Searching for John Charles HAYS/HAYES, b. 6 Feb. 1852, working around Ft. Smith, Sebastian co. AR, as a teamster and carpenter, late 1869-early 1870. John may have been born in MO(obituary) or Alabama(census). John married Elizabeth BUCKS/BIRKS/BURK, Erath co. TX, Mar. 11, 1871. Elizabeth b. 8 Dec. 1852 in AR. They lived in Dublin, Erath co. TX, Fannin Co. TX and Holdenville, IT/OK. According to newspaper article on their 62nd wedding anniversary, "we certainly played a joke on the folks when we went to Texas. We both lived in Arkansas and wanted to get married but my parents were moving to Texas so another family who was going with us needed a driver and they hired John. Soon after we got there we got married." Mary Douglass mdouglas@midusa.net