BIO: Thomas Renick HAYES, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sabrina Marie Robb Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ _______________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _______________________________________________ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 108-109 THOMAS RENICK HAYES, M.D., of Bellefonte, Centre county, is of Revolutionary stock, and of ancestry that is of the hardy and sturdy Irish race, which so early came to the Susquehanna country and played so important a part in the development of that country and society. In the old Derry churchyard, in Dauphin county, rest the remains of Patrick Hayes and wife. He was a native of Ireland, born in County Donegal in 1705, and in 1725 came to America and located in what is now Derry township, Dauphin county. The records of the warrantees of lands in that township show that January 10, 1737, he became warrantee to 300 acres of land. His death occurred January 31, 1790. Robert, their second son, was born in 1733, and in 1762 married Margaret Wray, of Derry township. John Hayes, eldest son of Robert, became deputy surveyor of Northumberland county, and later of Union county. Many of the surveys in Centre county were made by him as a deputy-surveyor of Northumberland county. His birth occurred in 1765, and in 1786 he came to Buffalo Valley, in what subsequently became Union county. In 1796 he married Margaret Gray, a daughter of Capt. William Gray, of the Revolution (Capt. Gray, as a lieutenant, was prisoner from August 27, 1776, to December 8, 1776; he died at Sunbury, July 18, 1804, at the age of fifty-four), and resided on the river just above the town of Lewisburg. Robert Hayes, in 1790, bought the old Andrew Foster farm, located above Mifflinburg, which at his death was purchased by his son John. The latter died May 16, 1844; his children were: Robert Goodlow Harper, Nancy, David, Samuel, Joseph, William, Margaret, Anne and James; of whom the first named was the father of the subject of this sketch. Robert Goodlow Harper Hayes was born in 1797, and December 27, 1827, was married to Esther Renick Forster. He resided on the old home of his grandfather and father, where he died May 2, 1854. His wife's death occurred August 2, 1856. He had been an elder in the Presbyterian Church nineteen years. Dr. Thomas Renick Hayes received his education at Academia, in Juniata county, under Prof. J.H. Shumaker, and at Lafayette College. In 1864 he was graduated from the Chicago Medical College, then practiced some years at Oconomowoc, Wis., successfully. In 1870 he located in practice at Bellefonte. In 1876 he assisted in organizing the Centre County Medical Society, of which he became an original member, and of which he has served as president. He has served as vice-president of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. Dr. Hayes is the author of the "Medical History of Centre County." He stands deservedly high in his profession. As a citizen he has contributed substantially to the interests of his adopted city in the erection of elegant dwellings. He has served in various positions; has been director of the First National Bank, and of the Bellefonte Building and Loan Association. Dr. Hayes, on December 28, 1871, was married to Miss Sarah B., daughter of Hon. H.N. McAllister (deceased), formerly of Bellefonte. Adhering to the faith of his ancestors for many generations back, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, active and zealous for its prosperity.