San Francisco County
Biographies
ELYSTUS LYON
HAYES
Not many years have elapsed since Elystus Lyon Hayes began his legal career in San Francisco, but during this period he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability in the practice of the profession which he chose as his life’s work, and has acquired a foremost position among the younger attorneys of the city. He was born near San Jose, California, February 15, 1895, and is a son of Jay Orley and Clara (Lyon) Hayes.
On both paternal and maternal sides, Elystus L. Hayes is descended from English forbears, members of both families having settled in New York and New England prior to the Revolutionary war. His father, Jay Orley Hayes, was born and educated in Wisconsin, and practiced law in that state for several years before retiring from the legal profession to manage his mining interests. In 1887 he came west to Santa Clara county, California, and here has remained a resident since, having engaged successfully in mining, fruit raising, and publishing. During the past three decades, in association with his brother, he has owned and published the San Jose Mercury Herald. He has served as a member of the board of regents of the University of California. On June 16, 1885, he was married to Miss Clara Isabel Lyon, of Madison, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late William P. Lyon, who was chief justice of the supreme court of Wisconsin and descendant of a prominent English family.
Elystus L. Hayes, a child of this marriage, attended school in San Jose and continued his studies at Stanford University, from which institution he received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1916 and that of Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1919. When the United States entered the World war, he enlisted in the military forces of his country, and for this reason his studies were interrupted until his honorable discharge in 1919. He served with the Sixty-second Infantry, Eighth Division, and held a commission as first lieutenant, concluding his service overseas. Having reentered civil life, Mr. Hayes began the practice of law in San Francisco in 1920 and became associated with Aaron Sapiro and other attorneys. In 1923 the firm became Sapiro, Levy, Hatfield & Hayes, and in 1925 it changed to Sapiro & Hayes, being composed of Mr. Hayes and Milton D. Sapiro. Since 1930 Mr. Hayes has been practicing alone, specializing in corporation, newspaper and business practice. His offices are at 1705 Russ building.
Mr. Hayes was married July 21, 1926, to Emma Tofanelli of San Francisco. Mrs. Hayes is also an attorney, having completed her legal education at the University of California in 1922. They are the parents of a daughter, Elena, who was born in San Francisco, March 6, 1930.
During his college career, Mr. Hayes became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, also the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. He now belongs to the Bohemian Club, the Commonwealth Club, the California Golf Club, the San Jose Country Club and other organizations. He has given his support to the republican party in politics, and his cooperation with civic movements of merit is a subject of general knowledge.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 271-273.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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