George W. Hays, p. 305

GEORGE W. HAYS, member of the well-known firm of George W. Hays & Co., dealers in hardware, etc., Washington, was born in Butler county, Penn., in 1855. After securing a fair education at the schools of his native place, he commenced, when nineteen years of age, to learn the tinning trade in Pittsburgh, and for some time after the expiration of his apprenticeship he carried on a general tinning business in Armstrong, Penn. Thence he moved to Freeport.

Here he followed the same line of business until 1882, when he moved to Millerstown, same State, and there, for eight years, sold general hardware, oil-well supplies, agricultural implements, etc. In 1890 he came to Washington and purchased the store owned by T. A. Burkellow, where he now carries on the leading business in general hardware, house-furnishing goods, etc. Mr. Hays married Miss Anna M., daughter of D. S. McCollough, of Butler county, Penn., March 2, 1880. Six children have been born to them namely: David Charles, Russell Valentine, Mabel Lucretia, Laura Amanda, Mary Aileen and Anna Margaret. Mr. Hays may justly be classified among the self-made men of the day, as his success in life is entirely due to his own unaided exertions, and he ranks high among the prosperous and respected business men of Washington borough. Politically, he is a Republican; socially, a member of the E. A. U., and, like Mrs. Hays, is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Washington. Mr. Hay's father, John Valentine Hays, came, with his parents, from Germany, when nine years of age. In 1843 the youth had grown to manhood and married Margaret Upperman, who was born at Pittsburgh. To this marriage six sons and one daughter were born, of whom G. W. Hays is the fifth in order of birth.

Text taken from page 305 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1998 by Sherry Norton of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]