Moss Memorial Library has a little more history on its walls thanks to the descendants of Captain George Washington Hayes Sr., the man for whom Hayesville is named. Last Friday, some of his family gathered at the library to donate two pictures, a plaque and a booklet of family-related history.
Hayes’ great-great grandson, Jack Hayes Hargrove Jr., described one picture as a charcoal drawing of Captain Hayes. “I presume they did charcoal before they did the oil painting,” Hargrove explained. “But Captain Hayes was on his way from Murphy to the capitol of North Carolina to take charge of Confederate troops and he died along the way so the painting was never done.” Hargrove said he thinks Hayes may have died of pneumonia.
Captain Hayes was the Civil War officer for whom the town of Hayesville is named. While running for the legislature more than 150 years ago, the Cherokee County resident promised his constituents he would create a new county here if he won. In the mid 19th century, it took a week or more for residents of this area to conduct official business. They had to travel by wagon over harsh trails, then camp outside of Murphy while courthouse business was handled. This sometimes took several days.
The new county became what is now Clay County. A few decades later, Clay County leaders called the county seat Hayesville after Captain Hayes.