Samuel Hays
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hays was a Democratic
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
Samuel Hays was born in County Donegal
, Ireland
. He immigrated to the United States
with his mother, and settled in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1792. He served as treasurer of Venango County, Pennsylvania
in 1808. He was elected sheriff of Venango County in 1808, 1820, 1829, and in 1833. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
in 1813, 1816; 1823, and 1825, and served in the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1822 and 1839. He was a member of the board of trustees of Allegheny College
in Meadville, Pennsylvania
, from 1837 to 1861. He served as brigadier general, commanding the First Brigade, Seventeenth Division, Pennsylvania State Militia, from 1841 to 1843.
Hays was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1844. He was engaged in iron manufactures, operating furnaces on French Creek
, near Franklin. He was appointed in 1847 marshal for the western district of Pennsylvania. He served as associate judge of the district court in 1856. He died in Franklin in 1868, interment in Old Town Cemetery and reinterment in New Franklin Cemetery.
Hays' son, Major General Alexander Hays
, was a noteworthy Union Army officer during the US Civil War and close personal friend of Ulysses S. Grant
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Samuel Hays was born in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his mother, and settled in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1792. He served as treasurer of Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County, Pennsylvania
Venango County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,984. Its county seat is Franklin.-History:Venango County was created on March 12, 1800 from parts of Allegheny and Lycoming Counties...
in 1808. He was elected sheriff of Venango County in 1808, 1820, 1829, and in 1833. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
in 1813, 1816; 1823, and 1825, and served in the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
in 1822 and 1839. He was a member of the board of trustees of Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
, from 1837 to 1861. He served as brigadier general, commanding the First Brigade, Seventeenth Division, Pennsylvania State Militia, from 1841 to 1843.
Hays was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth
28th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats . During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida .- Senate :*President: Vacant...
Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1844. He was engaged in iron manufactures, operating furnaces on French Creek
French Creek
-Communities:United States*French Creek, former name of Frenchtown, El Dorado County, California*French Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa*French Creek, New York*French Creek Township, Pennsylvania *French Creek, West Virginia...
, near Franklin. He was appointed in 1847 marshal for the western district of Pennsylvania. He served as associate judge of the district court in 1856. He died in Franklin in 1868, interment in Old Town Cemetery and reinterment in New Franklin Cemetery.
Hays' son, Major General Alexander Hays
Alexander Hays
Alexander Hays was a Union Army general in the American Civil War, killed in the Battle of the Wilderness.-Early life and career:...
, was a noteworthy Union Army officer during the US Civil War and close personal friend of Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
.