In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1838, Paint Township
From History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all oth (1881)
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 History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all oth (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.