The Hays family of Johnstown, New York, descend from Alexander Hays, born in Perth, Scotland, in 1750, died in Fulton county, New York, June 3, 1847, at the great age of ninety-seven years. He came to the American colony on the eve of the revolution at the age of twenty-one, and fought in the revolutionary army all through that war and received an honorable discharge at its close. He settled on a tract of land three miles southwest of Gloversville, New York. Here he lived the remainder of his long, active and useful life. He was a devout Christian and lived up to all the requirements of the rigid Scotch Presbyterian faith. When an old man, with hearing so impaired that he could not hear a word of the sermon, he was always found in his seat at the Presbyterian church in Johnstown on the Sabbath day. He is buried in the old church cemetery. He married Ann Haggart. Children: John, Peter, Alexander, Daniel, Mary, James and Duncan. James Hays was the father of Daniel, a pioneer glove manufacturer and prominent citizen of Gloversville, New York, who married Helen Adelia Ward, and has a daughter, Ida Isabel, who married Lewis A. Tate.
(II) Alexander (2), son of Alexander (1) and Ann (Haggart) Hays, was born on the Hays homestead in Fulton county in 1798, died March 31, 1867. He inherited the homestead acres and passed his life in their cultivation and improvement. He was enlightened and progressive, and held a position of high esteem in his community. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. He married Elizabeth Walker, born April 20, 1801, died 1885. Children:
- Elizabeth, born January 8, 1821, died November, 1878; married Donald D. Stewart, and had issue: Walter Hays, Isabella M., Margaret;
- David, see forward;
- Margaret, twin of David.
(III) David, only son of Alexander (2) and Elizabeth (Walker) Hays, was born on the Hays homestead in Fulton county, New York, November 3, 1824. In 1849 he joined the California stream of immigration. He was very successful there and remained until 1867, when he returned east and settled in Johnstown, New York. In company with Nathan Wells, he engaged in the banking business, succeeding N. P. Wells & Company, who were the successors of the old Montgomery County Bank. After some years in business together as Hays & Wells, the latter retired and Mr. Hays continued alone until he retired and was succeeded by the First National Bank, April 15, 1879, and that institution gave way to the present People's Bank, January 17, 1889. He was a public-spirited, energetic man and a force for good in the community. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and a supporter of the Republican party. He married Mary Yost, born in 1840, died in 1876. Children:
- Mary Elizabeth, married Godfrey Hillabrandt;
- Ella, died at age of fourteen years;
- David Alexander, see forward;
- Laura, married E. B. Northrup, and had a daughter Elizabeth;
- John E., see forward.
(IV) David Alexander, eldest son of David and Mary (Yost) Hays, was born February 27, 1869. He was educated in the Johnstown public schools and at Holbrook Military Academy, Ossinning, New York. He entered Yale university, where he was graduated A. B., class of 1891. In 1898 he became receiving teller of the People's Bank of Johnstown, and has since been continuously in that bank's employ. He is also director and treasurer of the Glen Telephone Company. He is a member and trustee of the United Presbyterian Church; the Colonial Club; Psi Chi fraternity of Yale, and is a Republican politically. He married, April 2, 1901, Allison Knox Carmichael, and has a son,
- David Douglass, born February 6, 1902.
(IV) John E., youngest son of David and Mary (Yost) Hays, was born March 13, 1874. He attended the common schools of Johnstown and was also a student at Holbrook Military Academy at Ossinning, New York. He then went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and engaged in the real estate and loan business, continuing until 1899. In the following year he returned to Johnstown, New York, and engaged in the manufacture of gloves in company with H. P. Gates under the firm name of Hays & Gates, which still obtains, the company manufacturing a fine grade of gloves which find a ready market. Mr. Hays is a member of St. Patrick Lodge, No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, and Johnstown Chapter, No. 78, Royal Arch Masons, also of the Colonial Club. He is a Republican in politics. He married, January 9, 1901, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Burton) Wood. No issue.