ALEXANDER S. HAYS is a cousin of the other representatives of that name who are mentioned in this volume as residents of Smith township, this county. His grandfather, Moses Hays, was the youngest son of a large family born to David Hays, of New Jersey, whose sons were Thomas, David, Joseph, William, James and Moses. Moses Hays was born in the State of New Jersey, and after partially learning the blacksmith's trade, he was drafted at the age of nineteen into Continental army, together with five of his brothers. He followed his trade till the close of the war, and during the contest his brother John received a wound, which was the cause of his death. In 1783 Moses was married to Jemima Patterson, a native of New Jersey. Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, Moses, with his wife and brothers, went west, settling on 1,000 acres of land about three miles southeast of Burgettstown this county, on Raccoon creek. The brothers divided this land, and Moses made a permanent home upon his share, where the following children were born and reared: Thomas (moved to Jackson county, Ohio, where he died), born October 5, 1784; Edith (wife of David Hayes, of Ohio), born February 27, 1786; John (deceased, near Moorefield, Harrison Co., Ohio), born February 3, 1789; William (killed by accident), born April 7, 1791; James (deceased in Allegheny county, Penn.), born June 11, 1793; Alexander, born November 11, 1795; Mary (deceased in youth), born December 25, 1797; Eleanor (deceased wife of James Todd, of Allegheny county), born November 15, 1799; Joseph (deceased, on the home farm), born February 15, 1801; David (deceased farmer of Smith township, married to Martha Fulton), born May 7, 1803; and Ann (deceased in youth), born June 23, 1805. Moses Hays possessed a remarkably retentive memory, easily recalling incidents of the war fifty years after the conflict. Anything once seen or heard he never forgot, and easily brought it to mind whenever the subject arose. He was a prominent and successful farmer, and in religion was a member of the Raccoon Church during the ministry of Rev. Moses Allen, who was a personal friend of Moses Hays. The latter passed away in 1836, being followed in a few days by his wife.
Joseph Hays was born February 15, 1801, on the old home place, situated on Raccoon creek, about two and a half miles east of Burgettstown, Smith township. He attended the county schools near the home farm, receiving but a meager education, then learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, which he followed until about twenty-five years of age. He then worked as a miller, and having a natural taste for mechanical work he easily learned different trades, also followed droving. In 1842 he was united in marriage with Eleanor Kerr, who was born about 1812, in Cross Creek township, this county, daughter of William and Eleanor (Lyle) Kerr. The children born to this union were: Elizabeth L. (living at home), Mary E. (deceased in early womanhood), Alexander S. (subject of our sketch), William Kerr (a farmer of Allegheny county, Penn.), and Eleanor J. (living with her brother Alexander on the home farm). Joseph and Eleanor (Kerr) Hays settled on the home farm after their marriage, where he followed farming and stock raising with marked success. He always voted with the Democratic party, and in religion he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hays died February 6, 1882, having been preceded by his wife September 30, 1871.
Alexander S. Hays was born October 8, 1849, on the home farm, where he is now living, and received a common-school education, at the same time assisting his father to cultivate the soil. After the death of the latter, Alexander S. Hays purchased the "Old Home farm," where his ancestors had located over one hundred years ago, and has since improved and cultivated the old place He raises first-class stock, making a specialty of fine horses, for which he possesses a strong admiration. He is a very progressive farmer, constantly making some new improvement, or illustrating some new idea, and in 1891 he erected a handsome new residence. Politically he is a prominent member of the Democratic party, having frequently served in township offices and given valuable assistance to the party in various ways. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has never married.
Text taken from page 855 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]