Hayes Family
Perhaps the most factual and detailed account of an early family settling in Augusta County is that of John Hayes who came to Augusta County from Cherry Valley, New York. Hayes was a true frontiersman. While he could have had a wonderful life on family land near Cooperstown, NY, he choose to venture to Virginia. He settled and built a homestead on Hayes Creek on the Augusta County Frontier (near present day Rockbridge Bath and Goshen Pass). Hayes enjoyed frontier life and traveled through Pennsylvania back to Cherry Valley, NY on several occasions. (Note: James Fenimore Cooper learned of John Hayes from his family in Cherry Valley, NY and selected him to became the Natty Bumppo character of famous Leatherstocking Tales. Copper made a trip to see the Hayes Family in Augusta County during the 19th century. Learning of his ideas for frontier novels they gave him the longrifle that was carried by John Hayes and attributed to having been made by a gunsmith named John Hannah of Augusta County. Cooper had his name engraved on the butt plate.) John Hayes married Sarah Walker.