The breeder is James Comley, as with 'Oakmont': “Further on to the right could be seen an excellent display of cut roses from James Comely [sic; should be "Comley"] of Lexington (gardener to Francis B. Hayes), and among them a large number of the new rose, ‘Oakmont’, and ‘Francis B. Hayes’, of which he is the originator, and the stock of which he recently sold to Mr. John N. May.” [Florists’ Exchange, vol. 3, 1890, p. 213] It appears from here and elsewhere that the spelling is "Francis" not "Frances."