The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 124 REUBEN A. AND ARCHIE E. HAYS. The Hays brothers, composed of Reuben A. and Archie E., are actively identified with the farming and fruit raising interests of Selah. The former was born in Champaign county, Illinois, October 21, 1870, and the latter was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, February 24, 1875. Their parents were George W. and Martha Jane (Burns) Hays, who in 1876 removed from Indiana to Mattoon, Illinois, where they resided for a quarter of a century. In 1901 the family came to the northwest with the Yakima valley as their destination. They purchased thirty-five acres of land in the Selah valley and in 1908 added to this a tract of fifteen acres, making fifty acres in all. Of this place forty-five acres is planted to orchard, the family specializing in the production of apples, pears and cherries, of which they annually harvest good crops and make extensive shipments. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hays were born nine children: Herman, who is a rancher living near Zillah, Washington; Reuben A. and Archie who run the old home place; Alva, who is engaged in ranching near Zillah and has a wife and one child: Lawrence., who is engaged in the fruit business in Yakima and has a wife and two children; Syvilla, the wife of Harry Morgan, a rancher living on Nob hill; Stella, the wife of Foster Barnsley, a rancher of Valley, Washington; Fay, at home; and Emma, who died at the age of two years. The mother is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. The family is one of prominence in the community, where for eighteen years they have made their home. Throughout this entire period the Hays brothers have been identified with the development and progress of this region along horticultural lines. They were young men at the time of their arrival and at once became active factors in the development of the home place, which they are still operating. They have developed one of the leading ranches of the county, devoted to orcharding. Their land and their trees are always kept in excellent condition, scientific methods being manifest in the care of both, and the produced are therefore most gratifying. Fraternally Archie E. Hays is connected with the Knights of Pythias. brothers vote the republican ticket but have never sought office, although in matters of citizenship they manifest a public-spirited devotion to the general good. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.