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Joseph Bays is a native of North Carolina, born in Surry county, that State,
September 15, 1844. He was a son of William Henry and Mary Ann (Eads) Bays, both of whom died in Kanawha county,
West Virginia. He entered the Federal army, March 1, 1864, as a member of Company G, 7th West Virginia Cavalry,
and was mustered out at Wheeling, August 1, 1865. While in service he took a soldier's part in all the battles
of his regiment, beginning with Floyd Mountain, and ending with Lynchburg, Virginia. He lost his hearing in
the service. He was one of six brothers in the Federal army, and had four brothers-in-law in the service. In
Kanawha county, March 10, 1867, he married Julia Ann Parsons, and their children are recorded: Richard Henry,
born January 21, 1868, died September 29, 1870; Andrew, born November 15, 1870, died January 24, 1823; Lauretta,
born September 28, 1872; Sarah Ann, July 29, 1874; Marion Jackson, February 17, 1876; Allia D., February 23,
1878; Mary Jane, April 1, 1880; Ealy Miritia, May 15, 1883. The wife of Mr. Bays is a daughter of Richard and
Sabria (Turlley) Parsons, of Kanawha couiity, and was born in that county November 1, 1841. In 1881 Mr. Bays
came to Lincoln county, and in Duval district he now owns 165 acres on Bear fork of Mud river, 50 acres under
cultivation, the remainder in timber, all well watered. His address is Griffithsville, Lincoln county, West
Virginia.
Extracted from West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, a reprint of Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia Lincoln County, WV, Biographies List, 1884.