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 theirs to reach out the mighty arm of power and strike the chains from off the slaves, preserve the country from dissolution and keep unfurled in 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 commit to books and cold type may give to the future the tale of their suttering 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 colleges 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 briefiy 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 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 Fourteenth 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 anotlier regiment in the whole army of the North 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 ot 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 actixe in all good work in his community and was a great believer and Sunday school worker, being one of the best Biblical students in the county.
Captain Hays was married December 24, 1867, to Mary E. Brock, daughter of Evan arid Susan (Griffith) Brock, and to this union were born eight children: Mrs. Lenora 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 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.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)