Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-03-06
Edward w. Hays.

Edward W Hays, Esq. of Penn twp,
Butler county, Pa, died on Friday. Feb.
81, 1891.
The other eventful period, his birth, is
not exactly known TO the writer but 1t
/ must have been about 1902, and this would
make him about eighty eight-a good
round age for this country.
He was an American by birth, and truly
American in manner, style and enterprise.
In the prime of life he was engaged in the
stage coach business from PittSburg to
Erie, and was partner of Arthur AcGill.
McGill was once Sheriff of Butler county.
He was a Democrat and HAYS was once a
candidate on the Republican ticket, but
his age was made an argument against him
and he was unsuccessful.
Mr.. Hays lived on a farm in Penn twp.
with his family. but was oftener in the ho
tel business He was always considered a
good landlord. He kept in Butler, Pitts
burr Bakerstown and Talacava. He kept
licensed house for over twenty years and
ct he never tasted whisky or beer. He
was strict tetotaller all his life, and while
accommodating thousands with what was
then the necessary he was never known to
take a drink, and he used tobacco in no
form.
His life was one of business, all business.
1t was his boast that he never was IN an
opera house, a circus or meuagerie. He
was, during his public life, servant to
his customers. He once kept farmers
hotel in Allegheny City, he not only
boarded the farmers but he had such tact
in business that he always helped them To
sell their produce or stock without extra
charges.
There was a time when Ned Hays as
be was called. knew more men, and was
known by more men than other man in
Butler county.
Every business man from Erie to Pittsburg
was acquainted with Edward Hays, while
his name was a household word in the
greater portion of Western Pennsylvania
Before there were any railroads he would
go to Washington on horseback and in
stage coach to bid on the carrying of the
| mail from Pittsburg to Erie and other
points. He was well known ut headquar-
ters and noted for his pronptness and re-
| liability. His word was the word of honor
and his word was law on all matters con-
cerning staging, which was the only mode
of travel in those days.
He was a man of very limited education,
| and lis knowledge of figures was not suf
| fcient for the large business he transacted.
| His long and laborious siege in the stage
| business proved unsatisfactory 20 both him
and his partner.
His liberality aud kindness to all left a
balance on the wrong side of his book. and
the latter years of his life were spent on
the farm which he occupied but did not
own. He was twice married. BY his first
wife he had a large and well-to-do family,
four sons and three or more daughters
Ry his last wife he had one daughter. the
pride of his old age, now the wife of Wm.
Kennedy, of Butler Edward Hays for
his temperance was rewarded with long
life, his contemporaries all died before
him. When he thought of Washington,
ali the contractors and men he knew there
and men that ruled in that day were dead.
When be thought of the past, and his
memory all alone glided by the old stand
on Pine Creek bill. then Tallycavey. Bak
erstown, Glade Mills, Butler. Stone House,
Franklin, Erie, &c, the old houses were
torn down and new mansions in their
stead And the landlords and all the
neighbors were dead at every ten-mile
station, as he called to see the folks.
The sound of the locomotive whistle
had taken the place of the stage drivers
whip. And the young men he hired to
sit on the boot and ply the silk have lived
and died since that day. The old man
felt lonely in the last days of his journey
the roads were neglected, the driver was
sleepy, the horses were weary, the coach
Jagged and at every crossroads a shrill
whistle of monopoly cried "Old man get
off the track" The last passenger had
left the coach. the sun was hid behind the
Western hills, the twilight was long, the
road was lonely, nature was exhausted,
but with nerves of steel and will of iron
the old man late in the evening reached
home and reclined his weary head on
Natures loving bosom to rest, to rest, to
sleep, to sleep.