Daniel Hays (New York politician)

Daniel Hays (June 14, 1833 – June 25, 1913) was an American glove manufacturer and politician from New York.

Life

Hays was born on June 14, 1833 in Scotch Bush, New York, a small settlement a few miles from Johnstown. He was the son of James Hays and Lois Dawley. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Hays, was a Scottish Highlander who immigrated to America shortly before the American Revolutionary War and fought in the war under General Washington.[1]

Hays moved to Gloversville in 1851 and began working in the leather business. He initially worked under leading glovemaker William C. Mills, but in 1854 he began working as a manufacturer. In 1855, he became foreman for the glove factory Ward & McNab. In 1857, he moved to California for health reasons, selling goods to jobbers in San Francisco. He returned to Gloversville in 1859.[2]

After returning to Gloversville, Hays joined his father-in-law Elias G. Ward in glove manufacturing. Two years later, he bought out Ward's interest and owned the business alone, except for a brief period in 1866 (when he worked with William H. Place). In 1890, he formed Daniel Hays & Co. with his son-in-law Lewis A. Tate. Over the years, he made a significant number of improvements to glove manufacturing, like how to dress Para deer-skins and Buenos Ayres hog-skins without difficulty. He was also a member of the Board of School Commissioners and a director of the National Fulton County Bank.[3]

In 1897, Hays was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Fulton and Hamilton Counties. He served in the Assembly in 1898[2] and 1899.[4]

In 1854, Hays married Helen Adelia Ward. They had one daughter, Ida Isabel, who married Lewis A. Tate.[1] Helen died in 1899, and he later married Mary Graham of Philadelphia. He was a member and trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church for over half a century. He was a trustee of Syracuse University and Troy Conference Academy.[5] He served as president of the Gloversville Free Library and the Nathan Littauer Hospital board. He was a member of the Freemasons and the Sons of the American Revolution.[6]

Hays died at home on June 25, 1913.[6] He was buried in the Hays family mausoleum in Prospect Hill.[7]

References
  1. Frothingham, Washington, ed. (1892). "Part II: Family Sketches". History of Fulton County. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. pp. 61–62 – via Google Books.
  2. Murlin, Edgar L. (1898). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. pp. 220–221 – via Google Books.
  3. Frothingham, Washington, ed. (1892). History of Fulton County. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. pp. 588–591 – via Google Books.
  4. Murlin, Edgar L. (1899). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. pp. 198–199 – via Google Books.
  5. Decker, Fred L. (17 July 1913). Eckman, George L. (ed.). "Memoirs: Hays". The Christian Advocate. LXXXVIII (29). New York, N.Y.: The Methodist Book Concern. p. 30 – via Google Books.
  6. "Death Came Suddenly to Hon. Daniel Hays, Dean of Glove Manufacturers" (PDF). The Morning Herald. XVII (73). Gloversville and Johnstown, N.Y. 26 June 1913. p. 10 – via Old Fulton NY Postcards.
  7. "Funerals: Hon. Daniel Hays" (PDF). The Morning Herald. XVII (74). Gloversville and Johnstown, N.Y. 27 June 1913. p. 8 – via Old Fulton NY Postcards.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
Byron D. Brown		 New York State Assembly
Fulton and Hamilton Counties
1898–1899		 Succeeded by
William Harris
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