John Hayes Jr. was the son of Rev. John William Hayes and Apsilla Pearce. He married Mahaley (Mahalia) Brasfield on the 29 July 1823 in Wake County, North Carolina and to this union were born six children: William P. Hayes, Claudy Hayes, Joseph D. Hayes, George D. Hayes, Wellington Hayes, and Virginia Hayes. It should be noted that two of their children, George D. Hayes and Wellington Hayes, were both killed during the Civil War and are buried at Richmond, Virginia.

The Hayes family was quite prominent in early Raleigh history in the 1800s. The 'Hayes Store' village, as it was often referred to in news articles from that time period, was located approximately five miles to the northwest of downtown Raleigh. Historic maps put the 'Hayes Store' village at the intersection of present-day Duraleigh Road and Edwards Mill Roads in House Creek Township, Raleigh, North Carolina. The store and mill was originally started by John Hayes Jr. (called the 'John Hayes Store' up till his death ca. 1862), passed down to his son, Joseph D. Hayes (called the 'J.D. Hayes Store' from ca. 1862 to 1880), and later sold to a J.T. Edwards and was called 'Edwards Store' and Mill (ca. 1883). The 'Hayes Store' village was comprised of the families of Hayes, Page, Forrest, Wiggins, and House (The Farmer and Mechanic Newspaper - Raleigh, NC - 10 Oct 1883 - Page 1).

The Hayes family was prominent in the southern 'Conservative Democrat' political party. Numerous large political picnics and gatherings happened at 'Hayes Store' through the 1800s with as many as 600 folks showing up to enjoy the food and listen to political speeches. Besides running the mill and store, John Hayes Jr., held numerous political offices in the Conservative Democrat Party, and was a delegate to the North Carolina State Convention several times.