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119

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DEATH OF MARTIN G. HAYES.

Some Recollections of a Well-Known Citizen of Rondout.

Martin G. Hayes died on Thursday evening at his residence on Pierpont street, after an illness of some weeks, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Probably no man was more widely or popularly known in this portion of Ulster county than Martin G., as he was familiarly called. He was born in Cairo, Greene county, and at an early age was apprenticed to a boot and shoemaker who treated him badly, getting all the work possible from him, clothing him insufficiently and feeding him about on "a bite and a cry." From his hard master Martin G. determined to run away so soon as he had learned his trade sufficiently to earn journeyman's pay at it, and did so, going to Albany in search of work, but finding no opening he started up at the tow-path of the Erie Canal and finally arrived at Alexander's Bridge near Schenectady, where the canal crosses the Mohawk. At this then small settlement work was obtained with a man who was given to gambling and other evil courses, but who was a better master than the one left at Cairo. This last master finally became involved in some trouble with made it advisable for him to leave Alexander's Bridge without announcing such intention to any person but Martin G., who followed his master's fortunes as far as Rome, where finding no work, they struck off and road running about where the Rome & Watertown Railroad now does. The season was winter, the snow deep and the two traveled on foot, and one day after having left Rome they were plodding along the road which led trough thick evergreen wood, when sleigh-bells were heard approaching. Martin G. stopped for a moment, listened to the on-coming bells and then remarked to his boss, "Those are Wendell's bells!" "Nonsense," remarked the boss; "Wendell's bells I tell you, and they are after you." The two left the road and hid behind a pine tree which had been felled and lay with its foliage still on, parallel with the road, and soon after they had secured such refuge the sleigh passed, in which were seen to be seated Wendell, a hotel-keeper at Alexander's Bridge, a constable from the same place, with one or two other men. The two foot passengers then struck off at right angles from the road, through the wood and snow knee-deep and arrived in due time at Syracuse, where they separated without Martin G. ever knowing what the boss had done to be pursued so far by officers of the law. 

Martin G. obtained work in Syracuse where he remained two or three years and then came to Stone Ridge in this county, where for a time he taught school and worked at his trade alternately and where he married Miss Maginnis, who still survives him. He was a studious young man, always having a book on his work bench when at work and which he would read or study at every possible opportunity. Endowed with remarkable perceptive faculties and a retentive memory whatever he read or studied he never forgot, and in that manner he largely educated himself. He was fond of debate and was always an active member in debating clubs. He had a natural taste for painting and at one time in his early life was quite  an amateur artist, many old residents having a lively recollection of the banners painted by him during the "Hard Cider and Log Cabin campaign" of 1840. He was also a writer of verses of no mean merit (he never laid claim to being a poet) in his more youthful years, and there is a lady now resident in this city who, when a young girl, resided in a neighboring village and Martin G. was at the house of her uncle where one of her birth days was being celebrated and for and on which occasion Mr. Hayes composed some verses which are yet in her possession.

Mr. Hayes came to Rondout from Stone Ridge to work at his trade for the late Edgar Hudler, and resided at Kingston Point until after the election of William Henry Harrison to the Presidency when he was appointed light keeper and moved into the lighthouse at the mouth of the creek, which, it is believed, with the exception of Justice of the Peace, is the only office he ever held. In the hard cider campaign Mr. Hayes was a most enthusiastic Harrison man and an indefatigable worker on the stump in this and adjoining counties, and but a day or two since the writer heard one of the oldest citizens of the city remark that "In those days no man could make a better political speech than Martin G. could at two minutes' notice." It was about this time, or perhaps previous, that Mr. Hayes left the shoemaker's bench, having by hard study fitted himself for practicing law. He was never admitted to the bar, though abundantly fitted for such admittance, as his knowledge of law was said to be equal to if not superior to that of many lawyers of distinction.

After the death of the old Whig party Mr. Hayes joined the ranks of the Republicans and was as earnest and hard-working a Republican as he had been a Whig. During the late war no man exceeded him in patriotism, and he as willingly gave his only son to the cause as the son was willing to be given. He never forgot a man whom he had only once known to have been a soldier during the rebellion and always honored him for such service. He was a man of a warm and generous heart, of fine susceptibilities and a keen sense of honor. He lived beyond the "three score years and then" and it may be safely said he never willingly injured any person by will or deed. Like all men he had his frailties and faults, and as was said of old, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

Deceased leaves a wife, one son and three daughters, the children all being married. The funeral will be held to-morrow (Saturday) at 2 P.M. [[/newspaper clipping]]

called on Julia Dillon. Mr. Tyler one of the young Englishmen of whom Lucy wrote me called this evening. He and John Brights son have been out in the West and were at Fort Halleck a week. I took him to the San-Francisco [[M?]] and afterwards to the club.

Friday Dec 12. 1879. I dreamed of dear Gertrude last night, very vividly. She seemed to be very weak and ill. I asked her if she knew me and she said very sadly but very emphatically "O yes" as though she wondered that there could be any doubt in my mind. I have thought of her a great deal and have shed more tears than I have in a long time before. I wrote to Sara this afternoon. Mr. Tyler called this morning and I gave him a letter to Parke [[G?]]. Mr. Deforest called and invited me to dine with them tomorrow to meet the Church's. Calvert and I went to the Academy to see Sherwoods pictures. Few that I would care to have.

Saturday 13. Began a picture 24 x 36 upright from a study of a Mountain brook Whittredge and I made together back of [[?]] several years ago. Booth called and he is coming to stand for me on Monday. I am to paint him in three of his Comedy characters. Julia