John Harrison Lay

Left to right: Abraham Lincoln Leigh, Walter Green Leigh, Parker Eddie Leigh, Benjamin Harrison Leigh, and their father John Harrison Leigh; John Harrison Lay with extended family at home in Science Hill, Pulaski Co KY (photos retrieved from personal collection)

John Harrison Lay was born in Science Hill, Kentucky which is near the town of Somerset in Pulaski County, on 22 July 1843. He was a farm boy, which was typical for a Lay during that period of time. His father, Instant Lay, taught John the daily chores for farming and raising livestock until John Harrison was about 23 years old. Because of his love for horses, he served in the Union Army as a private in the 13th Kentucky Volunteer Calvary during the period of 28 October 1863 to 10 January 1865. While he was assigned to “D” Company, he participated in skirmishes and several pitched battles against Confederate guerillas and Confederate regular soldiers during the Civil War. Of particular note is the battle of Saltville, Virginia. John Harrison was discharged from the army on the tenth day of January 1865 at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, which was the major encampment for the “Yankee” occupational army within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Camp Nelson was located on the southern outskirt of the city of Lexington, Kentucky. John filed for a pension and received a pension for lumbago, rheumatism of the right leg and deafness due to his Civil War service

John Harrison and Amanda Lay at their house in Science Hill, Kentucky (photo retrieved from personal collection)

After returning from the war, John met Amanda Jane Hall who lived in the same area of Pulaski County where he had grown up. John fell in love with and married Amanda at the residence of her parents, Joseph and Nancy Hall, on 26 October 1873. John and Amanda built their home about 1/2 mile south of the railroad depot of Science Hill on the east side of the railroad tracks.

A Letter that Dalls Leigh wrote to me in 1983 gave me insight into the life of his grandfather, John Harrison. The following is an excerpt from his letter. “John Harrison Lay-Leigh was born and raised in and around Science Hill, Kentucky. My memory is that he was a farmer all his life. Was in the cavalry in the Civil War. I am sending you his pension application. He did get the pension. As I was 16 years old at the time of his funeral, my memory is real clear on these statements. I am now 71 years and 8 months old. In his boyhood day I was told he went out in the evening around the Hillsides of Science Hill to round up the cattle. Science Hill was mostly farms then. His old homeplace was in my first twelve to thirteen years located near Science Hill. I believe the house still stands. I have a photo of it in my file. Grandpa J. H. Lay and his children were real great in having and enjoying family get togethers. They got ten container(s) of ice cream from Somerset from a party named Guy Bernell. Was a real treat as that was a new thing then. Other times they made their own and also bought Ice and Lemons for tubs of lemonade.”

The photo was taken at the residence of John and Amanda Lay in Science Hill, Kentucky. The family members from left to right: Millard Filmore, Laura Belle, Eddy Parker, Walter Green, Benjamen Harrison, Flossie May, Abraham Lincoln; front center: John Harrison and Amanda. Date of picture is unknown.

John Harrison Lay’s granddaughter, Eula Leigh, now the wife of Eldon E. Stone, told me about an experience as a child with her grandfather. On more than one occasion while walking home from the Science Hill School, Eula, along with her brothers and sisters, would stop at their grandfather’s home which was located near Norwood, Kentucky During their visit, John Harrison would bring out a small wooden chest full of candy and treat each of them to some of the candy. Eula said that the visits to grandpa’s home was always special.

The headstone for John Harrison and Amanda Jane is located at the Mount Zion Church Cemetery near Science Hill. Numerous Lay family members are buried within the same cemetery; Danny Gordon Stone at the gravesite of John Harrison Lay located in the Mount Zion Methodist Church Cemetery at Mount Zion near Science Hill Kentucky. The photo was taken during the summer of 2009.

The next two copies of the Civil War pensioners list many family members of the Lay clan in Pulaski County. John Harrison’s brother, George Lay is listed in the 32nd Ky Infantry. A distant relative, Thomas Lay is listed in the 1st Ky Cavalry. The pension papers lists the nearest post office to the Lay family members residences and it also lists the disabilities. This is the pension record for Private John Harrison Lay for Service during the Civil War. When he served with the 13 Kentucky Calvary Volunteers which was a “One Year Regiment”. These regiments were fielded for the purpose of home defense force to prevent Confederate Marauders from occupation and guerilla operations in the state of Kentucky. Kentucky was a neutral state but had a Confederate Capitol in western Kentucky and a Union Capitol in Frankfort. It is interesting that both capitols were captured by the opposing forces. Eventually Confederate forces were pushed from the State and Kentucky became occupied by Union forces.