BIOS: HAY Family, Salisbury, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pa; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub.: The Lewis Pub. Co., New York/Chicago 1906, pp. 184-186 The Hay family of Salisbury is of German origin and has been for at least a century and a half resident in Pennsylvania, being today one of the most numerous and best known in Somerset county. (I) Simon Hay, who was born in Germany, emigrated thence in 1763, in company with his brother, John Francis Hay. Simon settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade of weaver. While temporarily engaged in threshing he made the acquaintance of a man named Countryman, who assisted him in his labors. Countryman possessed a large tract of land in Brothers Valley township and offered such inducements to Mr. Hay as to cause him to migrate there and purchase a tract of three hundred acres. On this land he erected a gristmill, which he operated to his own advantage and that of his neighbors. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine, Susan, Valentine, Jacob, George, Peter S., see forward; and Michael. Mr. Hay died in 1842, at the extraordinary age of one hundred and three. (II) Peter S. Hay, son of Simon Hay, was born in 1789, in Brothers Valley township, and succeeded his father in the possession of the farm. After the death of his brother, Valentine, who operated the gristmill, this also came into his possession by purchase. He and his wife were members of the Reformed church. Mr. Hay married Elizabeth Walker, and their children were: David, see forward; Michael, Philip, Peter, Valentine, Mary, wife of Moses Young; Susan, wife of George Walker; Elizabeth, wife of John Rink; Catharine, wife of Fred Weller, and Caroline, wife of Samuel Saylor. Mr. Hay, the father, died in 1845. (III) David Hay, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Walker) Hay, was born September 3, 1814, in Brothers Valley township, and purchased of his father the gristmill, which he operated until about 1850, when he disposed of it and moved to Southampton township, where he purchased a farm. Owing to the death of his wife shortly after, Mr. Hay abandoned farming and passed two years in teaching school and in other occupations. After his second marriage Mr. Hay moved to a farm in Elk Lick township, which he greatly improved, erecting a house and outbuildings. He operated extensively in real estate, dealing in farms, not only in his native state, but also in the west. He was a successful financier and settled numerous estates in a satisfactory manner. In 1857 he was elected to the state legislature on the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the Reformed church and contributed two thousand dollars toward the erection of the present edifice. He also gave one thousand dollars to the church, in trust, the proceeds to be devoted to alleviating the sufferings of the poor in the neighborhood. Mr. Hay was twice married. His first wife was Polly Cook, by whom he was the father of two sons: William H., and Calvin Theodore, see forward. After the death of his wife Mr. Hay married Mrs. Mary A. (Rauch) Boose, the issue of this marriage being one son, Norman D. The death of Mr. Hay occurred April 14, 1878. (IV) Calvin Theodore Hay, son of David and Polly (Cook) Hay, was born June 18, 1847, at Hay's Mill, Brothers Valley, and acquired a common school education. He began life as a farmer and after a few years moved to Ottawa, Franklin county, Kansas, where he also engaged in agricultural pursuits. Thence he moved to Falls City, Richardson county, Nebraska, where for three years he engaged successfully in purchasing and shipping grain. In 1878, in response to the urgent requests of his father, he returned home and once more became a farmer. In 1882 he moved to Salisbury and built his present fine residence. He also erected Hay's block, in Salisbury. In December, 1904, he opened and has since operated a general department store in Salisbury. He has served as school director, councilman and tax collector. He affiliates with the I.O.O.F., and is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Hay married, February 27, 1867, Duscilla, daughter of Samuel Devore, of Bedford county, and they were the parents of the following children: David Irving, see forward; Alice, wife of Lewis Keim, of Salisbury; Ora, wife of Charles May, barber of Salisbury; William, of Cumberland, Maryland, married Alice ______; Edward lives in Idaho; Ira, at home; Grace, at home; Harriet, at home; Emma, deceased; Frances (Mrs. Dr. Hunter Perry); Ruth, at home; and Edna, at home. (V) David Irving Hay, son of Calvin Theordore and Duscilla (Devore) Hay, was born February 8, 1869, in Elk Lick township, and until the age of fifteen attended the public schools of his native place. He worked in the mines until 1888, when he opened a candy and cigar store in Salisbury, which he conducted until 1891. He was then clerk and bartender in the Hay House until July, 1904, when he became proprietor of the hotel. He has served two terms as councilman and one term as a member of the borough committee. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men, and is a Republican. He and his family attend the Reformed church. Mr. Hay married, March 23, 1890, Edith Catharine, daughter of Alfred Wagner, of Salisbury, and their children are: Harry, Lewis, Edith, Esther, Anna, George, and Imogene.