USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 40
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CAPTAIN EBENEZER ZANE HAYS.
Captain E. Z. Hays, the subject of this sketch, a veteran of the Civil war and the oldest member of the Coshocton bar, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 10, 1837. His father was born in Maryland and was taken by his parents, about 1806 to 1810, to the blockhouse at Wheel- ing, West Virginia. He and his twin brother being carried "over the moun- tains" in a sack thrown across the back of a horse on which the mother rode. The father, John Joseph Hays, married Susan Laughary and went to farming on the hill above where Bridgeport now stands and there Cap- tain E. Z. Hays was born. The family is of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock. Beginning with the Revolution and ending with the brief contest with Spain there has been a representative of the family in all our wars. In the spring of 1852 John J. Hays removed to a farm opposite Warsaw in this county. In politics he was an old line whig, later becoming identi- fied with the republican party, being one of its organizers in this county, and always active and influential in its councils.
Ebenezer Z. Hays was the eldest child and only son in a family of four. The son having, by teaching school, acquired a liberal academic edu- cation, read law with C. C. Leonard (then one of the first lawyers of Coshoc- ton county), was admitted to practice, by the supreme court of Ohio on the 9th day of February, 1859, and the next day was engaged, with his pre- ceptor, in trying an important case in the Coshocton common pleas court.
During the summer of 1859 he replenished his depleted purse by growing a fine corn crop, his father generously furnishing the land, the teams and the board for the young lawyer and allowed him to pocket all the proceeds. Being now in funds, he went to Illinois and engaged in
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school teaching until the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted in an Illi- nois company for the first three months' call, but that organization failing to get into the service and thinking the "Three Months' Men" would put down the rebellion, he returned to Ohio until the war was over, much dis- pleased with himself for not getting into the army.
When the eall came for three hundred thousand troops, E. Z. Hays was among the first to write his name upon the enrollment sheet of that organization that became known in history as Company K, Thirty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He entered the service as a private but his fitness, his faithful discharge of duties and his personal courage soon brought him a seeond lieutenant's commission, which was followed by com- missions as first lieutenant and captain. Of his services for the Union we quote from a letter from Brigadier General B. F. Potts, late colonel of the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, a letter now treasured by Captain Hays as a priceless possession. General Potts says, "Captain Hays served with dis- tinguished honor for over three years, earning his respective promotions by gallant conduct on the field. Having been in the service with Captain Hays during his entire term of service, I know his worth as an officer and his genial qualities as a gentleman." The Thirty-second Ohio as a whole, par- ticipated in twenty-three engagements, in the sieges of Vieksburg, Missis- sippi and Atlanta, Georgia, in all of which Captain Ilays had a part, either as a private, company or staff officer.
In Fremont's campaign up the valley of Virginia in the spring of 1862. Private Hays was made a prisoner near Cross Keys, and with some three thousand others confined in the fair grounds at Lynchburg, Virginia, from where, in July of that year, he effected his escape, but after traveling for four- teen nights up the James river, having several adventures on the way, he was recaptured within ten miles of personal friends who would have hastened him on his way. His eaptors took him back to Lynchburg fair grounds. where the eolonel commanding the rebel guards ordered him confined in a stall and decorated with a ball and chain. As he was being taken to his place of eonfinement. he with his guards passed within a few feet of the guard lines of the general prison pen, at a point where the prisoners were permitted to come close to the line for bartering with hucksters, and they, the prisoners. having learned that an escaped prisoner was being taken to the ball and chain department, were crowded thickly near the guard line; Private Hays took in the situation, purposely dropped his eap, stooped to pick it up, which eaused his guards to pass a couple of paees beyond him, when instead of falling in with them as they certainly expected, he with head down, bolted for the in- side of the line. The ground being literally covered with little shelter tents, he was soon out of sight of the guards, who found much difficulty in working their way through the press of prisoners who contrived, innocently (?) enough, to be ever in the way. The fugitive, crawling from tent to tent, soon contrived to effect a change of clothing from rebel gray (coat. pants and cap, which he had captured in his wanderings) to Yankee blue, got a shave and a good wash, all of which combined to work so decided a change in his appearance that neither his guard nor his captors recognized him,
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although they passed within a few feet of where he lay upon the ground in- tently (? ) perusing an old copy of the Statutes of Virginia. Not many men of the Union army have the unique record of having broken into rebel prison. In a few days after his return to Lynchburg the prisoners confined there were sent to Belle Isle in the James river, from where he with several thousand others were paroled and turned in to Uncle Sam's hands at Akin's Landing, Virginia, about the 4th of September, 1862, and brought to Anap- olis, Maryland. Having been exchanged and promoted to second lieutenant of Company K, he went with his regiment to the southwest, where he became a part of the army with which General Grant made his masterly Vicksburg campaign. Captain Hays with his regiment participated in all the battles incident to that campaign excepting that of Black River Bridge. At Cham- pion's IFill they captured, by a brilliant bayonet charge, the First Mississippi Battery, Company K, passing directly through its line of guns.
As a commissioned officer Captain Hays soon won the confidence and esteem of his superior officers and the love and respect of the men he, from time to time, came to command. At the second battle at Champion's Hill, Mississippi, February 5, 1864, in command of two companies, he was sent to reinforce the skirmish line. In a brief time the two officers on the line who ranked him were both severely wounded. The command of the four companies and of the line then devolved upon him. He pushed his men forward with such determination and dash that the enemy was routed with considerable loss and pursued by his skirmishers into and through Jackson (the state capital) to the banks of Pearl river, where they saved from destruc- tion the pontoon bridge which the rebels had thrown across that stream. Colonel Potts, commanding the brigade, was so well satisfied with his work on that occasion, that he said, "Hays, my boy, you are down on my book for promotion."
When in Sherman's campaign to Atlanta, the brigade to which Captain Hays belonged charged the right wing of the rebel army in its strong posi- tion on top of Brushy Mountain, he was the first commissioned officer of his regiment over the rebel works and directed the fire that drove back the rebel reinforcements that were coming up their side of the mountain. These are only two of many incidents in his army life, but they will suffice to show the kind of a soldier and officer he was.
On retiring from the service, Captain Hays formed a partnership with Colonel Josiah Given and engaged in the claim agency business in Columbus, Ohio. The firm was very successful, but Colonel Given, being made postmaster of the house of representatives at Washington, D. C., the firm was dissolved, Captain Ilays going to Cadiz, Ohio, where he engaged in the practice of law, and where, on the 14th day of March, 1867, he was married to Miss Eliza Welch Beebe. eldest daughter of Walter B. and Maria B. Beebe. One child, Stuart Beebe Hays, now of Coshocton, Ohio, was the fruit of this union. On the call for troops for the war with Spain, this son responded promptly, en- tering the service as a private in Company F, Seventh Ohio Infantry. In a very short time he became first sergeant of his company, which position he held until the muster out of his regiment.
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After his marriage Captain Hays removed to Circleville, Ohio, and en- gaged in publishing the Circleville Union, the republican organ of Pickaway county, a service he performed to the satisfaction of the republicans of that county. Selling that paper he bought the Sunday Morning Times at Zanes- ville, Ohio, which he converted into the Daily Morning Times, now known in the newspaper world as the Times Recorder. Captain Hays has been employed in newspaper work in California and Colorado, besides being a frequent and acceptable correspondent. from time to time, of divers Ohio papers. He is also the author and editor of a history of his regiment that has had a liberal sale.
On the 11th day of July, 1879, the Captain's wife died at Cadiz, Ohio, and in the fall of 1880 he went to the Pacific coast in search of health. Re- turning he located at Warsaw, where he has since been practicing law, and where, on June 24, 1889, he was married to Mrs. Josephine (Butler) Dar- ling. only daughter of Felix Butler and Nancy (Farquhar) Butler.
Captain Hays has been an active member of the Grand Army of the Republie and was assistant adjutant general of this department from 1896 to. 1897-one term. He very frequently served as commander of his post, as its delegate to department encampments, as district delegate, as aide on the staff of several department and national commanders, and as delegate at large for Ohio. In line with his military life was his appointment by Governor Nash as one of the commissioners for the state of Ohio for the purpose of lo- cating and erecting monuments upon the Vicksburg ( Miss.) National Mili- tary Park to such Ohio commands as participated in the campaign and siege of Vicksburg. At the dedication of those monuments, he delivered one of the principal addresses: see "Ohio at Vicksburg," page 351. He has been in demand for Memorial (30th of May ) addresses and as speaker at camp fires and on other occasions.
Politically Captain Hays has been an active but liberal republican. fre- quently representing his county in state conventions and sometimes filling a place on a county ticket predestined to defeat. He was, in the first Harrison campaign, a member of the state central committee, and was held at state headquarters as a supernumerary speaker, in which capacity he made numerous political speeches throughout the state. In his younger days he was always actively engaged in state and national campaigns. He stood with Roosevelt in the Taft-Foraker campaign in Ohio in the spring and early summer of 1908, and was largely instrumental in securing the nomination of an anti-Foraker candidate for the legislature.
HOWARD EDWARD HAHN.
Howard Edward Ilah is numbered among the younger members of the Coshocton bar. but his year- do not seem a deterrent to his progress. He was born in Franklin township, Coshocton county. August 28, 1876, and is a representative of an old family of this state. His grandparents were resi- dents of Bucks township. Tu-carawas county. Ohio, where his father. Adam
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Hahn, was born, devoting his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and today owning one of the most beautiful and attractive farms in Coshocton county. Attorney Hahn's mother, who was Elizabeth Strohacker, is also a native of Ohio.
In his youthful days Howard E. Hahn trudged off each morning to the district school, wherein he mastered the common branches of learning, and later he supplemented his early intellectual training by study in the college of Seio, Ohio, for a year. He likewise attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio, for a year and a half and, in preparation for his profession, he attended the law department of the Ohio State University at Columbus, where he graduated in June, 1900.
Mr. Hahn located for practice in Coshocton. He has never specialized but has remained in general practice and has shown himself thoroughly fa- milar with many departments of jurisprudence. He never neglects the thorough preparation which should always precede the presentation of the case in the courts, while in his argument he is logical, strong and convincing.
Mr. Hahn was married on the 6th day of October, 1898, to Miss Lenora M. Johnson, of Coshocton. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias fraternity, while in more specifi- cally professional lines he is connected with the Coshocton County Bar Asso- ciation. His political support is given to the democratic party and for three years he served as city solicitor of Coshocton, beginning in 1903.
While advancement in the law is proverbially slow Mr. Hahn found that no long and dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon gained recognition as a diligent lawyer and one who is careful and accurate in the application of legal principles to the points of issue. IIe has won many notable victories for his clients and his business in the courts is steadily gaining in volume and importance.
GEORGE STONEHOCKER.
George Stonehocker is one of Coshocton's native citizens, his birth hav- ing occurred February 13, 1864, on the farm in White Eyes township which is still his home. He is a son of Daniel and Mary (Sherrets) Stonehocker. The father was born in 1820 upon the old homestead farm and was a son of Jacob Stonehocker, a native of Virginia, who removed westward to this state in 1812. He first settled in Tuscarawas county and then went to White Eyes township four years later, becoming a pioneer resident of this community in the year 1816. IIe married Elizabeth Winklepleck, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Unto them were born eight children. This number included Daniel Stonehocker, who was born in Coshocton county in 1820, on the farm which was the birthplace of his son George. IIe was reared to the work of the fields, and as the years passed by he continued to engage in farming on his own account, developing a good property, which showed in its well kept appearance his careful supervision and energetic, vigorous management. He
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married Miss Mary Sherrets, a native of Tuscarawas county, born in 1829. They became the parents of three children: George; Jacob, who was born April 20, 1865, and died April 16, 1881; and Lizzie, who was born April 3, 1868, and is living with her brother. The mother's death occurred April 20. 1886, and the father survived her for more than five years and passed away April 25, 1892.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for George Stonehocker in his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools in order to acquire his education and during the vacation periods he worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the labors and duties of farm life. He remained with his father until the latter's death, when he and his sister Lizzie came into possession of the old homestead. which comprises one hundred three and a half acres of land, pleasantly situated in White Eyes township not far from the city of Coshocton. The farm is well im- proved with modern equipments, and the fields return gratifying harvests as a reward for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
Mr. Stonehocker votes with the republican party and is a stalwart advo- cate of its principles. He has never sought nor desired office, however, vet he served for one term as assessor. He is a member of the Grange, No. 1558. and was its master for two terms, while for two years he represented the county in the state Grange. He is well known here as a leading farmer, and one who is in hearty sympathy with all progressive movements for the benefit of the agricultural community and the county at large.
GEORGE WILSON.
George Wilson, who owns and operates one hundred and forty-five acres of rich and valuable land situated in Jefferson township, is also one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil war. He was born in Jefferson county. Ohio, May 12. 1839, a son of John and Elizabeth (Johnston) Wilson, both of whom were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The father came alone to the United States about 1833 or 1834, the voyage across the Atlantic requir- ing six weeks and three days. Upon landing in America he at once made his way to Jefferson county, Ohio, and in 1863 made his way to Coshocton county, locating on the land which is today owned by our subject. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits during his entire life. He met death by drowning in the Walhonding river in April, 1878. The wife sur- vived for ten years and passed away in 1888. Their family numbered nine children, as follows: William, who resides in Killbuck, Holmes county, this state; John, deceased; Nancy, the wife of Joseph Pithen, now living retired in Mingo Junction, Ohio; George, of this review: Mary A .. Jane and Sarah E., all of whom have departed this life; Moses, who died in infancy; and James, a farmer of Jefferson township.
George Wilson acquired his education in one of the old-time log school- houses of Jefferson county and was reared to farm life. During his early life
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he learned the carpenter's trade, worked at the same for some time. Ile re- mained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-seven years, when he began life on his own account by choosing the occupation to which he had been reared. Ile began farming in Jefferson township, Coshoc- ton county, where he has made his home to the present time. He is now the owner of the homestead property, comprising one hundred and forty-five acres of well improved land, which returns golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor bestowed upon the fields.
In 1862. at the time of the Civil war, Mr. Wilson put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted as a member of Company E, Fifty- second Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years' service. He went to the front in August, 1862, and was discharged in the following February on ac- count of disability, having received a wound in the shoulder in the battle of Perryville. Kentucky, from which he still suffers.
Following his discharge from the army Mr. Wilson returned to his home and resumed farm labor, which has been his occupation to the present time. Mr. Wilson established a home of his own by his marriage in 1866 to Miss Barbara Severens, a resident of Coshocton county. Their union has been blessed with seven children: Sarah E., who has passed away; Ida, the wife of Lemuel Church, a farmer of Tiverton township: Wiley, deceased: Effic, the wife of William Darling, of Bethlehem township, this county: Bertha, the wife of John Bowers, a farmer of Jefferson township; Verne, at home; and John J., who follows farming.
Mr. Wilson is independent in politics, with democratie tendencies. Ile is a Mason, belonging to Warsaw lodge, at Spring Mountain, of which he has served as junior and senior wardens, while for the past fourteen years he has been senior deacon. He is also identified with Stanton Post, G. A. R., at Warsaw, while his wife is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Wilson has spent the greater part of his life in Coshocton county and is therefore thoroughly familiar with its history. His success has come to him only through his own efforts and well directed labors, for all that he today pos- sesses has been acquired through his economy and careful management. He is well and favorably known in this community and is highly esteemed by all.
HON. GAIL S. HAMILTON.
Hon. Gail S. Hamilton, mayor of Coshocton, is giving to the city a public-spirited and businesslike administration, his support of many pro- gressive measures gaining for him the endorsement of the large majority of his fellow townsmen. A native son of Ohio, he was born in Wellington, Lorain county, August 3. 1868, his parents being Gaylord B. and Flora (Selkirk ) Hamilton. In the paternal line he is descended from Alexander Ilamilton and on the maternal side from Daniel Boone. His father was born in Medina county, Ohio, in 1824 and was a son of Lindsey Hamilton.
G. S. HAMILTON.
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who walked the entire distance from New York to Ohio and settled four miles north of the village of Medina. He was accompanied on the trip by a brother and two cousins and they settled at the four corners of the road, which district still bears the name of Hamilton's Corners. Gail S. Ilamilton is today the only descendant of these four kinsmen bearing the name in Ohio. They were prominent factors in the carly development of this part of the state.
Gaylord B. Hamilton was made postmaster of Medina, Ohio. when twenty-one years of age and after retiring from that office he entered the railway mail service, with which he was identified for many years. While thus engaged he became the inventor and patentee of the mail catcher. which is now universally used by all railroads for catching the mail bag at way stations while the train is in motion. Previous to this time it had been the custom to catch the bag with the arm and a broken shoulder frequently resulted. The need suggested the invention to Mr. Hamilton, who at length perfected it. Prominent in political circles, he was for years a member of the state central committee of Ohio but was never an aspirant for public office. IIe was an intimate friend of James A. Garfield and other distinguished republicans of the state and his labors were untiring in behalf of their suc- cess. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and he was widely recognized as one of the influential and honored residents of his section up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1889, when he was sixty-five years of age.
Gail S. Hamilton was reared to farm life, for when he was five years of age his parents removed to the farm belonging to his grandfather, who had been paralyzed and needed the assistance of his son upon the old homestead. It was thus that Gail S. Hamilton spent his early youth amid rural surround- ings, acquiring his preliminary education in the district schools. He was twelve years of age when the family removed to Medina and there he attended the graded and high schools. When seventeen years of age he entered upon his business career, securing a situation in the flour and feed store owned by the O. C. Shepherd Milling Company. Two years later he resigned in order to accept a position in a laundry and was identified with that line of business for eight years. In 1895 he came to Coshocton, Ohio, and accepted a posi- tion as clerk in the Empire Hotel, where he remained for three years. He was later connected with a laundry in Toledo for two years, but in 1900 returned to Coshocton, where he again acted as clerk in the Empire Hotel for a year.
It was during that period that Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Lena Atkinson, of Delta, Ohio, and immediately following his marriage he pur- chased a restaurant on Hickory street, conducting it for three years. On selling out in 1904 he took a nine months' trip to California for the benefit of his wife's health, and on his return in the spring of 1905 he purchased the Star restaurant, which he conducted in connection with the Star Hotel for eighteen months, after which he sold out and engaged in the theatrical business, establishing the first electric theater opened in Coshocton. This has proven a financial success and is the popular theater of the city.
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Mr. Hamilton is perhaps even better known in political circles and is an ardent republican, who has labored earnestly for the welfare and success of his party. In 1904 he announced his candidacy for the office of mayor but was defeated in the nominating convention. In 1906 he withdrew in favor of a friend but in 1908 again sought the nomination and at the ensning election was chosen for the office by a handsome majority. He is proving a capable chief executive, who administers the affairs of the city along econom- ical yet progressive business lines and has secured the passage of a number of important measures relative to the city's welfare.
Mr. Hamilton belongs to Coshocton Lodge, No. 96, A. F. & A. M., Sa- maritan Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M .; Coshocton Commandery, No. 63, K. T .; Fidelity Lodge, No. 135, K. P .; Coshocton Lodge, No. 76, B. P. O. E .; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 761. He also attends and supports the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member. Mr. Hamilton is a popular man, of friendly and cordial spirit and his good nature and many sterling traits of character have gained him the friendship and regard of many, while his recognized business ability constituted an element in his election to the office which he is now ably filling.
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