James Henry Hayes was born on 1 Jul 1836 in Grayson County,
Kentucky. He was the son of James Hayes and Sarah Gore. He married
his first wife Ethelina Haycraft on 28 Jun 1854 in Grayson County.
After divorcing his first wife, James married his second wife
Margaret Jane (Maggie) Houchen in 1877 in Grayson County. Maggie
was born on 19 Mar 1849 in Grayson County, Ky. She died on 05 Dec
1926 in Grayson County, Kentucky. Early census records show the
last name as being Hayse. Later records show the last name as
Hayes.
James and Ethelina had the following children:
James and Margaret Jane (Maggie) had only one child:
The following is the military record of James Henry Hayes based
on his military and pension application records:
James Henry Hayes joined for duty and enrolled Oct 28, 1861 at
Camp Calloway, Hartford, Ohio County, Kentucky. He was mustered in
at Calhoun, Ky. 4 Jan 1862. At the time he was described as being
24 years old, height 5 ft. 7 in., complexion - dark, eyes - blue,
hair - dark. He initially was assigned to Co. E, 17th Ky. Regiment
with rank of Drummer. On 30 Apr 1862 he was transferred to Company
C with rank of Private. On 10 July 1862 he was reappointed with
rank of Drummer. He was declared AWOL from 18 Sep 1862 through
March 31, 1863. He was dropped as a deserter on March 31, 1863 at
Nashville, Tennessee. On Oct 10, 1863, James was listed as sick in
post hospital in Munfordsville, Ky. During the period of November -
December 1863 he was shown on hospital muster rolls at General
Hospital # 3 at New Albany, Indiana. During the period of May -
June 1864 he was absent and under charges of desertion. During the
period of July - August 1864 he was in Clay U.S. Army Hospital in
Louisville, Ky. During the period of November - December 1864 he
was transferred to 21st Ky. Infantry Volunteers and Veterans by
order of General Thomas, under charges of desertion. During the
period January - February 1865 he appeared on the rolls of Demarres
Eye and Ear U.S. Army Hospital at Chicago, Illinois. He was
discharged from that hospital on 11 Feb 1865. (Note: He suffered
a debilitating injury to his right eye and was almost completely
blind in that eye by the time he was discharged from the
service.) In June 1865 he was left at Nashville, Tennessee to
be mustered out in obedience to instructions from War Dept.
In 1887, James applied for pension but was denied. He apparently
applied and was accepted later on because it was a known fact that
he was receiving a pension at the time of his death. He died on 7
July 1932 in West Leitchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky. He was
buried at Wilson Cemetery, Grayson County, Kentucky on 8 July
1932.
Recently I made contact with Pam Phillips, daughter of Cuba
(Preston) Phillips of Jeffersonville, Indiana. Her mother was
raised by James Henry Hayes and his second wife from the age of 2
through 10. Cuba's mother "gave" her to James Henry and Margaret
Jane to raise because they had lost their only son William at an
early age. Cuba remembers James Henry quite well. She said that she
remembers him getting a Civil War pension every month. She also
remembers him being a very kind and happy person. She remembers
that every year on his birthday (even in later years) he would
stand on his head to show that he could still do it. James died on
7 Jul 1932 in Grayson County, Kentucky. He is buried at Wilson
Church cemetery on Wilson Church Road in western Grayson County. I
have been to the cemetery and both James and Margaret have their
names on the same headstone. Approximately 10 feet away is the
tombstone for their 13 year old son William O.
Jim Poole, Great Great Grandchild
1640 Lebanon Road
Crittenden, Ky. 41030
