Wilcox County AlArchives Obituaries.....Henry H. Hays November 3 1906
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Wilcox Progressive Era, Thursday, November 8, 1906
Death of Col. H. H. Hays.
  Our county lost one of its most public spirited citizens, when Col. Henry H. 
Hays died last Saturday evening at his home on Canton Road. Mr. Hays in early 
life married Miss Theresa Smith, a daughter of one of our old residents in this 
county, and surviving him are his widow, two daughters, Mrs. W. J. Sessions and 
Mrs. H. T. Roberts and a son Mr. L. L. Hays. At his death Colonel Hays was 72 
years old. He was born in Georgia in 1824 and came to Wilcox County about 1857, 
settling first in the Boykin neighborhood and later moving to Camden. Mr. Hays 
was a true Southerner and served during the war and lost a hand in defense of 
his Southland, in the battles around Richmond, Virginia. He came home, like all 
of our heroes, poor in purse, but rich in honorable service then went to work 
like a man, and when he died he was comfortably fixed in this worlds goods. He 
was very kind hearted, charitable and honest. He was brusque in manner but 
beneath the crust was a kind, warm heart. He was a planter who loved his work 
and made a success of farming and always had his home raised meat and corn. Mr. 
Hays was a devoted husband and father, sympathetic friend, a true democrat and 
a good soldier. We will all miss him, and his many friends will regret his 
departure. He was a member of the A. R. P. Church and his remains were interred 
in the Camden Cemetery Rev. R. L. Robinson officiating. Our heartfelt 
sympathies are tendered to the stricken widow, now living in the shadows of 
life, and to his daughters and son.

                         - o -

  It is with genuine sorrow that we chronicle the death of this remarkable man. 
He passed gently away on last Saturday, Nov. 3rd., after a painful sickness. 
Col. Hays was a Georgian by birth, having been born in that state, of humble 
but honest parentage about seventy-two years ago. When a mere child he lost 
both his parents, and was taken into the family of an uncle, who thought more 
of his crops than of the education of his nephew. The lad had but little 
opportunity for learning, but he picked up at odd times something of an 
elementary education. Being roughly and unkindly treated by the wife of his 
uncle, the young man ran away from his adopted home, and set up business for 
himself when in his teens, and never returned. He came to Alabama in the 
fifties, and was taken in by the late Dr. Thomas Jenkins who employed him as 
his overseer until the war came on. Col. Hays enlisted early in the war, fought 
in many battles in the army of Virginia until he became severely wounded in the 
dreadful charge at Malvern Hill, where he lost one of his hands entirely, and 
two fingers of the other, besides, having received other severe wounds in the 
body. He lay for many weeks in the hospital in Richmond until the noble Dr. 
Jenkins came to his rescue, and brought him back to his home and to health. His 
comrades say of Col. Hays that he was ever in the forefront of the battle and 
that he was full of the loftiest patriotism. As a civilian he stood among the 
best for honesty, integrity and good government. He despised laziness. He set 
the example for industry and thrift, and was known as one of the best farmers 
in all the country-side. All men of all classes respected him. His brusque 
manner, his unbounded liberality, his kindness of heart - these splendid traits 
in his life and character mark the man. Should we contrast the excellencies of 
his virtues with his vices, we would pronounce unhesitatingly that the former 
would overbalance the latter, and that his life upon the whole was fruitful of 
much good. Thus has passed another Veteran, and his comrades mourn his passing 
with sorrow.
  May he rest in peace!
                           A Comrade.

Additional Comments:
Microfilm newspaper (Wilcox Progressive Era) located at the Alabama Department
of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama.


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