• Her [Elizabeth Hay] son, Walter, age 15, is, in 1885, living with his Uncle James O’Brien in Minnesota. Maybe he was just visiting for the summer.2056

• Walter Hay filed for his first patent 11 May 1891, for an electric bell. He was 21, and living in Chicago.  I surely wish I knew what he was doing there in those years. He filed a second in 1892 and a third in 1893.
On the patent application filed from Erie, Pa., by my grandfather, Walter Hay, it is Patent No. 893,240, filed 13 May 1907, and granted 14 July 1908. It is for a "Detachable Chain."
Checking the 1900 census, Walter Hay was living in Grand Rapids, Mi., and is listed as a mechanical engineer. By then, he had patented 9 inventions.  I wrote to the Grand Rapids Historical Society to inquire what sort of industries were there at that time.
Grand Rapids was known as a furniture-making center. I'll let you know if I hear anything.2076

• The history lady in Grand Rapids writes that the 1900 directory lists Walter Hay as a "designer," but does not list an employer, as it does for others. He was living as a boarder with his wife and baby, with the Devore family, widow and young girl. Looking at the dates the three patents were finally issued for his car, 10 April 1900, which were fully assigned to Emerson Morse Hotchkiss, and finding him in Grand Rapids, Michigan in June of 1900, makes me believe he must have had a terrible falling out with Hotchkiss. News articles indicate the Hay and Hotchkiss Company had purchased a manufacturing plant in New Haven for $30,000. The first car seems to have been begun in 1898, and rolled off the assembly line in the summer of 1899. (Fountainhead Antique Car Museum attributes the date to 1898.)2132

• The first letter from Mr. Dix, written when Walter was 20, in Dec of 1890, suggests the cloud Walter lived under--perhaps a reference to his absconded father and grandfather. “I’m not surprised that such is the case for I have always had faith in you from the start--even when nearly every body was prophesying evil for you.”2133

• Walter is now in Allegheny, Pa. where he went to superintend a plant to be built for the great pickle man. I think his name is Heinz or some such name. His factory covers acres of ground. Allegheny is just across the river from Pittsburg.36, p 8, lines 326-328

• The Chain Company originated in 1913 with Walter Hay, president, and John Lowrie, secretary. In 1915 it was reorganized. Abel Bostwick became president, W. G. Brumbaugh, secretary, and Walter Hay, manager. The company manufactured conveyor chains and sprocket wheels. They employed from fifteen to twenty-five men and occupied the site formerly owned by The M. E. Frazier Company. In 1922, the industry was removed to Sandusky, Ohio.2134, p 25

• Walter invented the first 4-cylinder car in the United States, called the "Hay-Hotchkiss Horseless Carriage."  He was an engineering genius.
Alice and Walter Hay lived in New Haven, CT in 1899, where their oldest daughter, Frances, was born on September 22, 1899.
They left New Haven, the story goes, because my grandfather got tired of the Yale University students hitting on my pretty grandmother.2077

• He was an inventor of cars. Founder of the Union Chain Co., Sandusky, Ohio. Died of a cerebral hemorrhage 2/8/1936, after being told by the Board of Directors of his company that he was being “retired.” He went home, lay down on the sofa, and died.2023

• THE HAY AND HOTCHKISS CO.
Walter Hay, a mechanical engineer of Seville, Ohio, inventor of a new hydrocarbon motor called the Hay Frictionless Gasolene Motor has associated with him E. M. Hotchkiss, of Waterbury, Conn., and the Hay & Hotchkiss Co., of New Haven, Conn., has been organized to manufacture the gasolene motor above-mentioned, motor vehicles and motor fire engines.
The new company have purchased the factory formerly occupied by the B. Manville Carriage Co., corner of Wooster and Wallace streets, for the sum of $30,000, and are employing about a dozen hands in the construction of their first vehicle. Next spring it is their intention to largely augment this force and add much machinery.
The motor, of 5 HP., weighs 240 pounds, rather more than is necessary, Mr. Hay thinks, and has a 70 pound fly wheel. It requires no cooling water, runs very smoothly, and no injury will result if it is unoiled for months. There are four cylinders, which are cleansed after each explosion, thus obviating odor, and by the use of a muffler, which has no retarding effect, the exhaust cannot be heard 20 feet away from the motor.
Speed is regulated by means of compressed air, and the sparking device works automatically, no spark being produced unless an impulse is needed.
The carriage of the new company will be similar to other leading makes of gasoline vehicles in its general operation, although it is their intention to improve greatly upon the one here illustrated.2135

• I am sending you a picture of the Hay-Hotchkiss car, in a separate email.  I located one a few years ago--it's owned by J. William Middendorf, in Rhode Island.  I think he was Secretary of the Navy under Tricky Dick.  He's very ancient. I talked to him a few years ago about coming to visit the car, as it is the only one in existence.2080

• My grandfather’s car, the Hay-Hotchkiss Horseless Carriage, has been acquired from Admiral J. William Middendorf, by the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska. It arrived there recently and I have been working with them to host a reception next summer in honor of my grandfather Walter Hay.539

• [Letter] Written to Walter Noble Hay, born August 22, 1870, Freeport, Illinois, by his mother, Elizabeth O’Brien Hay, less than six weeks before the death of Walter’s father, Jonathan Hay, on January 31, 1899. Walter was living in New Haven, CT. while trying to drum up orders for the Hay-Hotchkiss Horseless Carriage. He was newly married on June 5, 1898, in Chicago, Illinois, to Alice Leaton.539, p 2, footnote 3

• The trip is ON to Alaska, with a reception to take place on or about August 22, 2010 (140th birthday of Walter Hay.)2136

• [excerpt] An early day horseless carriage, designed and built by Ohio inventor Walter Hay, prompted a unique reunion for his descendants at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.2137

• 1880 Census: Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois. Age 9, b IL. Father b OH; mother b VT. Living in mother’s household.2068
• 1885 Minnesota Census: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. Age 14, b IL. Living with James O’Brien household.2042
• 1900 Census: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan. Age 29, b Aug 1870, IL. Mechanical Engineer. Father b OH; mother b VT.2138
• 1910 Census: Seville, Medina, Ohio. Age 39, b IL. Employment difficult to read. Father b OH; mother b VT.2139
• 1920 Census: Seville, Medina, Ohio. Age 49, b IL. Manager, Union [?] Works. Father b OH; mother b VT.2140
• 1930 Census: Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Age 59, b IL. Engineer, Metal factory. Father b OH; mother b VT. Age 28 at marriage.2141, p 1

• 1900 Grand Rapids, Michigan City Directory
Hay Walter, designer, rms 16 Bostwick2142

• [Note: John F. Dix, born 24 Jan 1850 to John P. Dix and MaryJane (Ohio Historical Society) or Mariah Hay (census), was a schoolteacher of Walter’s in Seville, Ohio.]
Chippewa Lake, Ohio
December 29, 1890
My dear Walter:
I was delighted to receive such a nice—and good letter from you and to learn that you are “clambering up” toward success in this attainment of your ‘ideal’.
I’m not surprised that such is the case for I have always had faith in you from the start—even when nearly every body was prophesying evil for you.
Yes, I’m glad: and I shall be surprised if you do not continue to go on and come out “on top”: but, be cautious, be patient—don’t worry at rebuffs and slow developments. The greatest successes have been those of slowest growth.
And don’t work too hard. Many promising men have crippled themselves and have laid down their worth, full of promise, almost before they began, and died, lie victims of over work and worry.
Extract a little sweet and a little fun out of each day’s history—remembering the quotation—“a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” Lock those memories of this quotation__ ___used to have in this old Warrior’s room—come to remind from time to time as a sort of inspiration when at your work, planning some nice departure in the field of scientific discoveries, etc.
Ever since you left Seville I was sorry that I allowed you to go without visiting you and seeing the things you had in tow. Especially after such a cordial invitation you gave me. I ought to have apologized long ago for my neglect but you have forgiven the failings of your old friend I am sure so, we will “let the dead past bury its dead” and act in the “living Present Heart within and God o’er head.”
You said nothing about your Mother, but I inferred that she is with you—or you with her—which is at it ought to be.
Give to her our regards and accept the best wishes of the season from us and may we not hope to hear from you at intervals? And tell us of all your successes and failures, too. They both belong to the career of every successful man.
In closing, I will share with you the last words of Sir Walter Scott, to his faithful attendant—“Be a good man.” Yes, after all, where the sum of life is told, this is the great question, and may heavens bless you, and grant that a long and useful career be yours, is the sincere wish of your old friend—
J.F. Dix2133, p 2

• [Note: William Bigham was a physician in Seville, born 1834, Ohio, died 13 Oct 1898, per Ohio Historical Society.
(written in pencil at the top of the letter “Died Wed. Oct. 12, 1898”)
Seville, Ohio October 7, 1898
Mr. Walter Hay
New Haven Conn
Dear Sir
Your esteemed favor of 2d inst. received, I am pleased to note that yourself and Mr. Hotchkiss are progressing so rapidly with the preparation of your plant. The Hartford patent trial will not take place until January 1899. Since meeting you last I have been in St. Louis, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff, Little Rock and a number of southern towns and cities and utilized the occasion in mentioning your motor carriage and its good points to capitalists and business men. I met a great number in smoking compartments of coaches, and find that it will be very popular and is the article that will fill a demand that will be astonishing. I met a number of gentlemen who own yachts on the Hudson and other waters that are favorably impressed with your plan of gasoline engines, and will adopt them instead of steam.
I was astonished at the capacity and dimension of your plant when in New Haven. I am now satisfied that it will not be too large, and that in a year from this time, you will have no room in it for rent to other manufacturing enterprises. There will be just as much demand for them in cities of the south as in the north. I find that salesmen and agents who travel over the country will be your patrons.
It appears that the entire country is ripe for this advance in motor carriages, and your prognosis of last winter is correct viz “that the next craze will be for the motor carriage.”
You may be cognizant of all the information contained in this letter, but I give it for what it is worth.
With kindly regards for your wife and self I remain
Very truly yours,
Wm. Bigham
P.S. When you are ready for a secretary, please let me know.
W.B.2133, p 3