Clifford E. Hays; Fort Worth, TX., then Webster Par., Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: Aug. 2001

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===Clifford E. Hays, whose home is at Minden, in Webster Par., Louisiana has been a member 
of the Louisiana bar for twenty years.  Throughout the state he has come to be acknowledged 
as an authority on land titles.  This is a branch of law in which he specializes.  Mr. Hays owns 
what is no doubt the most complete private library in the statecovering this particular subject,
having hundreds of old court and legislative reports and documents and records of various 
kinds.  Heknows where to find the law, and he has in a great many instancesbeen engaged 
as assistant counsel in cases involving great propertyinterests over the state.Mr. Hays was 
born at Fort Worth, Texas, in 1880, son of Jasper andMargaret A. (Guill) Hays.  Jasper Hays 
was born at old Overton,near the crescent City of Minden, in what is now Webster Par., 
Louisiana in 1837.  Much of his life was spent in other states and cities, but heand his wife 
are now living in retirement at Minden.  Jasper Hays is a son of Samuel J. and Margaret 
Rachel (Tate) Hays, both representing prominent Tennessee families.  One kinsman was 
Jack Hays, famous Texas Ranger and soldier for whom Flays County, Texas, was named. 
Another was the late Harry T. Hays, brigadier-general of the Confederate Army and sheriff 
of Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Jasper Hays at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in Company 
Cof the Ninth Louisiana Infantry, and participated in nearly all the battles in Virginia with 
the army of Northern Virginia up to and including the battle before Petersburg, where he 
lost a leg.  Afterreturning home he was elected and served from 1868 to 1870 asparish 
recorder of Claiborne Parish.  That parish then included a large portion of Webster Par., 
Louisiana which was formed in 1871.  Onleaving this office Jasper Hays entered Cumberland 
University a tLebanon, Tennessee, completing the regular course of law study in one year, 
and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws and admission to the bars of Tennessee and 
Texas.  However, he has neverpracticed law.In 1871 he went to Fort Worth, Texas, then 
a frontier town withouta railroad.  He became a land agent during the early school days
there, and was a personal friends and associate of the late Captain Paddock, who for many 
years before his death was esteemed asperhaps the most powerful figure in the early 
development of Fort Worth and the making of it as a great railway and commercial center.
In 1886 Jasper Hays moved with his family to Nashville, Tennessee, to afford his son 
Clifford the advantages of the Montgomery Bell Academy in that city.  Later, for a similar 
purpose, Mr. Hays moved his family to Charlottesville, Virginia, where his son enrolled as 
a student in the University of Virginia. when the Hays family returned to Louisiana they 
located at Ponchatoula, in Tangipahoa Parish, but since the spring of 1924 Jasper Hays 
and wife have been back near the scene of his birth at Minden. Clifford E. Hays was 
educated at the places and institutions outlined above.  At the University of Virginia he 
studied law, but after thefamily returned to Ponchatoula he continued his law education 
in theTulane University at New Orleans, and was graduated with thedegree Bachelor of 
Laws in 1905.  For about five years he engagedin practice at Ponchatoula, and from 
1910 to 1919 his home and offices were in New Orleans.  For a time he was with the 
Louisiana Abstract and Title Company as examiner of titles, his duties covering the entire 
state.  Since June, 1921, he has had the seat of his practice at Minden, and enjoys most  
congenial associations with that community.Mr. Hays is an enthusiastic member of the
 Masonic fraternity, and a close student of its mysteries and precepts.  He was made a 
maste rMason in Pine Grove Lodge No. 288, Ponchatoula, La., in 1904, and was master 
of this lodge in 1910.  He is a past high priest, Royal Arch Mason, and a past commander 
of his Commandery. He is a charter member of Crusader Commandery No. 21, Knights 
Templar, at Minden, La., and served it as commander in 1924.  He is now its recorder.  
He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 192, by 
Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and
New York, 1925.