Hays, Robert

Robert Hays, fourth in the family of George and Elizabeth Hays, was born Aug. 16, 1812, in Ireland, and came to this country with his parents, with whom he lived on the farm in Washington township, eventually buying the old place. He followed farming all his life. On Feb. 9, 1836, he was married by Rev. J. Reddic to his neighbor, Deborah Jane McKee, who was born July 27, 1815, in Armstrong county, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Blaine) McKee, of Sugar Creek township, and he purchased a farm from his brother David near by, and moved onto it. There he resided for many years, and there he reared his family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters, viz.: Eliza Ann, born Dec. 3, 1838, lived all her life after her marriage to William Storey (which occurred Feb. 14, 1867) in and near Fairview, Butler Co., Pa., and is now deceased; Thomas, of Butler county, Pa., is mentioned below; John Milton, born July 22, 1841, of near Parker City, married Lizzie Campbell Sept. 24, 1868; Margaret, born April 2, 1844, became Mrs. R.O. Shira, of North Washington, Butler Co., Pa., and is now deceased; James Harvey, born Nov. 2, 1845, of North Washington, now deceased, married Flora Harold Dec. 8, 1870; W.G., of Los Angeles, Cal., married Jennie Hart Dec. 25, 1872; Robert, who married Catharine Helm (now deceased), is a resident of North Washington; S.W., of Butler, Pa., married Mattie Leard Dec. 30, 1875; David R. lives at McFarland, W. Va., and is married to Catherine Spies.

The father of this family, Robert Hays, born Aug. 16, 1812, died in 1877; the mother’s death occurred March 10, 1883. They were Presbyterian in religious connection. In politics he was first a Whig, later becoming a Republican, and he took an active part in the administration of public affairs in his neighborhood, serving fifteen years as school director, and holding other local offices.

Source: Pages 640-647, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Lisa Strobel for the Armstrong County Beers Project
Published 2001 by the Armstrong County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project

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ROBERT HAYS was born in Donegal county, Ireland, in 1812, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents when twelve years of age. The family located in Armstrong county, where his parents resided until their death. Robert was reared in that county, his first home being a little log cabin in the midst of a forest, where wolves, bears and deer roamed at will. He married Deborah McKEE, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (BLAINE) McKEE, and settled upon the HAYS homestead in Armstrong county, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. They resided there until 1876, in which year they removed to the village of Fairview, Butler county, where Mr. HAYS died in 1877. His widow survived until 1883, dying at the age of seventy-five. They reared the following children: Eliza, wife of William STOREY, of Fairview; Thomas, of the same borough; John M., of Venango township; Margaret, wife of R. O. SHIRA, of Fairview; James HARVEY, of Burton, Ohio; William G., a resident of Marietta, Ohio; Robert, who lives upon the old homestead; Samuel W., a resident of butler, and David R., of Marietta, Ohio.

Source: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1895
Biographical Sketches, Chapter 72 (Pg.1012)