San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 459
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 2/4/2010
JAMES J. HAYES
A successful business man who is also an experienced horticulturist, and who in both undertakings has displayed ability as a systematic manager, is James J. Hayes, who was a successful contractor and builder in Stockton for about twenty-five years. He was born at Swanton, Wayne County, Pa., on February 26, 1854, a son of Timothy and Julia (Carey) Hayes. The father was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1811 and saw service in the War of 1812. He was second cousin to President Hayes. The mother came from old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock and was the mother of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, twelve of whom are still living. The father also served in the Mexican War and all through the Civil War was commander of the Army of the Potomac. He died aged 109, having rounded out a full life.
When James J. Hayes was eleven years of age he ran away from home and made his way to California where he joined his uncle, Colonel Thomas Hayes, who was at one time in command of Fremont's army and during 1864 he raised a company of men to join the southern forces and James J. Hayes joined them. Poncho Vallejo, son of Ex-Governor Vallejo, furnished about 200 horses for this company and they started out from San Francisco on their journey south; at Fort Yuma they were captured by Colonel Miles after crossing the Colorado River at Yuma. Bribing the guard with whiskey, they crossed the line as immigrants, but the news soon reached Colonel Miles who went after them and captured the entire company and sent them back to San Francisco on the sloop of war, St. Mary, where they were held prisoners of war for ninety days. James J. Hayes lived with his uncle until he passed away in 1868, then he took up the trade of ship carpenter and in 1887 settled in Stockton, where he engaged in the contracting business until about ten years ago. He built many of the older and larger buildings here.
The marriage of Mr. Hayes occurred in France in 1890 and united him with Miss Mary Parsaul, a native of Canada, born of French parents and who had gone to France to complete her musical education and there the young people met and were married. They are the parents of one daughter, Ethel, now the wife of S.D. Hewlett, manager of J.W. Galway & Company, and they have a daughter, Babe Hayes Hewlett, a graduate in June, 1923, of Stockton high school and a girl of fine literary talent. During twenty-two years spent in traveling, Mr. Hayes was a United States deputy marshal and it was during one of his trips to the district of Normandy, France, for the ship company that he was married to Miss Parsaul. Mr. Hayes is a member of the National Builders Trade Council and politically is a Democrat. He owns a sixteen-acre ranch devoted to orchard and alfalfa which has been developed into a very fine home place. He has always been a chicken fancier and was one of the organizers of the first poultry association in Stockton. He is still raising show birds and has some that he has exhibited at all the poultry shows in the state and taken prizes.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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