[p. 923] general farmer and highly respected citizen of North Beaver Township, resides on a valuable farm of 150 acres, which is situated on the Mt. Jackson-Mount Air Road, about two miles south of the former place. He was born in North Beaver Township, December 16, 1843, and is a son of John R. and Jane (Love) Hayes.
John R. Hayes, father of James, was born at Beaver, Pennsylvania, and was a son of David Hayes, who was a lawyer in that place. When John R. was five years old his father bought a farm which adjoins the one on which James Hayes now lives, owning both farms, but David Hayes never moved on the place, dying before he had completed his arrangments to do so. His widow and children settled on the farm and she passed the remainder of her life here. John R. Hayes followed farming all his life and both he and wife died in North Beaver Township. The mother of James Hayes was born and reared in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of James Love, who was a native of Westmoreland County. Three children were born to John R. Hayes and wife, namely: Margaret, who married Milton Fullerton, resides in North Beaver Township; James; and David William, who died in the fall of 1879. He was unmarried and lived at home.
James Hayes attended the district schools in his boyhood and assisted on the home farm until August, 1864, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He entered Company B, Fifth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, as a private, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was a member of the Fifth Army Corps and was connected with the Army of the Potomac. He is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic, New Castle, Post 100.
After the close of his army service, Mr. Hayes resumed farming. In 1866 he was married (first) to Mary Woods, a daughter of William Woods. She died soon after her marriage. Mr. Hayes was married (second) to Maggie Nesbit, who was a daughter of James Nesbit. She died in 1883, leaving two daughters: Theresa and Jennie Myrtle. The former is the wife of Alexander Harry Fullerton, and the latter is the wife of J. Wylie Brewster. Mr. Hayes then married Sarah J. Poak, who is a daughter of John and Sarah (Duff) Poak. John Poak was born in North Beaver Township and was a son of Samuel Poak, who was a native of Union County, Pennsylvania. He came to North Beaver Township in 1804 and settled on the farm which is now owned by J. V. Brewster, between Mahoningtown and Mt. Jackson. There Samuel Poak died aged seventy-five years. The mother of Mrs. Hayes died on the same farm, after which John Poak moved to Mt. Jackson, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Hayes was born and reared on the same farm. One of her brothers, David W. Poak, distinguished himself in the Civil War. He joined the Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he was lieutenant and later adjutant. His regiment accompanied General Sherman's force on the march to the sea, and at Atlanta, when its colonel was captured, Lieutenant Poak was put in command although he was not yet twenty-one years of age. In a special order issued by the War Department, he was awarded a silver medal for gallant conduct on July 22, 1864.
A copy from General Orders 13:
"First Lieutenant David W. Poak Company A, 30th Ills. Vet. Vol. Inf. A silver medal of Honor for gallant conduct on the 22nd of July, 1864.
"When his regiment was forced from its position, he was conspicuous in rallying the men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men, firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action. Each medal awarded by this order will bear the inscription 'Atlanta, July 22nd,' and will be presented to the officers and men in front of their command by their Division commander.
By command of
Major General F. P. Blair,
Rowland Cox, A. A. General."
This medal is highly prized by Mrs. Hayes. Lieut. Poak returned from the army and located first in Missouri and later in Texas, where he engaged for a time in a banking business, but he subsequently came back to his old home and died at Mt. Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are members of the Westfield Presbyterian Church in which he has been a deacon for over twenty years.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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