My Genealogy Hound

HAYJA P. TRAVIS, besides being one of the substantial residents of Seneca County, deserves special mention in this volume for the valiant service which he rendered his country during the late war. He started out in life with but little means, but now has the satisfaction of knowing his estate is one of the best improved in the town. Mr. Travis does not engage in any active farm work, but is now living retired on his fine property in the town of Seneca Falls.

Mr. Travis was born near Bridgeport, on the banks of Lake Cayuga, September 28, 1829. His parents, William and Lucinda (Brown) Travis, were people in limited circumstances, but the father, who was a day laborer, owned a house on the shores of Cayuga Lake. Hayja was the third in order of birth of a family of five, four of whom grew to mature years, and of these three are now living.

The father dying when our subject was a lad of fourteen years, he was obliged to assist in the support of the family, and in order to do this worked out by the month, carrying his small salary home at the end of the four weeks to his mother, to be used as she thought best. He remained at home working for the others until the year prior to attaining his majority, when he started out for himself. About that time, or July 4, 1850, he was married to Miss Maria Stow, who was born in the town of Seneca Falls, November 17, 1832, and who was the daughter of Olvin and Susan (Moses) Stow.

Soon after his union with Miss Stow our subject began keeping house at Bridgeport, and continued his labors by the day and month, working at whatever he could find to do that was honorable. During the progress of the late war, he enlisted, in August, 1864, and was mustered in as a member of the Fifteenth Regiment of Engineers. They were assigned to duty about City Point, engaged in building bridges, forts, breast-works, etc., and were twice ordered to the front, but before they could make a charge the order was countermanded. On one occasion Mr. Travis was severely wounded while on a transport, by getting his hand caught in the side door of the boat.

Two years after the close of the war our subject, in company with his brother Charles, made a purchase of one hundred and fourteen acres of land, a portion of which is now comprised in the home estate. Fifty-two acres of this property were later disposed of at a handsome advance in price, and subsequently our subject purchased his brother’s interest in the place. He is now the owner of sixty-two and one-half acres, bearing good improvements. This he has cultivated in a profitable manner, and is now enabled to live retired from active work of any kind.

To our subject and his wife there were born three children. Ellen, who married Hoyt Terrell, makes her home in Richmond, Va., where her husband is a millwright; they have two daughters, Martha M. and Lulu. William H., a farmer in the town of Seneca Falls, is the father of three children, Bessie, Harold and Mary. Olvin P., who was born December 25, 1860, departed this life March 16, 1872. In politics Mr. Travis is independent, voting for the best man irrespective of party, and socially belongs to Cross Post No. 78, G. A. R., in the work of which he is actively interested.