Hon. Walter Hayles, a member of the Connecticut legislature in 1917 and treasurer of the town of Hamden since 1900, has figured prominently in public affairs and in large meas-ure has left the impress of his individuality upon public thought and action in his community and in the state. In business life he has been connected with industrial and commercial interests but is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest. He was born in Cambridge, England, January 19, 1850, and is a son of Cornwall and Catherine (Litchfield) Hayles. The father was born in Cambridge, where he engaged in the teaming business, and both he and his wife passed away there.
     Walter Hayles spent his boyhood and youth in Cambridge, where he attended the city schools, and afterward worked in the paper mills. He was twenty years of age when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world in 1870, making his way to Rock City Falls, New York, where he resided for a brief period. In the same year lie removed to Centerville, Hamden, Connecticut, where he was employed for twenty-eight years by W. I. Ives & Company in the manufacture of augers, bits, etc. He was thus em-ployed until 1898. when he purchased a general store in Centerville, conducting the business successfully for a decade, or until 1908, when he retired from active life and turned over the business to his son. who is still conducting the store. His career up to 1908 was one of untiring activity, his industry constituting the foundation of his growing success. Since than he has enjoyed a well earned rest, his former activity supplying him with a capital sufficient to meet all of his requirements in obtaining the comforts of life.
     On the 26th of October, 1872, Mr. Hayles was united in marriage to Miss Clara Annie Williams, of Centerville, Connecticut, who was born in Cambridge, England, and in young womanhood came to Hamden on a visit. Here she formed the acquaintance of Walter Hayles, who sought her hand in marriage. They have become the parents of three children. The the second son, is a rural mail carrier. Lulu Clara is the wife of Edward Beecher, who is engaged in the automobile business in Hamden, and they have five children: Raymond, Milton, Viola, Myrtle and Walter.
     Mr. Hayles gives his political endorsement to the republican party and in 1900 was elected town treasurer of Hamden, to which position he has been reelected at each biennial period to the present time, so that he is the incumbent in office at this writing, in 1917. His reelections are indicative of the fact that he has been most faithful to his duties, which he has discharged with marked capability and fidelity. He was formerly a member of the school board of Centerville and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. In 1916 he was elected to represent his town in the state legislature and was made a member of the humane committee. He introduced a bill in the legislature providing that each town support its own orphans and other dependents. He also introduced a bill to allow the select-men of the town to appoint the tax assessor, hitherto elected to office, and both of these bills passed the general assembly.
     Fraternally Mr. Hayles is connected with Day Spring Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master and he also belongs to Montomese Lodge, I. O. O. F. For forty-seven years he has been a resident of Hamden and. although born across the water, is thoroughly American in spirit and interests, standing at all times for the welfare and progress of his community, his commonwealth and his country.