SHELDON B. HAYS, one of the enterprising young business men of the county, was born February 3, 1855, in Washington borough, Washington Co., Penn. He is a grandson of Sheldon B. Hayes, who was the earliest carriage manufacturer west of the Alleghanies, having commenced business in Washington in 1842. Marshall H. Hayes, father of our subject, was born in June, 1827, in Connecticut, where he attended the common schools, and passed his boyhood until the age of fifteen, when he came to Washington county. In 1861 he went to Hartford, Conn., where he remained until 1869, when he returned to this county, and here ended his days. In early manhood he was married to Sarah Morrison, a lady of Scotch ancestry, and who had come to Washington county from Scotland at the age of fourteen years. The children born to this union were: Miranda M., who married John A. Storey, of Iowa, and died in 1880; Sheldon B.; Virgil C., who died in 1881; John B., who died in 1859; Mary, who died in 1862, and George. Marshall H. Hayes was a carriage manufacturer by trade, having succeeded his father in the business, and was eminently successful. He was a progressive, enterprising man, and all movements tending to the advancement of his section received his heartiest support. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics was a lifelong Democrat. He died March 26, 1891; his widow is yet living. Sheldon B. Hayes received his primary education at the schools of Hartford (Conn.) and Washington, and afterward attended Washington and Jefferson College, where he graduated in 1875. On June 21, 1889, he was married to Annie C., daughter of Adam H. Ecker, and two children, Antoinette and Marguerite, have been born to them. Mr. Hayes was engaged from 1875 in the business of carriage manufacturing and that of sash, doors, blinds, etc., established by his grandfather, but in 1890 he wound it up, and is now engaged in settling up its affairs, and attending to other business. He is a member of the State militia, being adjutant of the Tenth Regiment, and in politics is an active Democrat. Socially Mr. Hayes is an advanced Freemason, having attained the thirty-second degree.

Text taken from page 569 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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