PATRICK HAYS was born in Ireland March 3, 1843, and when but two years of a(re was brought by his parents to America, landing in Canada, but soon coming to the States. Early in 1861, Mr. Rays fixed upon Medarysville as a home. In August of the same year, be enlisted in Company C, Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to Gen. A. M. D. McCook's division in the Army of the Cumberland. His first fight was at Shiloh, after which he was promoted to Fifth Sergeant. After the siege of Corinth, he was made First Sergeant. He was next at Stone River, Lavarne, Triune, Liberty Gap and Chickamauga,, in the last being struck by bullets three times inside of twenty minutes, one minie ball passing through his left thigh. After three weeks' treatment in the hospital at Nashville, he came home on a thirty days' furlough. At the end of this time, being still disabled, lie was commissioned Recruiting Sergeant, and enlisted twenty-one men. He rejoined his regiment in May, 1864, at Chattanooga, and was commissioned First Lieutenant. He veteranized at this time, and in November 1864, was promoted to a Captaincy. In December, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and then came to Idaville, where he worked at shoe making for some time. He then engaged in merchandising, and then in farming, and has met with success, having a neat home and eighty-three acres of well cultivated land. Mr. Hays was married, January 25, 1870, to Miss Loretta Irelan, who was born December 15, 1846. He is a Democrat, and in the spring of 1882 was elected Road Supervisor. He is a member of the G. A. R., and his wife is a member of the Church of God.

Back to the White County Biographies Main Page