Hays was born on June 14, 1833, in Scotch Bush, New York, a small settlement a few miles from Johnstown.
[2] After returning to Gloversville, Hays joined his father-in-law Elias G. Ward in glove manufacturing.
Two years later, he bought out Ward's interest and owned the business alone, except for a brief period in 1866 (when he worked with William H. Place).
Over the years, he made a significant number of improvements to glove manufacturing, like how to dress Para deer-skins and Buenos Ayres hog-skins without difficulty.
[3] In 1897, Hays was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Fulton and Hamilton Counties.