Since 1901 John W. Hay has resided upon his present farm of one hundred and forty acres in Yorkville Township, and has concentrated his energies upon the dairy business, shipping milk to Chicago. He was born in Raymond Township, this County, on the 24th of August, 1853, a son of William and Mary (Coad) Hay, the former a native of Cumberland, England, and the latter of Cornwall. The paternal grandfather, Adam Hay, became a resident of Racine County and passed his last days here, but the grandmother died on the voyage across the Atlantic. The maternal grandfather was an early settler of Yorkville Township, this County. William Hay was educated in England. but accompanied his parents to the -United States and became a resident of Racine County, where he engaged in farming for many years, at the time of his death owning one hundred and eighty-five acres of good land. He was a member of the local Methodist Episcopal Church which first held services in a mud house in the early days and he served as a church official. In politics he was a stanch republican, but never aspired to official perferment. He was married in Yorkville Township to Miss Mary Coad and they became the parents of two children: John W. and a daughter. Jane, deceased. After the death of Mr. Hay the mother became the wife of James Hay, a brother of her first husband, and o this union was born a daughter, Elizabeth, also now deceased.
John W. Hay received his education in the district schools of Raymond Township and was reared upon the home farm. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and now holds title to one hundred and forty acres of well improved land. He has a full blooded Holstein bull and a number of high grade Holstein cows and he largely concentrates his energies upon dairying. He takes great care to insure the cleanliness of the milk which he sells and secures a good price for in Chicago. For a number of years he resided upon the family homestead, but fifteen years ago disposed of that place and purchased his present. farm.
Mr. Hay was married in 1879 to Miss Mary Phillips, a daughter of Thomas Phillips, an early settler of Yorkville Township. Mrs. Hay was born in this County and has resided here during her entire life. She has become the mother of three children: Stella E., the wife of Ernest Fivian, a farmer of this County, by whom she has three children, John Merrill, and. Geraldine M. and Shirly R., twins, deceased; Philip Thomas, who is at home and is nineteen years old and William, who died at the age of nineteen years.
Mr. Hay is independent in politics and. is now filling the office of supervisor. He is connected fraternally with the Foresters and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the work of which they are active and in which he has held office for a considerable period of time. His success as a farmer and dairyman has been due entirely to his enterprise, the careful attention which he has given his business and his wise management of his affairs and he ranks among the able and prosperous residents of his Township.