Last updated 21 April 2001.
SOLDIER BOYS DIE OF INFLUENZA
Macoupin County Mourns the Loss of Several Brave Sons in Army Camps.
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Geo. B. Hays of South Otter received a telegram Tuesday morning, announcing the death of his son, Lester Hays at Camp Taylor, Monday afternoon. The telegram read as follows:
"We regret to announce that your son died at the base hospital this afternoon at 4 p. m. with pneumonia. Please wire immediately where you want the body to be sent.
Company Commander.
A wire was sent immediately to shop [sic] the body home for interment. The burial will be at Union Chapel, but the date of the funeral has not yet been announced.
Lester Kenneth Hays, born April 18, 1893, died Oct. 14th, at 4 o'clock p. m., at Camp Taylor, Ky., from influenza followed by pneumonia. The deceased was a member of the Union Chapel M. E. church since Sept. 1907. He leaves to mourn his death his parents, five brothers and three sisters.
Lester was the eldest son of Geo. B. and Carrie Hays, was born on a farm near Hickory Point and resided there with the exception of a few months spent in Colorado in search of a climate where he might find relief from asthma. He was a fine young man and to know him was to like him. He will be greatly missed by his many young friends.
He had been at Camp Taylor since June 26th. A few days before his death, he had written the folks at home that he had influenza but was getting better and told them not to worry about him that he would soon be all right, but, pneumonia developed and death came quickly. Just before the end came he expressed a regret that he could not have lived long enough to have gone over and done his bit even though he fell in action.
Lester has just gone over to the great beyond and will await his comrades there.
Funeral services were held at the Hays' home with Rev. Rhoads officiating. The pall-bearers were John Barnes, Frank Stone, Alva Conlee, Ray England, Virgil King and Cephas Hays. Interment in Union Chapel cemtery [sic].