My Genealogy Hound

J. C. HAYS, one of the substantial retired farmers and well-known business men of Mechanicsburg, was born July 24, 1818, in York county, Pa., in the village of Newberrytown, son of Mills and Eva (Crull) Hays, natives of York county, and a grandson of Jesse Hays, who was born in Wales.

Jesse Hays was the founder of the family in Pennsylvania, and he came to America in young manhood, settling first in Chester county, but later removing to York county, where he became possessed of a large tract of valuable land in the Fishing Creek Valley. He married Margery Mills, and they reared four children, namely: Lydia, who married Joseph Willitt; Susan, who married (first) a Mr. Clark, and (second) a Mr. Cascaden; Hannah, who died unmarried; and Mills. Jesse Hays and wife were reared as Quakers, but in later life became connected with the Methodist Church.

Mills Hays was born in Newberrytown, York county, and in early business life followed coopering. He then taught school, and was appointed a justice of the peace, his high personal character later winning him the position of associate judge in York county. Judge Hays died in 1858, aged seventy-two years. He married Eva Crull, also of York county, and they had a family of five children born to them, viz.: John; Sidney, who married William Epley; Mary; Jesse C.; and Jane, who married Samuel P. Harmon.

Jesse C. Hays attended school in Newberrytown until the age of eighteen, and then began teaching, a profession he followed for the eight succeeding years, embarking then in a mercantile business with his father. In 1848 he bought his father’s interest and continued the business alone until 1864, when he sold out. In 1863 Mr. Hays was elected justice of the peace of Newberrytown, an office he satisfactorily filled for a period of five years. For eight years he served also as postmaster of that town. In 1869 Mr. Hays came to Mechanicsburg, retiring from active business life at that time, settling in his comfortable and attractive home on West Main street.

On May 13, 1852, Mr. Hays married Mary Miller, of Newberry township, York county, born Feb. 15, 1827, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Reeser) Miller, old settlers of York county, whose parents came from Germany. Two children were born to this marriage, namely: Mills M., born in Newberrytown, married Clara Bowers, of York county, and they have three children, Harry, Edith M. and Jessie; and Mary, who married Eugene Laverty, a druggist at Middletown, Dauphin county, and they have two sons, Eugene and George. In politics, Mr. Hays is a Democrat. Both he and wife attend the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of high moral character, one who is respected and esteemed by all who know him.