John Hays
Encyclopedia
John Hays is the only Jew known to have come to Illinois prior to its admission in the Union (August 26, 1818). He was the son of Baruch Hays, a lieutenant in the American Revolution
and scion of one of the oldast American Jewish families. John Hays settled in Illinois as early as 1793 and served for twenty years as sheriff of St. Clair County
, in the southwestern part of Illinois, which was the most populous section of the state in its early days.
Hays was born in New York City
in 1770. At a young age, he entered the Indian trade in the Northwest as clerk to a wealthy house in Canada.
He settled in Cahokia, Illinois
in 1793, where he embarked on trade with the Indians on his own account. He later became a farmer.
For a number of years, Hays held the unpaid office of postmaster
at Cahokia. In 1798, he was appointed sheriff of St. Clair County and he continued to exercise the duties of this position until 1818, when the Illinois state government was organized.
In 1814, President Madison appointed him collector of internal revenue for the Illinois territory.
In 1822 he was stationed at Fort Wayne, Indiana
, where he acted as Indian agent for the Potawatomi
and Miami tribe
s. Afterwards, he returned to Cahokia, where he remained until his death.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and scion of one of the oldast American Jewish families. John Hays settled in Illinois as early as 1793 and served for twenty years as sheriff of St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Illinois
St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in St. Clair County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 270,056, which is an increase of 5.5% from 256,082 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, in the southwestern part of Illinois, which was the most populous section of the state in its early days.
Hays was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1770. At a young age, he entered the Indian trade in the Northwest as clerk to a wealthy house in Canada.
He settled in Cahokia, Illinois
Cahokia, Illinois
Cahokia is a village in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 16,391. The name is a reference to one of the clans of the historic Illini confederacy, who were encountered by early French explorers to the region.Early European settlers also...
in 1793, where he embarked on trade with the Indians on his own account. He later became a farmer.
For a number of years, Hays held the unpaid office of postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
at Cahokia. In 1798, he was appointed sheriff of St. Clair County and he continued to exercise the duties of this position until 1818, when the Illinois state government was organized.
In 1814, President Madison appointed him collector of internal revenue for the Illinois territory.
In 1822 he was stationed at Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, where he acted as Indian agent for the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
and Miami tribe
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
s. Afterwards, he returned to Cahokia, where he remained until his death.