Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-02
COL. JACK HAYS.
The Famous Texas Ranger" Crosses
the Range.

Fan Francisco Call, April %.
Death called away yesterday n Of
tho most noted men IN California
Colonel John Coffee Hays. Colonel
Hays passed away peacefully at his
home In the foothills Of Alameda
county, north Of Piedmont. "Colo.
mel Jacks Hays" as he was commonly
called, earned the title of the Texan
Ranger" from bis command Of the
rexan troops when Texas was an In.
dependent state and after wards when
1t was a member of the Uaton. Cole.
mel Hays was q brave man BY his cool
personal courage at all times and under
all circumstances, no matter what tho
emergency might be, he gained his
greatest reputation, though many
other circumstances during his event.
full life would make him q conspicuous
man. He was of small stature, and
slender bu. why; but he was q giant
In daring. Colonel Hays was a native
of Wilson county, Tennessee. He was
born In the year 1917, and, therefore,
was sixty.six pears old at tina time OF
his death. His early days we're spent
on q farm In the state of his
birth, but when he was seventeen or
eighteen years of age he went to Texas
aud entered the military service of
that revolted state, under the cele.
brsted General Sam Houston. Texas
was IN independent state from 1886 to
1876; at the latter date Texas was ad-
mitted Into the union. The military
force Of Texas, at first, consisted of
volunteers, but subsequ emily a regular
army, few In number, wss organized,
and Colonel Hays vas placed In com.
mand. During the war of the United
States against Mexico, Colonel Hays
command ed the corps of Texas troops,
which comprised several companies of
cavalry. He was under General Tay-
lor.
AT THE BATTLE OF MONTEREY
Colonel Hays, by his undaunted valor,
particularly distinguished himself,
At the ba title the Texan troops led the
van and bore the brunt of the day.
When General Santa Ana surrendered
to General Scott, the Mexican COM
mander, then q prisoner of war,
was placed In the custody of Colonel
Hays.
The tales of the glitterlug richness
of the gold mines of California at
tracted the adventurous young sol.
der, an 4 In 1849 he crossed the plains
and Immediately came to San Fran
cisco. When he reached Sal Fran.
cisco the state and county govern
ments we're organized. His record
in the Mexican war had precsaed him
across the plains, and almost Is soon
as he arrived here he was enthusiast.
cally elected the FIRST sheriff of San
Francisco by the peoples party.
That ofice he held during four
years. Daring that time the
population of San Francisco included
great numbers of ruff ans men whom
taking of huma / life did not cause q
second thought, desperate and criminal
men. The indomltable courage Of the
young sheriff was abundantly shown
during his term of eff 90, and he was
almost the only man In San Francisco
who could quell a disturbance. The
anecdotes of the many serious broil.
stopped by Sheriff Hays, alone, are
as numerous as they are interesting,
TIL earlier part of his life was full Of
thrilling Incidents, and no period
would show a greater number than
during the time when he was sheriff
of this county. In 1862, with others,
he purchased the present site of the
city of Oakland. With those engaged
with him, he laid out the city Of Oak,
land, and disposed of Town lots. The
names of Hays and Csperton are sign
ed to many of the old title deeds t.
Oakland property.
In 1858, under President Pierce,
Col. Hays was appointed United State
surveyor general for California, which
position he filed to the great satisfac
ton of the people. OF recent years hi
has lived In a spacious home In Ala.
media county, away from hustle, sur
rounded by trees and flowers. Eli
leaves one son, who bears the full
name of his father.