California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


THOMAS HAYES. The founder of the Hayes family in America was Timothy Hayes, 
a native of Ireland, who after the death of his father accompanied the widowed mother to the 
United States, landing in New Orleans and from there soon going to New York. At Rosen- 
dale on the Hudson he opened the first cement mines in the United States. When these were 
sold he moved to Pennsylvania and bought large tracts of land near Honesdale, Wayne county, 
where in addition to general farm pursuits he built a saw mill and engaged in the manufac- 
ture of lumber. During 1870 he came to California and bought a farm near Livermore, Ala- 
meda county, eventually moving into town, where he died in 1902, at ninety-five years of 
age. His three brothers, Thomas, Michael and John, came to California and attained eminence 
in public affairs. The first-named, Col. Thomas Hayes, who was a pioneer of 1848, became an 
historical character in San Francisco, where in business and politics his influence was great. 
Michael, also a resident of San Francisco, served several terms in the state senate; and John was 
a member of the state legislature from San Francisco several terms. All of the brothers are 
now deceased. 

The marriage of Timothy Hayes united him with Julia Carey, who was born at Rosendale 
on the Hudson and died at Livermore in 1901. They were the parents of fourteen children, and 
it is worthy of note that all but two of this large family still survive. The eldest son and second 
child, Thomas, was born at Honesdale, Wayne county, Pa., March 2, 1852, and passed the 
years of boyhood on the home farm, receiving excellent advantages in the grammar and high 
schools, Cochecton Academy and Way mart College, from which latter he was graduated in 
1869. Immediately after graduation he came to California and began to raise stock and farm 
products near Pleasanton, in partnership with Joseph Black. The ensuing years were fruitful 
of large successes and brought him ample means and local prominence. In 1884 he removed to 
Visalia and in the Redwood mountains of this county built the Hayes lumber mills, with a daily 
capacity of fifty thousand feet. By means of his own teams the lumber was hauled to his yards 
in Visalia, from which point it was shipped all through the country. Unfortunately the depres- 
sion of 1889-90 found him unprepared for such a crisis. With many unsettled accounts on his 
books, he found his debtors were in no position to pay, while creditors demanded their dues. To 
add to his troubles lumber depreciated so that, at a price of $8 and $10 per thousand, there was 
no sale whatever for it. Under these circumstances he was forced to relinquish his business 
at a heavy loss and once more to make a start in the business world. After a few years as a 
real estate agent at Visalia, in the fall of 1896 he came to Tulare, where he has since followed 
the building business. While still a youth he learned the' carpenter's trade and qualified him- 
self for thorough and accurate work along building lines. 

The first marriage of Mr. Hayes occurred in San Francisco in 1875 and united him with 
Miss Alice Nougues, who was born in Maryland and died at Visalia in 1888. The only child of 
this union, Shirley, was the recipient of superior educational advantages and is now vice-principal 
of the Winfield Scott school in San Francisco. A few years after the death of his first wife Mr. 
Hayes married Miss Carrie Kelsey, who was born in Oakland, but spent her early life in Vis- 
alia. Two children, Leslie and Leland, bless this union. Politically Mr. Hayes is a Republican. 
Concerning early times in California he is well posted, not only by experience, but by hearing 
pioneer stories from his uncles. Among his experiences, of which he entertains a vivid recol- 
lection, was that of being at the hotel in Tracy when Terry was shot and sitting next to him at 
dinner just before the catastrophe.