Thomas Hays

THOMAS HAYS, one of the leading attorneys of Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ohio, was born May 25, 1834, in Franklin Township, Columbiana Co., Ohio. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Scotland to Ireland during the reign of James I of England and VI of Scotland. The name was originally Hay, but when the family became quite numerous they were spoken of as the "Hays," and about A. D. 1750 a part of the family adopted the name of Hays, and have written it that way ever since.

His parents, James and Mary (McKernan) Hays, were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, where they, in 1818, were married. In 1819 they immigrated to America, and after a stay of about three years in Beaver County, Penn., they moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where they took up Government land, and were among the earliest of the pioneers, the woods abounding at that time with wild animals, including all kinds of game. Here they ended their days, their deaths occurring in 1846 and 1877, respectively. They had eight children—five sons and three daughters—the eldest of whom, William H. (now deceased), was born in County Tyrone, Ireland; six of this family are yet living.

Thomas Hays, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, is the sixth in his father's family in the order of birth, and first saw light in an old log cabin on the original homestead in Columbiana County, as above related. His early life was spent with his parents, assisting them in the duties of the farm, and attending the early district schools. When about eighteen years of age he commenced teaching in the district schools of the neighborhood, a profession he followed at various times for some ten winters, and the earnings so made he devoted to pay the expense of his studies at the New Lisbon High School, which he attended three years, supplementing same with a short course of study at Mount Union College.

While engaged in teaching he read law, and under the able tuition of Judge John Clarke, of New Lisbon, he advanced rapidly till in June, 1862, he was qualified to pass a most creditable examination before one of the supreme judges, and was admitted to the bar with the privilege of practicing before all the courts of the State of Ohio. In 1S67 he was admitted at Cleveland to practice before the United States District Court. In May, 1863, Mr. Hays came to Carrollton, and here established himself in the practice of his chosen profession. Politically he is a Democrat, and for two years was mayor of Carrollton; also for three years served as a member of the board of education.

In 1863 he married, in Columbiana County, Miss Martha J. Williams, a descendant of a pioneer family of that county, and four children have blessed them, viz.: Mary J., Joseph F., Adda C. and William J. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are members of the Presbyterian Church, and she is prominent in woman's work in connection therewith. He is the architect of his own success, and the family enjoy the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Harrison and Carroll, Ohio, containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families, Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1891

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