My Genealogy Hound

John M. Hays, who since 1880 has engaged in the practice of law in Creston, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1853. His father, John G. Hays, was a native of Preble county, Ohio, and of Irish lineage, the family having been established in the Chester district of South Carolina in colonial days, while representatives of the name fought for the independence of the nation at the time of the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Hays, the former a planter of South Carolina who was quite successful in his undertakings. About 1798 he removed to Ohio and entered land in Preble county. The farm which he there developed is still in possession of his descendants. William Hays served in the war of 1812, his father-in-law, William Ramsey, of Rockbridge county, Virginia, serving as captain of the company.

John G. Hays, the father of our subject, was an influential and respected resident of his community, where he was called upon to serve in various minor offices. His political allegiance was given to the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party, with which he continued to vote until called to his final rest. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he served as an elder, while in the work of the church he took an active and helpful part. He wedded Mary Jane Williamson, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1828 and is now living at Camden, Ohio. She is of Scotch ancestry. Her mother’s brother served in the war of 1812. Her father, Alexander Williamson, was a farmer and in early life married Miss Jane Killough. In 1838 he removed to Iowa, when it was still under territorial rule, and became prosperous in the agricultural circles of this state. He died in Louisa county in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which he had long been a devoted member. The death of John G. Hays occurred in January, 1898, when he was in his seventy-fourth year.

Unto him and his wife were born seven children: Elizabeth, the wife of William Ramsey of Camden, Ohio; William A., a resident farmer of the old homestead in Preble county, Ohio; John M; James H., a professor of languages in the Colorado State Normal College; Robert M., a farmer of Preble county, Ohio; Rhoda, the wife of William Irwin, a farmer living near College Corner, Ohio; and Mary L., at home.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for John M. Hays in his boyhood and youth. He was provided with good educational advantages, however, and after attending the Fair Haven schools near his home he entered Geneva College, now at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, in 1872, and was graduated in June, 1878, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. In the meantime he engaged in teaching school and later continued to follow that profession until he had qualified for the professional duties which now claim his attention. He read law with the firm of Little & Little at Connersville, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar on the 23d of June, 1880. He began practice in Creston in December of the same year and has been in continuous practice here since. He has received his share of the public patronage and in fact has a large and distinctively representative clientage that has connected him with much important litigation tried in the courts.

In October, 1886, Mr. Hays was united in marriage to Miss Flora A. Orr, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1860, a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Paxton) Orr. Her father is a farmer by occupation and still resides upon the farm although he has given over the active work of the fields to others. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hays have been born two children, Martha, born October 12, 1888, and Paul M., September 2, 1892.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Hays is serving as a trustee, while in the work they are much interested. In politics he is an independent republican and has represented the second ward on the board of aldermen. His time and attention, however, are largely given to his business interests. In addition to his profession he owns land in Minnesota and he also carries on an abstract business, being at the head of The Guarantee Abstract Company. He has likewise made a creditable record at the bar since locating in Creston and substantial qualities of manhood and of citizenship have gained for him a place among the leading residents of this part of the state.