Western Lawman. Born John Coffee Hays at Cedar Lick, Tennessee, he moved to Texas in 1836, joined a Ranger company and was appointed a Captain of Texas Rangers in 1840. His Ranger companies were well known for skirmishes with outlaws, hostile Indian tribes and Mexican troops. During Mexican War, as Colonel he commanded the 1st Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen, he scouted for the US Army and took part in the Battle of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1846. After the war, he followed the gold rush to California and was elected the first Sheriff of San Francisco in 1850. In 1853, he was appointed US Surveyor General of California and was one of the developers of Oakland, the city he died in. He is also a member of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)  Family links:  Parents:  Harmon Atkins Hays (1787 – 1833)  Elizabeth Cage Hays (1799 – 1833)  Spouse:  Susan Sophia Calvert Hays (1827 – 1913)*  Children:  John Caperton Hays (1852 – 1911)*  Richard Hays (1855 – 1862)*  Kitty Hays (1857 – 1858)*  Susan Mary Hays (1858 – 1863)*  Harry Hays (1861 – 1877)*  Elizabeth Brenham Hays Norris (1869 – 1944)*  Siblings:  John Coffee Hays (1817 – 1883)  William Clinton Hays (1817 – 1845)*  Mary Ann Hays Lewis (1818 – 1849)*  Harry Thompson Hays (1820 – 1876)*  Sarah Elizabeth Hays Hammond (1822 – 1867)*  Rachel Jane Hays (1827 – 1849)* *Calculated relationship