BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.

Pages 738-739.
 
HENDERSON HAYS was the eldest son born to William and Elizabeth (Irwin) Hays, he
was born March 29, 1821. When but twelve years of age his mother died, March 7,
1833, leaving a family of six small children to the care of the father, who
himself was in very delicate health; after much suffering, he joined his wife
on the 29th of August, 1835. The death of the parents scattered the family,
and Henderson, after spending a year or so in the employ of his uncle, John
Hays, went to live with Goodman Coulter, who at that time, carried on a large
milling business on Miller's Run, eight or ten miles distant from the city of
Pittsburgh, Penn. The boy was put in charge of a six-horse team, by which the
flour was carried to Pittsburgh, although scarcely able to lift the harness to
the backs of the horses, being then but fourteen years old. By his care and
constant attention to his employer's interests, he soon gained the confidence
and esteem of the latter and these happy relations were kept up as long as he
stayed with him. On the 13th of October, 1842, he married Mr. Coulter's eldest
daughter, Olivia, by whom he had three children: Euphemia Elizabeth, born April
6, 1845, married John Caldwell, January 24, 1872; Cynthia Annetta, born August
29, 1846, married John Gillespy, August 23, 1876, now living near Chariton,
Lucas county, Iowa; her husband is an elder in the United Presbyterian church,
and was a delegate to the assembly of that church in 1881; and Mary Teressa,
married Robert E. Dool, December 18, 1874, and now lives in the vicinity of
Millersburg, Mercer county, Ill. Mrs. Hays died September 18, 1852, a woman of
great piety and purity of soul. March 30, 1854, Miss Catharine Downing became
his wife, by her he had five children: William Goodman, born July 27, 1855; John
Downing, born January 25, 1857; Irwin Lee, born October 25, 1858; Olivia Ella,
born February 8, 1852, died September 23, 1863, and Lena May, born February 25,
1867.  For some time after his first marriage, Mr. Hays lived near M. Coulter,
afterward moving to Ohio. The family now live within a few miles of Uniontown,
Belmont county, within the bounds of the Old Crab Apple church, of which they
have long been consistent, energetic members, the whole family being actively
engaged in Sabbath school work, and in all causes that tend to make men better.
The second Mrs. Hays is the daughter of John and Eleanor (Lee) Downing, they
were natives of Ohio, the latter of Irish descent. All the children are married
and live in the vicinity of the paternal home, with the exception of Lena May,
who, after obtaining her education from Franklin college at New Athens, Ohio,
was married to Thomas Ellsworth Holliday, August 7, 1889, also a graduate of
Franklin college, he afterward took a theological course at Allegheny seminary.
The young couple were sent September 20, 1889, to Gurdasbur, Northern India, as
missionaries, going under the auspices of the board of education of the United
Presbyterian church, of which church, Rev. Mr. Holliday is a minister. Soon
after the departure of his beloved daughter on her noble mission, the father
was called to his final rest and reward, his death occurring January 1, 1890.
Mrs. Hays, who was born March 21, 1827, is still an active woman, living on
the old homestead with her son John, who conducts the farm and cares for his
mother. He is a young man of much promise, and possesses the confidence of his
friends and neighbors to a gratifying degree.