John Alfred Hayes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Alfred Hayes
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1839 Berwick, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | 1913 (aged 73–74) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | 11th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Alma mater | Geisel School of Medicine |
| Relations | Frederick Hayes (brother) Benjamin Franklin Hayes (brother) |
John Alfred Hayes (1839-1913) was a brave doctor who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a surgeon, which means he treated wounded soldiers. After the war, he continued to be a doctor in New Hampshire.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Alfred Hayes was born in 1839 in Berwick, Maine. His parents were Sarah (Hurd) Hayes and Frederick Hayes. His father was a large farmer and also produced lumber. The family was active in their church.
John went to local schools first. Then he attended West Lebanon Academy and the New Hampton School. In 1858, he started studying medicine. He learned from Dr. J. S. Ross in Somersworth, New Hampshire.
Becoming a Doctor
John Hayes continued his medical studies at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire. He also studied at Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. He finished his medical degree from Dartmouth in 1861.
After graduating, he worked at the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord. He stayed there until 1862.
Serving in the Civil War
In 1862, John Hayes joined the Union Army. He became an assistant surgeon and a major in the 11th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment. This was during the American Civil War.
A Surgeon's Role
As a surgeon, Dr. Hayes helped many wounded soldiers. He was present at important battles, including the Battle of Fredericksburg. He was in charge of very large field hospitals. These hospitals sometimes cared for up to 17,000 injured soldiers. This was especially true around the time of Lee's surrender at Appomattox.
For his service, Hayes was promoted. He became a brevet lieutenant-colonel on March 13, 1865. A "brevet" rank is an honorary promotion for good service.
Life After the War
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Dr. Hayes returned to civilian life. He practiced medicine in Biddeford, Maine. He stayed there until 1868.
Moving to New Hampshire
In 1868, he moved to Somersworth, New Hampshire. The next year, in 1869, he married Mary Abby Rollins in Somersworth. They had four children together.
From 1867 to 1890, Dr. Hayes had an important job. He was a U.S. examining surgeon for pensions. This meant he checked on soldiers who needed government payments for their injuries. He also served as Somersworth's town doctor for more than ten years.
Community Involvement
John Hayes was a member of several groups. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was a group for Civil War veterans. He was also part of the Somersworth Medical Society and the New Hampshire Medical Society.
He was a member of the Congregational Church. He also supported the Republican Party. John Alfred Hayes passed away in 1913. His brothers, Frederick Hayes and Benjamin Franklin Hayes, were also well-known. Frederick was a soldier, and Benjamin was a lawyer and politician.
