John Hays

John HAYS was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1802. By the 1830s he had emigrated to America and had enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was a Sergeant in Company "E," 5th Regiment at Fort Snelling in sparsely occupied Wisconsin Territory [today the City of St. Paul, Minnesota]. 

Hays was known to be "exact in his dress, bearing, and actions," and was described as an "honest, clever and courteous gentleman." He was discharged from military duty in the Summer of 1839. Prior to that, he had asked a friend and fellow soldier, Edward Phelan/Phalan, who was discharged from military service before him, to put a claim in for some nearby lots. Hays put up the money for the purchase of the property and Phelan was to start work on a cabin that they both could live in. However, soon after John Hays was discharged from service and the two began living together, neighbors noticed they were having violent conflicts and arguments. Then in September 1839 John Hays mysteriously disappeared. "Major Taliaferro, Indian Agent, inquired among the Native Americans if they had seen Hays. Then on September 27, 1839 John Hays's body was found in Carver's Cave.  Phelan was soon arrested and sent to Prairie de Chien, Wisconsin Territory where he was "tried and served six months" before being acquitted and released.

John Hays never married.  The place of his burial is unknown.

Sources:

"Pig's Eye Notepad: Encyclopedia of St. Paul, Minnesota, 1830-1850," [Lareau Web Parlour] (Wayback Machine)

"Edward Phalen- Namesake for Lake Phalen," by Peter Boulay, Maplewood Heritage Preservation Commissioner

Image: Old Blockhouse at [Fort] Snelling, St. Paul Daily Globe, St. Paul, Minnesota, [USA], Mar 10, 1896.

 

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Note: This is not my ancestor