San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-03
The Late Col. John c. Hays.
rSan An.onio Erpress. ]

San An,0Rto ETTTtSS.
One by one, in rapid succession, are pas
sing away the survivors of the men who
achieved the independence of Texas, and
the triumph of constitutional liberty. rOn
Monday, the 23d ult', died, at Oakland,
CAL, John @. Hays, whose name has long
been o household word amongst us, whose
services to the infant republic, and more
especially to this western region, 1t IS LETT
to some abler pen to narrate.
Col John @. Hays was born in Yazoo
county, Mississippi, and came to Texas in
1887, reaching San Antonio early in 1888.
He was appointed deputy surveyor of the
Bexar land district, which then comprised
the whole Of the territory extending from
the Colorado river to the Rio Grande, from
Ell Paso to the Gulf 1t is related of him
that in one of the Indian fights, which
were of almost daily occurrence in those
troublesome times and when the odds in
favor of the savage seemed overwhelming,
Hays assumed the direction OF his party, de-
Ifeated the Indians, and from that day for
ward was recognized as a leader of men by
the bold adventurers who constituted the
folorn hope of civilization in the vast Wild
erness of Western Texas. His extremely
youthful appearance and unaffected modesty
were uSSOcluCeu Will IuiCt
and self reliance which enabled him to main
tain undisputed authority over the hetero-
peneous elements which composed his COM
mand on the western frontier from 1910 to
1916, unsupported by the general govern
ment of the republic and state, under the
most difficult and embarrassing circumstan-
ces and for long yeriods without supplies
of any kind.
In 1910 he was elected surveyor, and in
the same year he was appointed by Presi-
dent Lamar captain of the famous company
of rangers to which he gave his name and
whose history up to the time of the anpexa-
ton is q wonderful record Of daring and ro-
mantle adventure. In the operations
against the invading forces of Generals
Vasauez and Woll, in the spring and fall Of
1912 this company and its captain bore
distinguished part
ASA Hays was promoted to the rank OF
major in the service of the republic, in COM
mand of battalion of 240 men, to whom
was entrusted the protection of the frontier
from Red River to Corpus Christi, duty
WEIGH was SO we'll performed that in the
space of year but two scalps were taken
by Indians on this long line of frontier OF
near 700 miles in extent The breaking
out of the war with Mexico brought Col
Hays in command of o regiment of Texas
cavalry to the service of the United States,
under General Zachariah Taylor, when
their share in the storming of Monterey
elected the highest eulogium from the COM
nanding genera.
Col. Hays, on the disbandment of his
regiment in the fall of 1916, returned to
Texas, raised another regiment of Texas
troops, and took part in the campaign Of
General Scott, which resulted in the capture
of the City of Mexico and the treaty Of
Guadalupe Hidalgo. On his return from
this campaign he married Susan b., daugb-
ter of Major Calvert, of the Capotes, and
in 1S49 removed to San Francisco, having
been appointed by President Pierce survey
or general Of the then territory of Califor
MIA, He afterwards filed the Office of sher
iff at the time of the San Francisco vigilance
committee Since that time he has resided
at Oakland, California, having been an in
valid for some years. He leayes widow.
one son and one daughter, and name which
Texas will not leave TO oblivion.