BIOS: Harry HAY, Milford, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, pp 295-296.

  Harry Hay, an enterprising agriculturist of Milford, was born in Brother's 
Valley, Somerset County, Pa., May 6, 1822, son of George and Mary (Countryman) 
Hay.
  His grandfather, Simon Hay, was born in Germany, and came to this country when 
eighteen years of age.  He settled in Brother's Valley township, where he spent 
the remainder of his long and useful life as a farmer and miller, dying in 1838, 
as the venerable age of one hundred and one years.  He was a prominent member of 
the Reformed church.  He had nine children: Jacob, Michael, Valentine, Peter, 
George, and four daughters whose names are not recorded.  George Hay, born in 
Brother's Valley, died in 1843, aged about sixty-one years.  He was a lifelong 
farmer.  Like his father, he was a consistent member of the Reformed church and 
served as an Elder.  To George and Mary (Countryman) Hay nine children were 
born, and four are living; namely, Simon, John, Mary Ann, and Harry.  Simon and 
John reside in Brother's Valley.  Mary Ann is the wife of Jeremiah Broucher, and 
resides in Jefferson, Pa.
  Harry Hay attended the public schools of Brother's Valley, and remained on the 
farm with his parents until he was twenty-four years old.  Purchasing a farm of 
two hundred acres in Brother's Valley, he there engaged in general farming for 
four years, then sold and bought a two-hundred-and-thirty-acre farm in 
Jefferson, where he remained nine years.  Selling his Jefferson farm, he 
returned to Brother's Valley, and bought a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, 
which he carried on the next nineteen years.  He then sold out and came to 
Milford and purchased the farm of one hundred and five acres on which he has 
since resided.  He recently sold a farm of one hundred acres in this town to his 
son.
  On December 12, 1844, Mr. Hay was united in marriage with Marguerite, daughter 
of Frederick and Catharine (Stull) Gerry.  Her grandfather, John Gerry, was a 
farmer of Alleghany County, Maryland.  Frederick Gerry was a weaver by trade.  
He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a class leader 
for many years.  Frederick and Catharine Gerry had eleven children, of whom six 
are living; namely, Marguerite, Myra, Belle, Nelson, Henry S., and Cornelius.  
Myra is now Mrs. Lichty, of Berlin.  Belle is the wife of a Mr. Bedford, of 
Johnstown, Pa.  Nelson and Henry S. reside in Berlin, where the latter is a 
successful physician.  Cornelius is in Nebraska.  Mr. and Mrs. Hay have six of 
their seven children, namely: Samuel W., a farmer of Brother's Valley, married 
to Miss Sarah Walker; Louise F., wife of J. L. Curley and a resident of 
Richmond, Va.; Minerva Ann, wife of William J. Fritz, of Brother's Valley; 
Charles E., a farmer in Nebraska; Harman, a farmer in Milford; Ellen, widow of 
John C. Walker, residing in Nebraska.  Mary Jane, who married Monroe Crouse, 
died on June 24, 1888. 
  Mr. Hay is a Republican voter.  He has served as Supervisor and as Judge of 
Elections.  He belongs to the Reformed church, and is one of the Elders.