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<br /> • " HISTORY OF l�1ACON COliNTY 143
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<br /> e in t858 he died � �e great lesson of self-indepencience and in war I�e gained experience by con-
<br /> lled from earthly .� tact with men wliich is often of much more value than great book learning.
<br /> Lewis, deceased; �f He is a man of good address, well informed and tried courage, and has arrived
<br /> �d; Thomas J., of _� : at an age where he can at ease enjoy the results ot many years of labor. It is
<br /> ; and Delia, who � �rcely necessary to add that the subject of this review stands high in the
<br /> � � opinion of his fellowmen.
<br /> state of his birth
<br /> tion in the public
<br /> �ivil war gathered CHARLES HAYS.
<br /> t86t, feeling that �arles Hays, a popular farmer of Hickory Point township and a worthv
<br /> ie enlisted in the = ` �escendant of a well known family of Macon county, was born Se tember 2
<br /> iment was sent to � � P 7,
<br /> ,ble campaigns of - 1859- His father, John R. Hays, was born in Indiana, in i83o, and came with
<br /> !ie leading battles. his parents to Illinois when he was four years of age, the family locating near
<br /> Monticello and Iater removing to tliis county. He was a son of olin and Re-
<br /> the firing line at becca (Hadley) Hays, tlie former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New
<br /> vas on detail duty york state. In this county the father of our subject grew up and was educated
<br /> ;t to arrive on the in the district schools, after leaving whicli he devoted his attention to farming.
<br /> ar was a thrilling He received some ]and from his fatl�er and became quite a successful farmer.
<br /> been engaged and At the time of llis death, in. r
<br /> ber of his father's - 900> lie �vas the o�vner of about six liundred acres
<br /> a remarkable fact "�. of land. Fie was ai� industrious at�cl intelligent man, who performed 1�is part in
<br /> :�= advancing the welfare of tl�is region and making it a desirable location for the
<br /> one, Lewis, gave ; . liest class of people. He }�ad the confidence of his neighbors and served for one
<br /> term as supervisor of his townsl�ip. He married Rachel Montgomery, a native
<br /> ice our subject in of Clark county, Ohio who was born A ril i8
<br /> home on the land ' P 9� 37� and �vas a daughter of Will-
<br /> e assumed charge ,'` �am and Amelia (Suver) D�Iontgomery. She came to Illinois with her parents
<br /> e land being pur-
<br /> and was l�ere married. She surv�ved her l�usband for teii years and was called
<br /> he bought ninety- away January 3, tqio, in the seventy-tl�ird year of l�er age. Mrs. Hays was a
<br /> n is provided with �" "'oman of fine character and one who contributed in an important degree toward
<br /> the prosperity and l�appiness of her family. She was the mother of five chil-
<br /> -ed and thirty-five P, � dren: Cl�arles, our subject; William J. and Frank, both residents of Decatur;
<br /> �s in the prqvince :i; � Cynthia, who died at nine years of age; ai�d one child who died in infanc
<br /> land in Nebraska, � y.
<br /> vhich reflects high Charles Hays was e ducated in the public scl�ools of this county and grew up -
<br /> � . as a farmer boy, becoming wel] acquainted with the various duties of the farm
<br /> len Wentworth, a 'f :' and under his father evincing an interest and proficiency in l�is work which was .
<br /> _ •:i _ a prophecy of a successfui career as an agriculturist and stock raiser. About the
<br /> :oss county, Ohio, } time of tlie death of his fatl�er lie assumed charge of his present farm, which
<br /> �- were the parents was part of tl�e old home place. Here he has since lived and is now the owner
<br /> es married and is of three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in this county, being
<br /> �r and is now de- one of its substantial and prosperous farmers.
<br /> Eean, of Kansas. � jn 1889 Mr. Hays was united in marriage to Miss EIizabeth Landis, a-
<br /> Lewis, at home; � dau hter of Hen
<br /> , and Benning, at ' g ry and Amanda (Reeser) Landis, both natives of Pennsyl-
<br /> vania, who came to Illinois about r866. Here Mr. Landis carried on farming,
<br /> becoming independent financially, and he and his �vife are now living retired in
<br /> _ number of years ' Decatur. They have four children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Hays; James, of De-
<br /> 1.:
<br /> lly he is identified . ;� ��r; William, of San Diego, California; and Etta L., now Mrs. Cooper, living
<br /> principles. As a � . near Harristown, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Hays four children have been born:
<br /> Here he learned :, ,
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