"Hardesty's Biographical Atlas of Tyler County West Virginia"
H. H. Hardesty, 1872

CHRISTOPHER HAYS was born in Tyler county, August 31, 1845, and was 
married in this county February 15, 1866. On the last named date, Rev. 
William James, of the United Brethren Church, joined him in wedlock with 
Susan R. Cox, who was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, May 10, 1842. 
They have had no children, but have taken a little girl to raise , and 
given her their name. She was born April 30, 1874 and named Mary C. 
Abraham and Lydia (Goodnight) Hays were the parents of the subject of 
this sketch, and his wife was a daughter of John and Susanna (Stoneking) 
Cox. Her mother died in Pleasants county, West Virginia, and her father 
in Tyler county. The father of Christopher Hays died in McElroy district, 
and his mother is still living here. Oliver P., Abraham and Henry Hays, 
brothers of Christopher, served in the Federal army, in the 1861 war. 
Abraham died in Cumberland City, Maryland, while in the service, of brain 
fever, and the other two, returning home safely, are living in West 
Virginia. Christopher Hays has a most interesting war record, one of 
which he may well be proud, and which, in consideration of his injuries, 
his country should reward with a liberal pension. He enlisted in Company 
D, 2d West Virginia Cavalry, October 14, 1861, and was mustered out July 
3, 1865. He was in the following engagements: Princeton, Fayetteville, 
Wythesville, Lewisburg, Stauton, Buckhannon, Lynchburg, Winchester, 
Fishers Hill and others. He had his ankle mashed in May, 1864, has lost 
the use of one eye, and is badly crippled, On the raid from Wythesville 
he became separated from the command, and with two men from the 34th Ohio 
Mounted Infantry, lay 17 days and 18 nights in concealment. Two noble 
girls named Alvira Odell and Rebecca Milan, brought them buttermilk to 
drink and so saved their lives. May they have as happy a life as they 
deserve. Farming is the occupation of Christopher Hays, and his post 
office address is Ripley, Tyler county, West Virginia.

Submitted by Susie Koehrsen.