BIO: Jacob Hay, M.D., York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 21-22

JACOB HAY, M. D., is a native of York, and was born in 1833.  His parents were 
Dr. Jacob and Sarah (Beard) Hay, representing two families of early settlers in 
York County.  His grandfather, whose name was also Jacob Hay, was an emigrant 
from Scotland to the province of Pennsylvania, early in the colonial period, and 
located in York, where he became a prominent merchant and justice of the peace.  
George Beard, his maternal grandfather, was one of the first immigrants that 
settled in the present region of Spring Garden Township, on land still occupied 
by the Indians to whom he gave a pick and shovel to please them and make his 
title doubly sure.  The two occupations of farming and hotel keeping, were 
successfully followed by him.  Dr. Jacob Hay, Sr., who for fifty-five years was 
a prominent and influential physician and public spirited citizen of York, after 
receiving an elementary education in his native town, entered Princeton College, 
at which institution he graduated.  He read medicine with Dr. John Spangler of 
great local fame, and completed his course by graduating at the University of 
Maryland.  For a number of years he was president of the York Bank, and a 
trustee of the York County Academy.  He died in York, April, 1875, and his wife 
died in July of the same year.  Both were members of the Lutheran Church.  They 
had eight children, as follows: Dr. John, a successful physician who died at 
forty-two; Mary E., now widow of the late Dr. J. A. Brown, president of the 
Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Gettysburg; Caroline; Lucy, widow of W. H. 
Davis; Dr. Jacob; William, a graduate of Pennsylvania College, and many years a 
prominent member of the York bar.  He was a presidential elector from this 
district, representing the Republican party in the campaign of 1876.  He died at 
the early age of forty-seven, after a very successful career in the practice of 
his chosen profession.  He was a gentleman of very high repute and universally 
esteemed for his manly virtues and estimable character.  The two youngest 
children were Henry and Sarah, both deceased.  Dr. Jacob Hay, who is now 
familiarly known in York Borough and through the county as a very extensive 
practitioner, spent his school-boy days in the York County Academy.  After 
reading medicine in the office of his father, he entered the medical department 
of the University of Maryland, where he graduated in the spring of 1854; since 
that time he has been in continuous practice.  He is a member of the National, 
State and County Medical Association, and was for a time president of the last 
named body; is a member of the Masonic order of Knight Templars, York 
Commandery.  For a period of twelve years Dr. Hay has been an active member of 
the board of school control of York, and served as president of the board for 
several years.  In 1865 he was married to Catherine Smyser, daughter of Joseph 
Smyser, of York.  They have four children, namely:  Nellie, Lucy, Joseph and 
Katie.  Dr. Hay and family are members of the Lutheran Church.