Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, on May 20, 1850, his parents were Jane (Berry) and Henry Delevan Hayt, who was a farmer that also freighted goods on the Hudson River.

When the railroad line was extended into Costilla County, Colorado, to Garland City, he moved there and became postmaster.

[1][2] While district attorney of Conejos County, Colorado, he successfully prosecuted the case of a notorious stagecoach robbery in 1881.

[1][2] In 1888, he was elected to the Colorado Supreme Court and began serving as an associate justice in 1889.

One decision was about whether there should be a limit to municipal, county, or state public indebtedness.

Another decision saved the state from bankruptcy by preventing the issuance of $750,000 warrants previously authorized by an act of the legislature.

[3] On October 3, 1878, he married Julia Aline Palmer at La Veta.

[8] They had three children:[2][3] Hayt was a member of the Elks, the Masonic Temple, and the Sons of the American Revolution.