393JOHN B. HAYS (farmer and miller, post-office, Schleursburg)

In 1797 Mr. Hays' father, Daniel Hays, who was a grandson of Daniel Boone, came to St. Charles county from Kentucky in company with his grandfather, the brave old pioneer and Indian fighter.  It was about the second trip that the hero of the pioneer time of Kentucky and Missouri made to this State.  The grandson, Daniel Hays, who was named for his grandfather, was then a mere youth, but he came of a stock that had the courage to face any hardship or danger, and he passed through many of both in this then new country.  Like his grandfather, he was a fearless Indian fighter, and as vigilant and dangerous an enemy with the rifle as the red man had to meet.  He took part in many re-encounters and bloody frays with the Indians until they were driven out of the country after the War of 1812.  He was one of the most fearless volunteers in that war, and was twice wounded during its short but bloody record.  He was shot in the neck by an Indian who took dead aim at his head, but proved not to be as good a marksman as the pale face would have been in similar circumstances.   The ball lodged in his neck where it could not be extracted without fatal results, and he carried it with him to the grave.  He died in this county in 1866.  The other wound he received was a painful wound in the knee from a rifle ball.  He was a substantial farmer of this county, and also followed milling for many years.  During the Indian depredations in Missouri he commanded a company of volunteers, styled private men.  Capt. Hays became famous throughout the West for his daring and fearless dash throughout the war.  He was married in Warren county in early manhood to Miss Mary Bryan, a daughter of David Bryan, a pioneer of that county.  She survived until 1867, the year following his death.  He had twelve children, only two of whom are now living.  John B. Hays, the subject of this sketch, was born in this county December 31, 1836.  He was reared to the occupation of farming and milling.  In 8162 he enlisted in Capt. Johnson's company, under Col. Dorsey, in the Confederate service, and was connected with the service during the war.  He afterwards returned to his native county, and
in 1866 he was married to Miss Julia A. Howell, a daughter of Pizarro and Maria Howell.  They have three children:  William J., Coonza L. and Wade Hampton.  Mr. Hays has a good farm of 444 acres.