Samuel Hays departed this life February 5th, in Atchinson Co., MO., in the eighty-eighth year of his age. He was a native of Kentucky, and a number of his uncles were killed by the Indians in the first settling of Kentucky, and his own father ran many narrow risks, and was crippled by them. Samuel moved to Indiana in 1811 and settled in Switzerland county, and in 1815 moved to Jefferson county, and settled in Danville, a place that was thought then would be the county seat. He was a gun smith by trade, and bought property there, and built a house and shop at considerable expense. Madison, the present county seat was then a very obscure place, having but one little store in it, and that in a log house; but the county seat went there, and Danville went down, and has been in a farm for many years. Mr. Hays bought a farm a few miles from Danville, and farmed some and run his shop too. Made a great many squirrel guns, as they were then called, forging the barrels by hand from heavy square bars of iron, and then finishing off the guns ready for use all by hand. And many of these old guns are now scattered all over these Western States. In 1831, I think it was, he sold his farm and bought another in Saluda township, same county, some twelve miles below Madison on the Ohio river, and moved on to it, and ceased to work any longer at his trade, but toiled on the farm as long as he was able to work. He lived in Jefferson county, Indiana about fifty five years, buried two companions, had eleven children by the first, three boys and eight girls, and by the second companion a girl. A few years ago he went with his daughter, Sarah Ann Johnson, to Missouri, who cared for him tenderly until the Master called him from labor to reward.

He was a hard working, honest man all the days of his life. He had a fine constitution, and might have lived, and perhaps would, if he had taken proper care of himself, to be a hundred years old. His early opportunities for mental culture were very poor indeed. Six month's schooling was all he ever received, and yet he was a very good penman, and an excellent accountant; very ready and accurate in counting interest at any percent, and drawing up legal documents of various kinds. He always was a true friend of education, and would employ and pay a teacher himself rather than his children should be without instruction, and if there was no school house, he would build one himself, if there were none willing to help, rather than have no school. He never aspired to any office and never took any conspicuous part in politics, but always voted, and voted with the Democrats until the breaking out of the war; but then changed right around and voted the other way, voting for Lincoln the last time and then for Grant. He will be remembered by many of the old citizens of Madison and Jefferson county, Indiana as a quiet, industrious honest man. His last days were spent comparatively among strangers; but in great quiet, giving him time for reflection and preparation for another world; for like many other men he had lived in a hurry during his active life, and bolstered himself up with isms that he found upon mature reflection would not stand the test. His end was peaceful and serene, and we trust he is now happy with many of his pioneer friends that have passed over and gone to heaven.