He was born in a log cabin in Wood County near Fostoria, Ohio, August 21, l847. He was the son of a Methodist minister, who although firm in his belief was poor in worldly goods, but under the tutelage of his father the young man gained much education which was of great benefit to him. He was hardly 17 years of age, when he presented himself as a soldier for the Union army. He was in the service only a short time when he was taken ill with typhoid and sent home. Before he recovered the war was over. After being discharged from the northern army he heeded the advice of Horace Greeley to go west. He went to Kansas, where for a number of years he was a schoolmaster. But the urge of better things was within him, and saving money from his meager salary, he returned to Ohio, where he entered the study of law. He was for a time a student in Oberlin College, but finished his course in the law office of a noted judge at Tiffin, Ohio. About this time his elder brother, E. H. Hays returned to Ohio and induced him to return to Iowa with him. It was in 1873, at the age of 26 that he landed in Knoxville, where he was to spend the rest of his life and serve his family and his fellow citizens.. He early entered the political field and in 1879 he won the first office of the two he ever tried for, when he was elected to the state legislature. He discharged his duties with credit to himself and with the approval of his constituents. In 1883 he was married to Jackie Cornell. For twenty-five years he and his brother were associated together and this partnership was only terminated by the death of the latter. Then C. H. Amos became a partner in the firm. Mr. Amos later was called by death and Judge Hays then practiced alone for a time. In 1911 he was elected as district court judge and in this position he remained until 1923 when he retired.