Hayes, Isaiah

ISAIAH HAYES was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1796, and in 1800 came with his father and family to Lycoming county. His father died when he was quite young, leaving him to the care of his mother and brothers. When a young man he engaged in the lumber business in partnership with his brother and John Reed. In 1819 he was married to Mary Ann Miller, and in the spring of 1820, he started with his partner for Baltimore with an ark loaded with poplar boards; at the Indian Steps, above McCall’s Ferry, between Columbia and Tidewater, Maryland, they ran into the ice, destroying the ark and sustaining a loss of $800. Soon after this Mr. Hayes built a log house on the homestead and Commenced to clear the farm. For some time he was employed as a laborer in the construction of a canal, and afterward took contracts to build a straight road over Laurel Hill, and in other places. He also engaged in the manufacture of arks for the grain dealers of Milton, Lewisburg, and elsewhere; observing while thus employed the need of grist mills, and being encouraged by his father-in-law, he built a substantial mill in 1831, which he operated until 1837. It was destroyed at that time by fire, causing a total loss, as he carried no insurance. His neighbors kindly came to his assistance, making up the loss of the grain, and he erected a new mill. In 1847 he started a subscription, heading it with $50, to raise money to build a bridge across Lycoming creek at Perryville. He succeeded in securing $450 of the amount necessary, and the balance was furnished by the county commissioners. The contractor failing to complete the bridge, Mr. Hayes finished it himself. About 1839 he purchased land in Cogan House township, hauled logs from the same to a saw mill at Perryville, and in 1845 he built a saw mill in Cogan valley; from time to time he purchased tracts of pine timber, and in that way accumulated thousands of acres. A few years later he built a mill on Larry’s creek in partnership with Martin Meyer, erecting a steam mill near Buckhorn cabin, and still later constructing another water-power mill on Larry’s creek, making in all four saw mills and two grist mills. He sold the grist mill at Perrysville in 1863, and in 1868, in partnership with John Miller, bought a farm of 500 acres on the Rappahannock river, in Virginia; when it was subsequently divided, he retained one-fourth, the remainder going to his sons, Ambrose and William. He died, November 18, 1888, and his wife died, June 24, 1883. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was interested in building the new stone church at Hepburnville. He was the father of ten children: William; Ambrose; Rachel R., who married M. W. Meyer; Benjamin; Sidney; Lawrence M.; Isaiah; Mary Elizabeth; Joanna, and Josiah.

History of Lycoming County, Pa 1892