The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Marion Township, pages 682-683
Henry H. Hays, son of John and Catherine Hays, was born June 29, 1824, in Mercer County, Ky. He came with his parents to this township in 1827, where he was reared to manhood. He was married Feb. 9, 1848, to Mary E. Rose, a native of Mercer County, Ky., born Aug. 27, 1831. Her parents, Lewis A. and Flora Rose, settled in this township in 1834, where her father died. Her mother is still living in Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Hays have eight children living--Lewis, of Clay County, Ill.; Mrs. Sarah Weekly and Mrs. Ettie Underwood, also of Clay County, Ill.; John M., of Center Township, this county; Arthur, of this township; Scott, at home; Mrs. Laura Underwood, of this township, and Kate, at home. In April, 1847, Mr. Hays settled into his present home on section 15, where he owns a fine farm of 160 acres. Mr. Hays and his family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was one of the charter members of Danville Lodge, A.F. & A.M. His parents were natives of Virginia, but went to Kentucky in early life where they were married. In 1827 John Hays came to this county with his wife and two children, Mrs. Sarah Faught (deceased) and our subject. He settled in this township on section 30, entering eighty-seven acres of land from the Government. During their residence of one year in Bartholomew County, Ind., their third child, John Harvey, was born, and now lives on section 33, this township. Six children were born to them in this township--George, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Riley, deceased; James, on section 29, this township; Eliza, wife of A.W. Kelly; John Thomas, of Center Township, and Mrs. Catherine Christy, deceased. The father owned at one time 414 acres of land which he made by his own exertions, having, after paying for his small land entry, but 50 cents on which to begin life in his new forest home. He died at his home on section 6 in March, 1871, aged seventy-one years. His widow yet resides on the old homestead.