Biography

09/10/1783 - 07/01/1868

Brigadier General Samuel Hays (D22) Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, Warren Counties 1839-1842

Early Life: 

Brigadier General Samuel Hays, born September 10, 1783, County Donegal, Kingdom of Ireland; immigrated, United States with his mother; settled, Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania, 1792; treasurer, Venango County, 1808; elected sheriff, Venango County, 1808; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1813-1817; elected, sheriff, Venango County, 1820; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1823-1826; elected, sheriff, Venango County, 1829; elected, sheriff, Venango County,1833; member, board of trustees, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1837-1861; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1839-1842; brigadier general, First Brigade, Seventeenth Division, Pennsylvania State Militia, 1841-1843; elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives Congress, 1843-1845; engaged, iron furnace business, French Creek, Franklin, Pennsylvania; appointed, United States Marshal, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1847; associate judge, district court,1856; died, July 1, 1868 (aged 84) Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania; interred, Old Town Cemetery; reinterred, Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, board of trustees, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., 1837-1861; engaged, iron furnace business, French Creek, Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Sheriff, Venango County, 1808.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1813, 1816

Elected, Sheriff, Venango County, 1820.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1823-1826.

Elected, Sheriff, Venango County, 1829.

Elected, Sheriff, Venango County, 1833.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 22nd district, 1839-1842.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Brigadier General, commanding the First Brigade, Seventeenth Division, Pennsylvania State Militia, 1841-1843.

Elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives Twenty-eighth Congress, 1843-1845; not a candidate for renomination, 1844.

Appointed, United States Marshal, Western District of Pennsylvania, 1847; associate judge, district court, 1856.

Legacy:

Son, Major General Alexander Hays, noteworthy Union Army officer during the United States Civil War and close friend of Ulysses S. Grant.

Cited:

Congressional Biographies https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H000406

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12543158/samuel-hays