My Genealogy Hound

HON. M. W. HAYS, physician and statesman, Troy. We take great pride in writing the biography of Hon. M. W. Hays, whose portrait appears in this work; he is, in every way, worthy of the position he now occupies, and does, not only himself but the county, honor; he was born in Brown Co., Ohio, in 1840, and his parents were Gabriel and Elizabeth Hays; they were the parents of the following named children: William, Thirza, Hamer R., Martin L., James, M. W., Thenia, Ellsberry, Mary P., and Eli M. To the sons we shall have occasion to again refer. The parents were natives of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio at an early date. M. W. Hays did good service during his boyhood on the farm, driving an ox team, and doing heavy work; his leisure hours were few, but these were highly improved; his mind received impressions easily, and ere his parents were aware of the change of their boy from a lad, to the stature of a man, he stood before them, possessed of a splendid education, bearing in his hand a diploma honestly earned from one of the best colleges in the State of Ohio. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Foster’s Company of Independent Cavalry, who, during the war, were assigned to duty at the headquarters of Gens. Fremont, McKinstrey, Halleck and McPherson, and were afterward with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. In December, 1861, he, together with ten others, was captured by a detachment of Gen. Poindexter’s men, under command of Capt. Walker. The Doctor had made the assertion that he would never be put inside a rebel prison, and in this case it seemed as if his resolve would not hold good. With one of his comrades, he managed to escape the first night, owing to the extreme darkness, and reached the Union lines in safety the next afternoon. In June, 1863, on account of disability, he was discharged and returned home; careful nursing soon effected a radical cure, and, full of patriotism for the cause which he espoused, he again enlisted, in the United States Navy, under Capt. Charles Litherberry, on board the United States receiving ship, “Grampus.” He was at once detailed as Assistant Surgeon, by J. J. McElhenny, Surgeon in charge. In this capacity, he served with distinction during the remainder of the war. Returning to Russellville, Brown Co., he commenced the practice of his chosen profession in the fall of 1865. In 1869, he was wedded to Miss Sarah S., daughter of Joseph H. and Jane A. Stafford, since which time the beautiful city of Troy has been their home; they are the parents of two children— William S. and Ollie E. In the spring of 1878, without opposition, Dr. Hays was elected Mayor of Troy, and, in the fall of the same year, President of the Miami County Agricultural Board; re-elected in 1879, again in 1880, and is still a member of the board. In 1879, he was elected a member of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly, by the Republican Party, whose cause he has espoused from its beginning, and has never swerved from its solid principles. He resigned his official position as Mayor, and entered upon his duties as Representative of this district. To his honor be it said, that he was the author of the bill providing for the maintenance of the soldiers’ and sailors’ orphans, by the State instead of the county, which bill successfully passed both Houses. This law had previously been in force, but had been repealed by the Sixty-third General Assembly. As a citizen, a soldier, and a statesman, his record is without a stain. His brother William was the second man in Brown Co. to enlist under the Union banner during the war of the rebellion, and was elected Captain of Co. I, 12th O. V. I.; re-enlisting at the expiration of his term of service, he was commissioned Major of the 89th O. V. I. Hamer was elected Captain of Co. B, 8th Cavalry, and served during the war in the Rocky Mountains. Gabriel and Elizabeth Hays reared six stalwart sons, who did battle for the Union, and all were noble soldiers. Two of their children, William and Mary, are not living; the mother of these gallant sons is also deceased; the father still survives, is straight as an arrow, full of energy and pluck. Dr. M. W. Hays has a nice residence in Troy, furnished in a style commensurate with his means, which are ample. His wife’s mother, Mrs. Stafford, and her daughter Agnes, find a pleasant home beneath his roof. His courteous demeanor has made him our most popular man, and he never fails as a candidate to run far ahead of his ticket.