DR. JAMES B. HAYS, who in the practice of medicine in Greene county has won a position of distinctive preferment as a representative of the medical fraternity, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, on the 18th of August, 1844. The family is of English, Welsh and Irish ancestry. The great-grandfather, David Hays, was born in England and became the founder of the family in the new world, crossing the Atlantic to America in colonial days. He settled in New England and because of the oppressive taxes of the mother country he espoused the cause of the colonists during the Revolutionary war and was killed in battle. His son, who also bore the name of David Hays, and was the grandfather of Dr. Hays, was born in England and served his country in the war of 1812. He, too, met death as the result of his military service. He was sent against the Indians upon the frontier and was shot in the Wabash district of Indiana, after which he was taken down the river in a canoe to Fort Valonia, where he died. His son, George W. Hays, was born in Fort Valonia, in Jackson county, Indiana, July 12, 1810, being the first white male child born in that county. He spent the greater part of his life in that locality and was prominent in its substantial development and improvement in the early days. He built several mills there and thus contributed to the industrial activity of this community. The same patriotic spirit which was manifest in his ancestors was also shown in his career, for at the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call and enlisted in the Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, becoming a second lieutenant of Company A. General Gresham was in command and he served for eighteen months, at the end of which time he resigned, owing to his son's illness, that he might bring him from Memphis, Tennessee. He afterward returned to the front, however, as a sutler and when the war was over he engaged in the hardware business at St. Jacob, Madison county, Illinois, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1892. He had seven children by his first marriage, the youngest of whom was Dr. Hays. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret House, was a native of Indiana and died when her son James was but two years of age, after which the father married Mrs. Elizabeth (Coppin) Dennison.
Dr. Hays acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state, pursuing his studies until sixteen years of age, when in July, 1861, he went to Indianapolis, in order to enlist in defense of the Union, desiring to become a member of Company F, Thirty-ninth Indiana Infantry. His services were refused on account of his youth, but he remained in the capital city and camped with the troops until they left the state in August. He then returned home, but on the 1st of December, of the same year, he again went to Indianapolis, remaining in Camp Morton with the recruits until the 24th of December, 1861, when he was accepted as a volunteer and mustered in with the boys in blue of Company A, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, his father's influence enabling him to become a member of the army. With his regiment he went to Fort Donelson and afterward returned from there to Indianapolis, the command acting as guard to five thousand prisoners who were captured at Fort Donelson. A short stay in the capital city was followed by a return to the south, the regiment joining General Grant's command at Savannah, Tennessee, and was stationed, together with the Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, to guard the commissary department, continuing at that point until the battle of Shiloh, in which the Fifty-third Indiana took part as a part of Beecher's brigade and Hurlburt's division. Later Dr. Hays participated in the siege of Corinth and after its evacuation by the Confederates he went with his regiment into Tennessee and Mississippi, that campaign ending with the engagement at Memphis. There were almost daily skirmishes in the vicinity of Holly Springs and Memphis. The Doctor was taken sick at the latter place and as before stated his father resigned in order to take him home. After he had recovered sufficiently he reported at headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1862. In April, 1863, however, he went as a citizen under a pass from General Rosecrans to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he joined the Second Battalion of Pioneers and with that command participated in the battles of Chickamaugua, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Afterward he returned home. During this period he was at the front simply as a citizen but was under fire. In September, 1864, he again enlisted, becoming a private of company B, Twenty-second Indiana Veteran Volunteers of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corp of Sherman's Army. General J. C. Davis being in command of the corps. Dr. Hays was with his regiment on the march to the sea and through the Carolina campaign, being in many skirmishes and also in the battle of Averysboro, North Carolina, March 16, 1865, and the battle of Bentonville, March 19-21, 1865. The troops then proceeded to Goldsboro, North Carolina, and after receiving a new supply of provisions and clothing continued in the advance to Raleigh and beyond. They were present at the surrender of General Johnston's Army at Greensboro and the war having ended they then marched to Richmond, Virginia, and on to Washington, D. C., participating in the grand review on the 23d of May, 1865,--the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere. With his regiment Dr. Rays afterward proceeded over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Parkersburg, Virginia, and by boat to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out on the 24th of June, 1865. He was then transferred to Indianapolis, by order, where the members of the regiment received an honorable discharge on the 1st of August, 1865. Dr. Hays was in many important engagements, often in the thickest of the fight, but he was never wounded, although his clothing was several times pierced by rebel lead.
Following his return from the army Dr. Hays attended Doverhill Academy in Indiana and was graduated with the class of 1867. He then engaged in teaching, which profession he followed for four terms. He afterward studied medicine and completed his course in the American Medical College at St. Louis, where he received a diploma in 1878, the degree of Doctor of Medicine being at that time conferred upon him. He then located for practice in Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, where he has since remained, and he now has a very large practice, extending beyond the borders of the county. He has ever been a close and earnest student of the science of medicine, is careful in diagnosis and accurate in the application of his knowledge to the needs of suffering humanity. He is a deep thinker, has read broadly, and his ability in the profession is acknowledged by his fellow practitioners.
In October, 1868, Dr. Hays was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Crane, a native of Indiana, who died in 1876. They had three children: George W., Sarah and Margaret, but all are now deceased. On the 9th of November, 1882, Dr. Hays was again married, his second union being with Bertha Vivell, who was born in Carrollton and is a daughter of Frank Vivell, an old and respected business man of this city now deceased. This marriage has been blessed with two children: Frank B. and Estelle. The son, with the patriotic spirit that has been characteristic of his ancestors for many generations, endeavored to enlist for service in the Spanish-American war, but was too young to become a soldier.
Dr. Hays is prominent in Grand Army circles and takes great delight in meeting with the veterans of the Civil war and recounting incidents of the camp and the field. He is now commander of W. P. Carlin Post, No. 442, of the Department of Illinois, at Carrollton. He also belongs to Carrollton lodge, No. 50, A.F. & A.M.; Carrollton chapter, No. 77, R.A.M.; to Carrollton council, No. 9, R.& S.M.; Hugh DePayens commandery, No. 29, K.T.; and to the I.D.K., a local society. While residing at Woody Dr. Hays was a member of the school board for seven years and he has been a member of the board of health of Carrollton and also of the city council. Taking an active and helpful interest in public affairs, he is the champion of many measures for the general good and his influence has been a potent factor in the substantial improvement of the county. He is recognized as one of the representative citizens of Carrollton, stands equally high as a physician, and throughout the county is held in the highest regard.