Lewis Hays, Jr.

The honor and responsibilities involved in the office of mayor of Jackson, a place he has conscientiously and ably filled for the past eight years, has been well bestowed upon Lewis Hays, Jr., whose achievements have earned him rank with the foremost business men of Eastern Kentucky.

Mr. Hays was born on Buckhorn Creek in Knott County, Kentucky, August 6, 1879, son of James and Matilda McDaniel Hays. His father was born in Floyd County and his mother in Breathitt County. James Hays was born February 22, 1842, son of Captain Anderson and Rachel Sizemore Hays. Rachel Sizemore was a sister of Black Hawk Sizemore, and had Indian blood in her veins. James Hays was a Confederate soldier in the company commanded by his father, Captain Hays, in Caudill's regiment. He was a prisoner of war at Camp Chase and Camp Douglas for twenty-two months. After the war James Hays followed farming, and lived all his life on his farm on Buckhorn Creek, where he died April 15, 1915. He also had timber interests, was prosperous, and was also generous of his means and of his hospitality, his home being a noted meeting place for friends and strangers alike. His wife died November 16, 1918, at the age of sixty-nine. He was a Baptist, and was a stanch Democrat. Their three children are: Adam, a merchant of Buckhorn in Breathitt County; Eva, wife of Dr. J. W. Duke, of Hindman; and Lewis, Jr. Lewis Hays, Jr., acquired his early schooling on Buckhorn, and also attended school at Hindman, under Prof. George Clark, where he graduated in 1898. He taught in five schools, in Knott and Breathitt Counties, and has also read law, not with the idea of qualifying for the profession, but to aid him in his extensive business affairs. For three years, Mr. Hays was a merchant at Hindman, and, for a similar length of time, was in the real estate business in Oklahoma City and Hot Springs, Arkansas. After establishing his home at Jackson, he developed a general insurance agency, and in 1918 organized the Big Six Oil Company, of which he became president. This company has developed a strong gas field in Breathitt County. In 1919, the business was reorganized as the Kentucky Cities Gas Company, the capital being increased from $90,000 to $450,000. Mr Hays continues as president of this, one of the largest public utility companies of the state. The company supplies Winchester, Lexington, Frankfort, Georgetown, and other places with natural gas. The pipe line of the company connects with that of the Central Kentucky Natural Gas Company, near Index.

Mr. Hays became mayor of Jackson in 1913. His administration has been a progressive one, during which time many of the streets have been paved and a lighting system installed. The result that has been most frequently commended, however, has been that closing of many wild cat places of business, so that Jackson is now a model, law and order town.

In 1909, Mr. Hays entered the life insurance business, in Eastern Kentucky, for the Southern National Life Insurance Company of Louisville, Kentucky. This company was afterwards taken over by the Inter Southern Life Insurance Company, which last company he now represents. Mr. Hays has sold, in the last thirteen years, more life insurance than any other man in Eastern Kentucky, and is now manager of eleven counties for the Inter Southern Life of Louisville.

July 4, 1910, Mr. Hays married Miss Lena Payton, daughter of Charles and Rosie Payton, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. They are the parents of four children: Elmer, James, Mary Louise, and Charles Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are members of the Christian Church, in which he is an elder. In politics he is a democrat, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men and the Masons.