BIO:  J. C. HAYS, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 745-746
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/

 
    J. C. HAYS, one of the substantial retired farmers and well-known business
  men of Mechanicsburg, was born July 24, 1818, in York county, Pa., in the
  village of Newberrytown, son of Mills and Eva (Crull) Hays, natives of York
  county, and a grandson of Jesse Hays, who was born in Wales.

    Jesse Hays was the founder of the family in Pennsylvania, and he came to
  America in young manhood, settling first in Chester county, but later
  removing to York county, where he became possessed of a large tract of
  valuable land in the Fishing Creek Valley. He married Margery Mills, and they
  reared four children, namely: Lydia, who married Joseph Willitt; Susan, who
  married (first) a Mr. Clark, and (second) a Mr. Cascaden; Hannah, who died
  unmarried; and Mills. Jesse Hays and wife were reared as Quakers, but in
  later life became connected with the Methodist Church.

    Mills Hays was born in Newberrytown, York county, and in early business
  life followed coopering. He then taught school, and was appointed a justice
  of the peace, his high personal character later winning him the position of
  associate judge in York county. Judge Hays died in 1858, aged seventy-two
  years. He married Eva Crull, also of York county, and they had a family of
  five children born to them, viz.: John; Sidney, who married William Epley;
  Mary; Jesse C.; and Jane, who married Samuel P. Harmon.

    Jesse C. Hays attended school in Newberrytown until the age of eighteen,
  and then began teaching, a profession he followed for the eight succeeding
  years, embarking then in a mercantile business with his father. In 1848 he
  bought his father's interest and continued the business alone until 1864,
  when he sold out. In 1863 Mr. Hays was elected justice of the peace of
  Newberrytown, an office he satisfactorily filled for a period of five years.
  For eight years he served also as postmaster of that town. In 1869 Mr. Hays
  came to Mechanicsburg, retiring from active business life at that time,
  settling in his comfortable and attractive home on West Main street.

    On May 13, 1852, Mr. Hays married Mary Miller, of Newberry township, York
  county, born Feb. 15, 1827, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Reeser) Miller, old
  settlers of York county, whose parents came from Germany. Two children were
  born to this marriage, namely: Mills M., born in Newberrytown, married Clara
  Bowers, of York county, and they have three children, Harry, Edith M. and
  Jessie; and Mary, who married Eugene Laverty, a druggist at Middletown,
  Dauphin county, and they have two sons, Eugene and George. In politics, Mr.
  Hays is a Democrat. Both he and wife

    746  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  attend the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of high moral character, one who
  is respected and esteemed by all who know him.