BIOS: William H. HAY, Meyersdale, 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 278-279.

  William H. Hay, one of the stirring business men of Meyersdale, 
Somerset County, Pa., was born in Brother's Valley township, May 30, 
1843, son of David and Mary (Cook) Hay.  The family of which he is a 
representative is one of the oldest in Somerset County, having been 
founded in America by his great-grandfather, Simon Hay, who was born in 
Germany in 1742, and emigrated in 1763.
  Settling in Brother's Valley, Simon Hay built a stone grist-mill upon 
the water privilege now occupied by Baker's Mill, erected a stone 
residence, and also constructed a large fish pond.  The buildings are 
still standing.  Simon Hay died in 1841, at the advanced age of ninety-
nine years.  His children were Jacob; Michael; George; Peter; 
Valentine; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Weller; Catharine, who became 
Mrs. Miller; and Susan, who became Mrs. Baker.
  Peter Hay, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of 
Brother's Valley, and the active period of his life was devoted to 
tilling the soil.  He married Elizabeth Walker, of that neighborhood, 
and had a family of ten children, namely: David; Michael; Philip; Peter 
S.; Valentine; Susan, who became Mrs. Samuel Walker; Mary, who became 
Mrs. Moses Young; Catharine, who became Mrs. Frederick Weller; 
Caroline, who married Samuel Saylor; and Elizabeth, who married John 
Rink.
  David Hay, the father above named, was born and reared in Brother's 
Valley.  As a young man he turned his attention to agricultural 
pursuits, and the greater part of his active period was spent upon a 
farm in Elk Lick.  He engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, and 
attained prosperity.  He was active in public affairs, serving in 
various town offices, and he represented his district in the 
legislature one term.  He was a prominent member of the Reformed 
church.  He married Mary Cook, a native of Wellersburg, Pa., daughter 
of Jacob Cook and his wife, who were the parents of several children.  
Her mother was formerly a Miss Harden.  The Cook family descends from 
pioneers of this county.  David and Mary (Cook) Hay had two sons:  
William H., the subject of this sketch; and Calvin T. Hay, who is in 
the hotel business at Salisbury, PA.  The father died in 1879, aged 
sixty-two years.  The mother died in 1849.
  William H. Hay began his education in the public schools of Elk Lick, 
whither his parents moved when he was quite young.  He later attended 
the Normal School at Meyersdale and Somerset, and after teaching two 
terms he attended a preparatory school at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland 
County.  He resided at the parental home until twenty-three years old, 
when he engaged in general farming and stock-raising, which he followed 
until 1887.  Coming to Meyersdale, he kept a general store for two and 
a one-half years; and receiving the appointment of Postmaster under the 
Cleveland administration, he ably conducted the office until the spring 
of 1897, since which time he has not been connected with any business 
enterprise.
  In 1865 Mr. Hay was joined in marriage with Harriet Keim, daughter of 
Jonas and Sarah (Livengood) Keim, of Elk Lick.  Mr. and Mrs. Hay have 
two sons- Albert L. G. and T. Nevin Hay.  Albert L. G. Hay, who is a 
graduate of Franklin Marshall College, studied law with Valentine Hay, 
and is now in partnership with his preceptor in Somerset.  On February 
3, 1898, he married Emma May Baer, daughter of the Hon. William J. 
Baer, of that town.  T. Nevin Hay is general manager for the Dayton 
Computing Scale Company, and is located at Buffalo, N.Y.
  Politically, Mr. Hay is a Democrat, and was School Director in Elk 
Lick for sixteen consecutive years.  He is an active member of the 
Reformed church, and officiates as Elder, trustee, and assistant 
superintendent of the Sunday-school.