Background
Hayes was born in West Lebanon, Maine on April 26, 1848, and moved to Lynn, Massachusetts in 1865.
Hayes was born in West Lebanon, Maine on April 26, 1848, and moved to Lynn, Massachusetts in 1865.
Hayes worked in the shoe industry until 1872. After he left the shoe industry, Hayes went into the newspaper business. Hayes took over ownership of The Lynn Bee.
In 1885 Hayes took over The Boston Advertiser.
In 1888, while in the Massachusetts Legislature, Hayes introduced the first bill in the United States to adopt the Australian style ballot system, initiating the successful movement for the adoption of the Secret ballot in the United States.