Gay, Edward J. (Edward James), 1816-1889

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Edward J. Gay, planter, merchant, and politician, was born Feb. 3, 1816, to John Henderson Gay and Sophia Mitchell Gay of Liberty, Va. The family relocated to St. Louis, Mo.,in 1824, where John established himself as a merchant. Edward later married Lavina Hynes, daughter of Andrew Hynes on Oct. 22, 1840. They had three daughters, Sophia, Mary Susan, Anna Margaret, and two sons, Andrew Price and Edward James, Jr. Upon the death of his father-in-law, Edward assumed control of Hynes' property in Iberville Parish, La. In 1856 he moved his family to Home Plantation, near Plaquemine, La. Two years later he renamed it St. Louis Plantation. Among Gay's business activities were the establishment of Henderson Sugar Refinery and the construction of the Merchants Exchange Building in St. Louis, Mo. He was also the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange. Elected to Congress as a Democrat, he served in the House of Representatives from 1885 until his death in 1889. He was later followed in Congress by his grandson, Senator Edward J. Gay, III.

From the description of Edward J. Gay family papers, 1797-1921 (bulk 1838-1910). (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 262293481

Edward J. Gay, planter, merchant, and politician, married Lavina Hynes, daughter of Andrew Hynes, in 1840. Upon the death of his father-in-law, he assumed control of Hynes' property in Iberville Parish, La. In 1856 he moved his family to Home Plantation near Plaquemine, La. Gay was the first president of the Louisiana Sugar Exchange and U.S. Representative for the Third Congressional District of Louisiana (1885-1889).

William P. Kellogg was collector of the port of New Orleans (1865-1868), U.S. Senator for Louisiana (1868-1872, 1877-1883), Governor of Louisiana (1873-1877), and U.S. Representative for the Third Congressional District of Louisiana (1883-1885).

From the description of Edward J. Gay answer in Kellogg v. Gay, 1885 Jan. 19. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 454176484

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hynes family. Hynes family papers, 1804-1870, bulk 1816-1846. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf Hynes, Andrew. Papers, 1805-1848. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Gay family. Gay-Butler-Plater family papers, 1814-2009. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Gay, Edward J. (Edward James), 1816-1889. Edward J. Gay family papers, 1797-1921 (bulk 1838-1910). Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
creatorOf Gay, Edward J. (Edward James), 1816-1889. Edward J. Gay answer in Kellogg v. Gay, 1885 Jan. 19. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Portraits [manuscript], 1679-1893. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Gay, Edward J. (Edward James), 1878-1952. person
associatedWith Gay family. family
associatedWith Gay family. family
associatedWith Gibson, Randall Lee, 1832-1892. person
associatedWith Henderson Sugar Refinery. corporateBody
associatedWith Hynes, Andrew. person
associatedWith Hynes family. family
associatedWith Hynes family. family
associatedWith Kellogg, William Pitt, 1831-1918. person
associatedWith League of Nations. corporateBody
associatedWith Nicholls, Francis T. (Francis Tillou), 1834-1912. person
associatedWith Posey, William S. person
associatedWith Sparks, William A. J. person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Education. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Mississippi River Commission. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Louisiana
St. Louis Plantation (La.)
United States
Home Plantation (La.)
Louisiana
Iberville Parish (La.)
Subject
Slavery
African American politicians
Agricultural laborers
Bills, Legislative
Contested elections
Cotton
Elections
Levees
Military schools
Plantation life
Plantations
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Slaveholders
Sugar
Sugar growing
Tariff
Wages
Occupation
Legislators
Merchants
Plantation owners
Activity

Person

Birth 1816-02-03

Death 1889-05-30

Information

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