John Breese HAY, Congress, IL (1834-1916)

HAY, John Breese, a Representative from Illinois; born in Belleville, St. Clair County, Ill., January 8, 1834; received a limited schooling; learned the art of printing; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Belleville, Ill.; prosecuting attorney for the twenty-fourth judicial district of Illinois 1860-1868; delegate to the Republican State convention in 1860; served in the Union Army during the Civil War in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry; elected as a Republican to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1869-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress and for election in 1880 to the Forty-seventh Congress; resumed the practice of law in Belleville; postmaster of Belleville, Ill., 1881-1885; judge of St. Clair County Court 1886-1900; served as mayor of Belleville from 1901 to 1905, when he resigned, having been again elected county judge, and served until 1914; died in Belleville, Ill., on June 16, 1916; interment in Green Mount Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present