11th State Treasurer: 1871-1873
Samuel Hays (Republican), the 11th State Treasurer, was born in Philadelphia around 1830. At the close of the Civil War he engaged in the pharmacy business in Memphis,
and in the late 1860s moved to St. Joseph, Mo. In St. Joseph, he continued as a local druggist, then went into business operating a hardware store, and later
became the director of the St. Louis and St. Joseph railroad.
He became prominent in Republican politics and served as a representative from Buchanan County’s 1st District in 1868. In 1870 he was elected state treasurer, serving
two years at an annual salary of $3,000. He was allowed $1,500 in contingent expenses annually, and was also appropriated $2,100 for a safe and a new door to the office vault.
Following his tenure in office, he moved to St. Louis and, in 1878, President Hayes appointed him postmaster there. He served until 1884, and was, for a short time, president of
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and then the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad. It was said he was "one of the most widely known men in St. Louis." In 1885, he moved
to New York City, and was later appointed by President Harrison to the Immigration Bureau.
He was married and had three children. Mr. Hays died in Upper Montclair, N.J., on Oct. 8, 1897.
