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Pleasant Smith Hagy was born in Washington County, Va., February 10, 1834, and died in Abingdon, Va., in his native county, on February 20, 1920, aged eighty-six years. He was the fourth child of Martin and Nancy F. Hagy and was educated at Abingdon Military Academy, now known as William King High School, later attending school at Emory and Henry College. In 1853 he left Virginia and made his home in Texas, near Goliad, where he engaged in varied occupations, part of the time surveying and with the Texas Rangers in Indian campaigns. In 1861 he returned to his native county to enlist in the Confederate army, joining the Glade Spring Rifle Company, and by his company was elected second lieutenant. This company saw service first at Laurel Hill, later in General Jackson's winter campaigns in 1862 and was with Jackson's army in the evacuation of Winchester and his other operations up to the battle of Kernstown where Comrade Hagy was severely wounded and left on the field. He was taken prisoner on March 23, 1862, and confined in Fort Delaware until August 5, when he was exchanged at City Point, near Richmond. After an examination he was given an honorable discharge from the army and furnished transportation back to Texas. After a very exciting journey, in which he narrowly escaped capture again, he reached his home in Texas and the following Februrary enlisted for the duration of the war in Company F, 1st Texas Cavalry, and served on the Texas coast and in Louisiana, being engaged in operations against Bank's army, taking part in the battle of Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864, and at Pleasant Hill on the following day. Later he transferred from the 1st Texas Cavalry to Capt. David Terry's company of scouts and remained with this company until the end of the war, receiving his discharge on May 24, 1865.

In 1858 he married Darthulia B. Wright, to which union were born two children, a daughter surviving him. His body was laid to rest in Sinking Spring Cemetery, at Abingdon.

The life of this comrade after the war was spent on the frontier of Texas, where he served in various capacities, as surveyor, judge, and representative. In the year 1908 he returned to his native county in Virginia to spend the remainder of his days. He was converted at the age of fifteen years and became a member of the Methodist Church, South, of which he was a devoted member to the end. His creed, by which he lived, is summed up in the following, which was found in his notebook after his death:

"In the morning when I get up I thank God for keeping me during the night.

"When I put on my clothes I ask God to clothe me with righteousness during the day.

"When I wash my face I ask God to keep me clean from the sins of the day.

"When I eat I ask him to supply me with the bread of life.

"When I drink I ask him to supply me with living water.

"As the day rolls away with all its stages I ask God to keep me company."