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MILTON HAY was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, July 3, 1817, and emigrated with his father's family to Springfield, Illinois, in the year 1832. Until arriving at age, he labored at different avocations for his father, attending the common schools at intervals, and receiving such education as such schools afforded at that day. He was fond of reading, and devoted the intervals of time when not at school or at labor, to the reading of such books as the scanty libraries of the time afforded. With James H. Matheny (now Judge Matheny) and others, he aided in forming the first society of a literary character ever formed in Springfield, the Springfield Lyceum, which was devoted to debating disputed questions and the reading of original essays. He studied law in the office of Stuart & Lincoln, and was licensed to practice in 1840. He begun practice at Pittsfield, Pike county, Illinois, and there practiced his profession until the year 1858, when he returned to Springfield, continuing the practice of his profession until January, 1881, when he retired from the active practice of his profession.
He was twice married. His first wife, Catherine, the daughter of James Forbes, of Pittsfield, died in 1857, leaving two children, both of whom died in infancy. In 1861, he married Mary Logan, eldest daughter of Judge Stephen T. Logan. She died in 1874. Two children survive, both of this marriage, Kate and Logan Hay.
He was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1872, from the district composed of the counties of Logan and Sangamon, and, although not of the dominant party in the convention, was made Chairman of the committee on Revenue, and served on the Judiciary Committee. He actively participated in all the proceedings of that body, and in forming the new Constitution, which was subsequently adopted by the people. In 1874 he was elected as a Representative of Sangamon county to the legislature, and acted (after the death of Mr. Bushnell) both as Chairman of the Judiciary and Revenue Committees of that body. He was one of the committee of five appointed by the legislature, to revise, in conjunction with Mr. Hurd, the laws of the State, and this work was adopted at an adjourned session of the legislature. Other than as here stated he has never held office, preferring the practice of his profession to the pursuit of office. In politics he is a
Republican.