BIOS: Hiram P. HAY, Berlin, 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, Pennsylvania;Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 197-199 Hiram P. HAY. The family of which Hiram P. Hay, of Berlin, is a representative, was founded in this country by Simon Hay, who came from Germany in 1763 and settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, where he followed the trade of a weaver. He was induced to purchase a tract of three hundred acres in Brothers Valley township, and settled on the farm now owned by E. E. Boyer, erecting a gristmill, and afterward a planing mill. On the farm still stands the old stone house, erected in 1790, and today in good condition. Simon Hay and his wife, who was Miss Anna May, were the parents of the following children: Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine, Susan, Valentine, Michael, Jacob, George, and Peter, of whom later. Mr. Hay lived to be more than a centenarian, his death occurring in 1842 at the age of one hundred and three. Peter Hay, son of Simon Hay, was born in 1789, and succeeded his father in the possession of the farm, and after the death of his brother, Valentine, who operated the gristmill, this also came into his possession by purchase. The farm is now owned by his grandson, S. Sylvester. Mr. Hay and his wife were members of the Reformed church. Mr. Hay married Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Walker, and of their twelve children ten reached maturity: David, deceased; Michael, Philip, of whom later; Peter S., Mary, Susan, Elizabeth, Catharine, Valentine and Caroline. Mr. Hay's death occurred in 1845, and his widow survived until 1880. Philip Hay, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Walker) Hay, was born April 3, 1820, on the homestead, and received a common school education. His farming operations were extensive and he was largely engaged in stock raising. He served the township as assessor, and in early life was a Whig, but later became a Democrat. He was a member of the Hay's church congregation of the Reformed church, which he served as deacon and elder, and was also connected with the Sunday school, taking the deepest interest in all branches of church work. Mr. Hay married, February 5, 1846, Anna Olinger, born August 29, 1824, at Myersdale, and their children were: William P., farmer of Somerset county, has held various county and township offices, married Annie Cober; Sylvester S., lives on homestead, married Alice Berkley; Hiram P., of whom later; Peter S., farmer of Brothers Valley township, married Clara Walker; Melinda, wife of Millard Walker, farmer of Brothers Valley township; Clara A., wife of Wilson E. Walker, farmer near Berkley; P. Ephraim, farmer, lives with his brother, Sylvester; Sarah, wife of Lewis Berkley; Luke, lives at Myersdale, married Mary Miller; Ellen, died in 1860, at the age of ten years; Mark, died in infancy. The mother of these children died October 27, 1868, and the death of Mr. Hay occurred August 15, 1902. Hiram P. Hay, son of Philip and Anna (Olinger) Hay, was born April 8, 1852, on the homestead, and obtained his education in the common and normal schools. He remained at home, working on the farm, until coming of age, and then taught for three terms in the public schools. After his marriage he moved on the John Fritz farm, where he remained three years. At the end of that time, in consequence of the death of his wife, he sold the property and returned to the profession of teaching. In 1884 he bought the farm on which he has since resided, devoting himself to agricultural pursuits and to dealing in stock, being one of the largest dealers in horses, cows and all kinds of farm stock in the county. The estate consists of three hundred and seventy acres of fine farming and grazing land, having an abundance of fruit, principally apples, and a sugar camp of twelve hundred vessels, producing from three hundrred to six hundred gallons of maple syrup yearly. Coal underlies the farm, the interest being retained by Mr. Hay. He is vice-president of the Philson National Bank of Berlin, and is also interested in the Berlin Mercantile Company and the Berlin Improvement Company. He was for several years president of the Union Association and Farmers' Fire Insurance Company of Somerset County. He has served the township as school director and is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Reformed church, of which he was formerly deacon and is now elder, being also superintendent of the Sunday school and taking an active interest in the various religious and benevolent societies of the church. Mr. Hay married, September 20, 1877, Susan B., daughter of William Fritz, and they were the parents of one son, Edwin, who died in infancy. Mrs. Hay died in 1880, at the age of twenty-eight, and on May 9, 1884, Mr. Hay married Ida Walker, by whom he became the father of the following children: Alverta G., born March 16, 1885, educated in public schools and Woman's College of Frederick, Maryland; Walter E., born January 22, 1887, educated in common and normal schools of the county; Homer E., born December 4, 1894. All these children are at home with their parents. Mrs. Hay is a daughter of Hiram P. and Elizabeth Walker, of Summit township, near Garrett. Mr. Walker is one of the wealthiest farmers of the county, and is prominent as a business man. He is a Democrat, and has served as deacon and elder in the Lutheran church. He and his wife are the parents of the following children: Foster, Norman, farmer of Brothers Valley township; Preston and Jared, farmers of Summit township; Bruce, merchant and coal operator of Garrett; Frank and Wallace, farmers of Summit township; Lily, who, with her brother, Wallace, lives at home; and Ida, born June 22, 1865, received a good education and is a member of the Lutheran church. She is now the wife of Hiram P. Hay.