr. Hays. "A flint stone," he replied. " Your land aint worth a damn I " was the response. Time proved this rough expression to a great extent true.

He married for his second wife, Kate Winebright, by whom he had six children: Willis, Coleman, Letitia, James W., Crosby, and Lacinda. All lived to have families; only three living at this Avriting: Willis, Letitia and James W.

Mrs. John Hays died December 4, 1872. Mrs. J. AV. Hays' father died in Clinton County, Indiana, in 1864 from a hurt, received in defending his son, who was a Union soldier, from a mob of rebel sympathizers. Her mother preceded him many years before.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CAPT. JOHN C. HAYS.

The half century which has elapsed since the Civil War leaves comparatively few of the old veterans to tell the story of that terrible conflict between the states. Through four years of suffering and wasting hardships the Union soldier laid the superstructure of the greatest nation on the face of the earth and dedicated it to the cause of human freedom. The world has looked on and called those soldiers sublime, for it was their to reach out the mighty arm of power and strike the chains from off the slaves, preserve the country from dissolution and keep unfurled to the breeze the only flag that ever made tyrants tremble. Pension and political power may be thrown at the feet of these gallant soldiers; art and sculpture may preserve upon canvas and in granite and bronze their unselfish acts; history may corn-

Google nut to books and cold type may give to the future the tale of their suffering and triumph, but to the children of generations yet unborn will it remain to accord the full measure of appreciation and undying remembrance of the immortal character carved out by the American soldier in the dark days of the sixties. One of Fayette county's gallant veterans who has responded to the last roll call is Capt. John C. Hays, than whom there was no braver soldier or truer friend.

The late Capt. John C. Hays was born in Union township, Fayette county, Ohio, on October 24, 1834, and died in the hospital at Springfield, where he had gone for treatment, October 6, 1907. He was the son of William and Hannah (Brown) Hays, natives of the county and honored citizens. William Hays and wife reared a large family of children: Mrs. Mary Dawson, Charlotte. Anna, Malissa, Elijah, Harrison. Jaxon, John C. and several who died in early childhood.

Captain Hays received a good education in the common schools and coIle:es of his state. After completing the common schools of his home neighborhood he went to Antioch College, where he took the classical course. It was while attending college that he received his first military training, although he little realized at that time how soon he would be able to make use of it. After leaving college he taught school for one year, and then took up the study of law with one of the best lawyers in Washington C. H. In due course of time he was admitted to the bar and started to practice his profession. However, the Civil War came on and he laid aside his law books and offered his services to his country.

John C. Hays enlisted on August 9, 1862, in Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as first lieutenant. This regiment was recruited from the counties of Fayette, Perry, Fairfield, Pickaway, Hocking and Vinton, and was mustered into the service of the United States September 11, 1862. The regiment remained in Camp Circleville until September 19, 1862, when it was ordered to Marietta. Upon arriving at the latter place, September 21st, the regiment went into camp for six weeks, during which time it was drilled and equipped for active service in the field. It is not possible in this connection to follow the history of this regiment, but only to indicate very briefly such gallant record. In December, 1862, the regiment was placed on board a transport and taken down the Ohio and Mississippi to Vicksburg, and participated in the assault on the outer works of that city in the latter part of December. The regiment participated in all of the engagements fought

Google around Vicksburg during the winter, spring and summer of 1862-3. After the surrender of Vicksburg he remained in that city until August 13, 1863, when the regiment was taken down the Mississippi to New Orleans and from thence carried to the coast of Texas, where they landed December 3, 1863. The regiment remained in Texas and Louisiana until January, 1865, when it was ordered to Florida, but in May was returned again to Texas, where it was stationed when the war closed. During its term of service the One Hundred and Iourteenth Regiment marched by land and sailed by water over ten thousand miles, performing duty in ten different states, engaging in eight hard-fought battles and numerous skirmishes. It lost in killed and wounded six officers and eighty men. The loss by disease was very great the first year, when two hundred men died and a large number were discharged for disability. A singular point in the history of this regiment is the fact that it was free from casualties during the latter part of its service. During the last nineteen months no regimental burying occurred and it is doubtful if another regiment in the whole army of the Xorth holds such a record. Captain Hays, who was mustered in as first lieutenant, was mustered out as captain of his company.

Immediately after the close of the war Captain Hays returned to his home in Fayette county and, after marrying in 1867, turned his attention to farming, preferring the independent existence of the farmer to that of the more exacting life of the lawyer. He owned a very productive farm of two hundred acres in Jefferson township and on this he spent the remainder of his days. He was active in all good work in his community and was a great believe and Sunday school worker, being one of the best Biblical students in the county.

Captain Hays was married December 24, 1867, Mary E. Brock, daughter of Kvan and Susan (Griffith) Brock, and to this union were born eight children: Mrs. I.nora Horney, who has three children, Thurman, Audrey and Horney: Lillian May, who is a trained nurse at Springfield, Ohio: Leoti, deceased: Anna Maud, the wife of Chester Irvin; Daisy Francis, deceased: Mrs. Blanche Ritenhour, who has three children, Carroll, John J. and Donald: Thurman B., who married Esther Gerard: John C. who is unmarried and now managing the home farm.

Captain Hays led a simple, unostentatious life, and in his home circle was known as a true and loving husband and father. He was a man of broad education, possessing a well stored mind and kept in close touch with the great issues before the American people. He was a strong advocate of

Google temperance and rejoiced in the wave of reform that is. sweeping over this land. He was a man of force of character and made himself felt on the right side of all questions of reform. Thus is briefly reviewed the life of a man who was greatly beloved by everyone who knew him, a man who had the interests of his family at heart, a man who was true to himself, to his country and to his God.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DELBERT C. HAYS.

The photographic art has made great strides in the past few years, and the development of this art from the time the first daguerreotype was put on the market down to the present time has kept pace with the advance of other arts and sciences. The development of the camera and kodak has been so rapid that the dealers have hardly been able to keep up with the many changes. At the present time hardly a town or city of any size but what handles kodaks of some kind and thousands of amateur photographers are found scattered throughout the United States. With all of this development it is not to be wondered at that the professional photographer has seen his business increased by leaps and bounds. The desires to have the pictures of our relatives and friends was never as strong as it is today, and with the increased production of photographic supplies, the product has fallen to such a price that good pictures are within the reach of all. One of the photographers of Washington C. H. who is attaining an enviable reputation in his particular line is Delbert C. Hays, who has maintained a studio in this city for the past seven years.

Delbert C. Hays, the son of George D. and Lucy M. (Williams) Hays, was born in Paint township, this county, March 23, 1883. His parents were both natives of this county, and his father is still operating a farm in Paint township, although he is now living in Washington C. H., where he has resided for the past thirty years. For several years he was engaged in the coal and ice business in this city, but is now in active charge of his farm, although not living on it. George D. Hays is the son of Hackney Hays, an early settler in Fayette county. Hackney Hays and his wife were the parents of a large family of children, Lynn, Morgan. George D., James S., Mrs. Ellen Mallow, Mrs. Almira Thompson and Mrs. Martha McCoy. All of these children, except Lynn and Morgan, are still living. The parents of Mrs. George D. Hays were H. B. Williams and wife, also early settlers in this county. H. B. Williams was twice married, his first wife having died many years ago, after which he married again, and to the second union three children were born. Burton, Alice and Fanny. There were two children by the first marriage, Jay G. and Lucy M.

Delbert C. Hays was reared in Washington C. H. and, after finishing the course in the public schools of this city, began the study of photography, and has made this his life work. In 1907 he opened a studio of his own, and for the past seven years has been located at the corner of Court and Main streets. His studio is equipped with all of the latest and most approved cameras and accessories, enabling him to give his patrons all of the latest designs in the photographic art. Being a man of artistic tastes and genial disposition, he has built up a large patronage in the city and county, and has the satisfaction of seeing his business increase from year to year.

Politically, Mr. Hays is identified with the Progressive party, having cast his fortunes with that party upon its organization in the fall of 1912. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and has attained to the chapter and commandery degrees. Mr. Hays is still a young man and has so conducted himself thus far as to merit the hearty approval of his many friends and neighbors.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.