Santa Clara County CA Archives Biographies.....Hayes, Everis Anson 1855 - 
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Author: Eugene T. Sawyer (1922)

  EVERIS ANSON HAYES.-The traits of character that have brought distinction and
success to the representatives of the Hayes family are a direct heritage from a
long line of forefathers possessing the sterling qualities of the Scotch race.
The family genealogy shows that many generations gone by, some of the name
crossed the border from Scotland to the north of England, from which locality in
1683 George Hayes immigrated to Connecticut and became the founder of the family
in America. Numerous of his descendants bore a valiant part in the events
culminating in the independence of our nation, and in every generation the
family has evinced the utmost loyalty to country and a high type of public
spirit. Following the trend of emigration westward, early in the nineteenth
century the family became established in what was then the frontier, beyond the
pale of civilization as it then existed.

  During the residence of Anson and Mary (Folsom) Hayes at Waterloo, Jefferson
County, Wis., their son, Everis Anson Hayes, was born March 10, 1855. The
various industries with which his father was connected, that of railroad
contractor, merchant and farmer, proved sufficiently profitable to enable him to
give his children the best advantages of that day and locality, and the son,
after having completed the studies of the public school, matriculated at the
University of Wisconsin, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws
in 1879 and that of Bachelor of Letters in 1882. Previous to receiving the
latter degree he had made his home in Madison, Wis., where he was a member of
the common council and a practitioner of growing prominence. During 1883 he
removed to Ashland, Wis., and formed a partnership with his brother, Jay Orley
Hayes, and Col. John H. Knight. In the spring of that year their mother, a
remarkable woman, who was away with her son, Jay O., for a needed rest, heard a
voice that said for her sons not to invest their money in pine lands which might
be destroyed by fire, but that there was vast wealth awaiting them in iron ore
to the east. East of Ashland there was an unbroken wilderness, and Jay O., to
whom his mother first communicated, said that he knew of no mines in that
direction, but he had implicit faith in his mother. Again she heard the voice
and she said to her son, "You have a client-a Captain Moore -who will understand
and know about it. Going to Captain Moore, Mr. Hayes inquired of him if he knew
of any iron ore deposits to the east, to which the Captain replied in the
affirmative-that he had made explorations there and that the indications had
convinced him that there were valuable deposits in that locality. Mr. Hayes then
told Captain Moore that if there was an opportunity to invest that he and his
brother, E. A. Hayes, would go in with him.

  A short time after this, Jay O. Hayes, while out in the pine woods became very
ill, and E. A. succeeded in getting him back to Madison, Wis., to their mother's
home, where in time he recovered, though he doubtless would have passed away had
it not been for her care and help. During this time Captain Moore came to E. A.
Hayes' office in Ashland and said that he was going to organize an exploration
company in which the eight people comprising it would have an equal interest,
each paying $250. On inquiry Mr. Hayes found that one share was held by a
saloonkeeper and he asked Captain Moore if he might not have that eighth
instead, so that his mother might have an interest, but the captain said that he
could not go back on his promise. When Mr. Hayes told his mother of his wish to
secure an interest for her and his inability to do so, she replied that if it
were intended that she should have it, that she would get it. Some time after
this the brothers met the saloonkeeper who told them that their money was being
wasted and used for other purposes. Jay O., said to him, "If that is the case, I
presume that you would like to get out." To this the man agreed and Jay O. paid
him $250, thus securing an eighth interest for his mother. The brothers later
purchased another eighth, and still later a fractional share more, so that they
had obtained a controlling interest before any ore was discovered. Their mother
assured them, however, that out of it would come all the money they would ever
need, and this has indeed materialized, for it has brought untold wealth. They
sent men to explore the Gogebic region in Michigan and in due time iron ore was
discovered and mines opened and successfully operated.

  They took up their residence at Ironwood, Gogebic County, where they made a
fortune, and in 1887 they came to California, taking up their residence in Santa
Clara County, where they purchased a valuable ranch property. However, the panic
of '93 that brought disaster to many men and corporations did not miss them and
in 1895 they lost all they had in California, including their ranch, besides
being in debt. By crooked manipulation their mines had also passed out of their
control, so in 1899 they returned to Gogebic County, Mich., and through the aid
of their old-time friend, Mr. Longyear, brought suit and the mine was recovered.
E. A. Hayes assumed the superintendency and in two years' time had made such a
success that they leased the mine, receiving a payment of $900,000. The brothers
then returned to San Jose, looked up their old creditors and paid principal and
interest in full. One bank to which they were indebted had already charged their
account to profit and loss and as a result of the payment made by the Hayes
brothers they were able to declare a special dividend of twenty per cent. Square
and honest, although these notes and obligations were legally outlawed, Messrs.
Hayes did not look upon it in that light, for the accounts were not outlawed as
far as they were concerned. The mines in Michigan are still yielding big returns
and they are now opening up a larger body of ore than they have ever had before,
so that their mother's prophecy is being fulfilled and the mine continues to
yield all the money they need No event in the business history of the brothers
has surpassed in importance their connection with local journalism. In 1900 they
acquired the San Jose Herald and the following year their journalistic interests
were greatly increased by the purchase of the San Jose Mercury, the only morning
paper in the city. Under their keen business management, unsurpassed tact and
sagacious judgment, these papers have become the most important in the state,
outside of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and wield an influence that is not
limited to the Santa Clara Valley, although their circulation is largest and
their power strongest in the home locality.

  A stanch supporter of the Republican party, Mr. Hayes held the office of
chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Santa Clara County, and
frequently "stumped" the state in the interests of the party. In the summer of
1904 he was nominated for Congress by the Republican party, and in November of
that year he was elected a member of Congress and has been reelected to succeed
himself six times. While a member of the House, Mr. Hayes served his district,
state and nation with marked ability and was tireless and unceasing in his work.
During the whole fourteen years of his service he was a member of the banking
and currency committee and also of the immigration and naturalization committee,
the last six years being ranking Republican member of both of the above
committees and very active in their measures. In the drawing up of the Federal
Reserve Act he was very active and had much to do with its formation, as the
draft was submitted to him each day for suggestions and some of them were
incorporated in the act. He was also a member of all conference committees, and
legislative representative of the House forming these committees. In forming the
immigration bill, now in force, he represented the House on the conference
committee of the Senate and House. The most interesting piece of work in
connection with his legislative duties was the reorganization of the rules of
the House of Representatives which had come into being during the long tenure of
Joseph Cannon as speaker. Mr. Hayes organized the fight against these ironclad
Cannon rules of the House and was chairman of the insurgents and also of the
steering committee during the whole fight. He was ranking Republican member of
the sub-committee that drafted the Farm Loan Act passed by the Sixty-fourth
Congress, and had more to do with its drafting than any other man in the
country. He was also on the sub-committee that drafted the Postal Savings law
and next to Chairman Glass was the most active in its formation and ultimate
success.

  Mr. Hayes' first marriage, in 1884, united him with Miss Nettie Louisa Porter,
who passed away in 1891. Two years later he was united with Miss Mary Louisa
Bassett of Whitewater, Wis. Mr. Hayes is the father of three children by his
first marriage and three by his second, as follows: Sibyl Charity of Edenvale;
Anson Clinton of San Francisco; Harold Cecil, in business in San Jose; Phyllis
Celestia. the wife of Capt. Robert A. Griffin of Carmel-by-the-Sea; Loy Bassett,
connected with the Mercury; Abraham Folsom, engaged in ranching in this county.

  Mr. Hayes is a prominent member of the Union League Club of San Francisco,
where he has a host of friends, and in addition to being president of the
Mercury Publishing Company and vice-president of the Herald Publishing Company,
he retains his interest in the Michigan mines, holding the office of president
of the Hayes Mining Company, owners of the famous Ashland iron mines at
Ironwood, Mich., and is president of the Harmony Iron Company, which owns
valuable iron properties in Iron County. Diversified as are his interests, no
detail is neglected conducive to their success and no efforts are spared to make
each enterprise the peer of others in the same line of activity. As land owner,
mine owner, investor and publisher, he finds an abundant field for his varied
talents and an opportunity to identify himself with men foremost in these
industries. A man of keen perception and intuition, he is a public benefactor
and is ever striving to benefit his fellow-men. Kind, thoughtful, liberal and
open-hearted, he is ever ready to assist those who have been less fortunate in
this world's goods and is generous to a fault. Of deep religious convictions and
exemplifying a high standard of morals, he governs his life by the principles
of-the Golden Rule. Indissolubly associated with the history of San Jose and
Santa Clara County, his name will be perpetuated in many enterprises of
permanent value to the country's and city's progress.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
EUGENE T. SAWYER

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
1922


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