Background
Hay, James was born on January 9, 1856 in Milwood, Virginia, United States. Son of William and Emily (Lewis) Hay.
judge lawyer politician representative
Hay, James was born on January 9, 1856 in Milwood, Virginia, United States. Son of William and Emily (Lewis) Hay.
Born in Millwood, Virginia, Clarke County, Hay attended private schools and the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia. He was graduated from the law department of Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in 1877 and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1877, where he also taught school for a time.
Hay married Constance Tatum of Dayton, Virginia on October 1, 1878, and had two sons. He moved to Madison, Virginia in June 1879 and continued the practice of law. Hay"s first wife died in 1886.
Hay was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the nine succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until his resignation on October 1, 1916.
In Congress he was chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs (Sixty-second through Sixty-fourth congresses), in which capacity he was involved in the "Preparedness Movement" of 1915-1916, and in response to which he drafted and pushed through the National Defense Acting of 1916. Following his resignation from Congress, he was appointed judge of the United States Court of Claims by President Woodrow Wilson on July 15, 1916.
Hay"s second wife died in 1920. Hay served at the court until December 1, 1927, when he resigned.
He died in Madison, Virginia, and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Rapidan, Virginia.
1896. Hay was elected to the United States. House of Representatives with 55.81% of the vote, defeating Republican Robert J. Walker, NtD (?) J. Samuel Harrisberger, and Independent John F. Forsyth. 1898; Hay was re-elected with 77.05% of the vote, defeating SilD (?) District of Columbia O"Flaherty.
1900; Hay was re-elected with 63.35% of the vote, defeating Republican Certificated Master Gibbens.
1902. Hay was re-elected with 64.68% of the vote, defeating Republican Samuel J. Hoffman. 1904; Hay was re-elected with 64.65% of the vote, defeating Republican Charles M. Kelzel.
1906; Hay was re-elected unopposed.
1908. Hay was re-elected with 62.85% of the vote, defeating Republican L. Pritchard. 1910; Hay was re-elected with 57.96% of the vote, defeating Republican John Paul and Independent Hugh South. Lupton.
1912; Hay was re-elected with 71.54% of the vote, defeating Republican George North. Earman and Independent East.C. Garrison.
1914. Hay was re-elected with 86.96% of the vote, defeating Republican East.C. Garrison.
He was a member of the United States Congress and a judge on the United States Court of Claims. Hay was Commonwealth"s Attorney from 1883 to 1896 and member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1885 to 1889. Hay served in the Senate of Virginia from 1893 to 1897.
Was a member of the Democratic State committee in 1888.
And was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1888.
Married Constance Tatum, October 1, 1878. Married second, Frances B. Gordon, June 9, 1891. Married 3d, Eloise M. Cave, June 14, 1921.
Children: James, William.