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

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.

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).