San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-05-10
A HERO GONE.
:, :, Col Jack Hays, the Famous "rsIa.
pail o. W. Ranger"
San Francisco Call.

pe SNst noted men in California
inc uN, John Coffee Hays. Col. Hays
Vol .od away peacefully at his home
?! Pas sSe Foothills of Alameda county,
u nth of Piedmont. Col. Jack
nolss as he was commonly called,
na yysd the title of the "Texan Ran
e ,sr" from his command of the Texas
l =. when Texas was an indepen.
a a[UJf state, and afterwards when it
asn s a member of fhe Union. Col.
M Nav was brave man. BY his cool
n0rSonal courage at all times and un-
ssr all circumstances, no matter what
a .,s emergency might be, he gained
his greatest reputation, though many
ntber circumstances during his event.
fuI life would make him a conspicuous
nan He was of small stature, and
slender but why; but he was a giant
n daring. Col. Hays was a native of
Wilson county, Tenn. He was born
" the wear 1917, and therefore was
40 wears old at his death. His early
DAVIS were spent on farm in the state
Of his birth, but when he was II or
1s wears of age he went to Texas and
entered the military service of that
revolted state under the celebrated
Cen Sam Houston. Texas was an
;ndenendent state from 1885 to 1916;
at the latter date Texas was admitted
into the Union. The military force
If Texas at first, consisted of volun-
teers, but subsequently a regular
army, few in number, was organized,
and Col. Hays was placed in COM
mand. During the war of the United
States against Mexico Col. Hays COM
handed the corps Of Texan troops,
which comprised several companies of
cavalry. He was under Gen. Taylor.
AT THE BATTLE OF MONTERREY
Col. Hays, by his undaunted valor,
particularly distinguished himself.
At the battle the Texas troops led the
van and bore the brunt of the day.
When Gen. Santa Anna surrendered
to Gen. Scott the Mexican COM
mander, then prisoner of war, was
placed in the custody of Col. Hays.
The tales of the glittering richness
of the gold mines of California at
tracted the adventurous young soldier,
and in 1S49 he crossed the plains and
Immediately came to San Francisco.
When he reached San Francisco the
state and county governments were
organized. His record in the Mexican
war had preceded him across the
plains, and almost as soon as he ar
rived here he was enthusiastically
elected the first she-iff of San Fran
cisco by the Peoples party. That
office he held for four years. During
that time the population Of San Fran
cisco included great numbers OF ruf-
fans-men whom taking OF human
life did not cause second thought,
desperate and criminal men. The in
domitable courage of theyoung sheriff
was abundantly shown during hi
term of office, and he was almost the
only man in San Francisco who could
quell disturbance. The anecdotes
Of the many serious broils stopped by
Sheriff Hays, alone, are as numerous
as they are interesting. The 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 1852, 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 Caperton are signed
to many of the old title deeds to YAK
land property.
In 1928, under President Pierce,
Col. Hays was appointed United States
surveyor-general for California, which
position he filled to the great satlsfac-
ton of the people. Of recent years
be has lived in spacious home IN
Alameda county, away from hustle
surrounded by trees and flowers. de
leaves one son, who bears the full
name of his father.
A BIOGRAPHY.
Halley's Centennial Book of Ala
media county," 1876, contains the fo d
lowing accounts of Col. John Z
HAYS: There is probably not maj