The Emerging History of H. Hay & Sons, Axle Makers to the Carriage Trade

In my last post, I reported the discovery of a much obliterated maker's stamp on the right rear axle.  It was easy work to make out H. Hay & Sons [5-point star] Coshocton, Ohio.

From this little clue, I was able to date the manufacture of the axle quite definitively in my mind, between 1885 and 1895.

Google and fellow history buffs are now dusting off the legend of the H. Hay & Sons Company, and here is what we have found so far:

From the History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its Past and Present 1740-1881", published by A.A. Graham & Co. Publishers in the year 1881:

HAY, HOUSTON, Coshocton; merchant; of the firm of Hay & Mortley, corner of Second and Main streets; also proprietor of the Coshocton iron and steel works, for the manufacturing of springs and axles; was born, February 4, 1818, in Washington County, Pennsylvania; son of John Hay, who was a native of Ireland.  Young Hay maintained on the farm until ten years of age, when, with his father, he moved to Eldersville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and remained there three years; then came to this State, and located at Martinsburgh, Knox county, where he lived two years.  In May, 1835, he came to this city, and entered as a clerk in the store of Renfrey & Hay, where he remained ten years.  In 1843, he engaged as a clerk with Hamilton Meek, and remained two years.  In 1845, he was appointed collector of tolls on the Ohio canal, at Roscoe.  In 1852 he became one of the firm of R. & H. Hay.  In 18ty, James S. Wilson was taken into the firm, which continued until June 1879, when the present firm was formed.  The building of this firm, on the corner of Second and Main streets, is forty-five feet by seventy-five feet, three stories and basement and all occupied.  They carry a large and complete stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, carpets, seeds, etc.  In 1874, Mr. Hay purchased the Coshocton iron and steel works, for the manufacture of springs and axles.  This shop averages forty pairs of springs and 100 axles per day.  Mr. Hay was married, July 1, 1852, to Miss Detia C. Roberts, of Licking county.  The union was blessed with four children, all living, viz: Kate, George A., John H. and Warner.

So we are up to 1874 and Mr. Hay has acquired the Coshocton iron and steel works.  (Please note the lack of capitalization is as found in the original document.)

An anonymous history sleuth gifted me with the following excerpt from the same publication:

 The Coshocton Iron and Steel Works

Since Mr. Hay's connection with the works the quality of the manufactures has established a reputation for them which insures an easy and continued sale wherever they are known. Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago and St.
Louis, are the principal shipping points, but the manufactures find their way westward as far as the shores of the Pacific. About ninety workmen are now employed in the works. William Ward has supervision over the works, Farley Connerty is foreman in the foundry, A. D. Howe in the axle department and Horn and Kronenbitter are the contractors in the spring department.

History of Coshocton County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, 1740-1881 ...
by Albert Adams Graham
p.435

Enter son, George.  We obtain this information about son George Alvin Hay from The Centennial History of Coshocton County, Ohio 1909  compiled (I assume) by William J. Bahmer, Clark, S.J. Publishing Co., Chicago. Published by S.J. Clarke Publishing Company.

On page 44, we find George's bio:

George Alvin Hay finds an appropriate place in the history of those men of business and enterprise in Ohio, whose force of character, whose sterling integrity, whose good sense in the management of complicated affairs and marked success in the establishment of industries, have contributed in an eminent degree to the development of the resources of Coshocton.  His name is inseparably interwoven with the commercial and industrial progress of the city and in political service he has done that for his city which has caused him to be designated as one of the best mayors Coshocton has ever had.  He is now the president of the Houston Hay Axle Company and is associated with various other business concerns.

So in 1909 we have the Houston Hay Axle Company, but NOT H. Hay & Sons Axle Company.  Read on...

Mr. Hay is one of Coshocton's native sons, his birth having here occurred November 16, 1855.  His parents were Houston and Delia Cook (Roberts) Hay, the former of whom died March 28, 1900, and the latter February 22, 1896.  After attending the public schools of this city, George A. Hay spent two years as a student in the Denison University at Granville, and then became a junior in Princeton College, where he completed the classical course in 1879, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  Following his return to Coshocton he took up the study of law in the office of Spangler & Pomerene and was admitted to the bar in December, 1881.  He then began the active practice of law, in which he continued for two years with good success, but owing to the fact that the plant which was owned by his father was destroyed by fire, Mr. Hay gave up his law practice to assist his father in rebuilding and remodeling the factory and establishing the business on the basis on which it is now conducted.

So sometime around 1883, The Coshocton Iron and Steel Works burned down, if I understand correctly.

The factory, under the name of Houston Hay  (still not H. Hay & Sons), manufactured carriage, wagon and buggy axles.  In 1885 the firm of Houston Hay & Sons was organized and the business continued under that name until 1895, when it was taken over by the Houston Hay Axle Company.

So there we have it.  The name stamped into the axle was in existence between 1885 and 1895, although it existed under different names before and after that time.

My fellow historian also miraculously located this envelope on eBay, which I promptly purchased.

Note that the return address includes the phrase:
"Horn's Side-Bar Springs"

This could be a wonderful historical clue, because the side bar springs on this carriage seem so unique.  Another fun rabbit hole to run down!  If I find more information, I will post updates.