|
LEWIS HAYDEN
Lewis Hayden is numbered among the early
settlers of Lake county and is a retired farmer now living in
Lowell. In fact, he is one of the native sons of this portion of the
state, his birth having occurred in West Creek township, March 12,
1838. He is the eleventh of a
family of thirteen children whose
parents were Nehemiah and Harriet (Kitchell) Hayden, mention of whom
is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch
of Jacob Hayden. Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Lewis Hayden
was reared upon the old family homestead in West Creek township. The
settlements in northwestern Indiana were them widely scattered, and
much of the land was still unimproved. Crude farm machinery was used
in developing the fields, for the era of modern invention had not
yet dawned resulting in the production of the modern agricultural
implements that are to-day in use. Lewis Hayden performed his full
share of the work on the home farm, clearing the fields, planting
the seed and harvesting the crops. He hauled wheat to Chicago with
ox teams before there was any railroad, and he remained upon the
home farm until the death of his father, when he started out in life on
his own account. His educational privileges were such as were
afforded in a log schoolhouse of that period.
Mr. Hayden was united in marriage to
Miss Lucinda Knisely, and to them were born two sons and a daughter,
Sherman, Grant and Addie, but the last named is now deceased. The
mother passed away January 5, 1867 and Mr. Hayden afterward wedded
Almeda Knisely, a sister of his first wife. She was born in New
Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, October 16, 1846, and by her
marriage she became the mother of ten children: Judson; Edward;
Sylvia; Albert and Alma twins; and Carrie, Mark, Bruce, Rubie and
Blanche, all of whom are now deceased. All were born in West Creek
township and the living children are all married with the exception
of Albert.
Mr. Hayden has spent his entire life in
Lake County and during the greater part of the time has engaged in
farming. He now owns two valuable farms comprising rich and
productive land, one of which is two hundred and seventy-two acres
in extent and the other one hundred and twenty acres. This land he rents,
and it brings to him a good annual income. He himself was actively
engaged in farming until 1899, when he retired from business life
and removed to Lowell. He had been very successful as an
agriculturist, had placed his fields under a high state of
cultivation, and had annually garnered rich crops which found a
ready sale on the market. He improved his farm by building fences
and erecting a large modern residence, substantial barns and other
outbuildings; in fact he added all modern equipments and accessories to his place and his
property is now very valuable. His political allegiance has ever
been given to the Republican party, and upon that ticket he has been
chosen for a number of local positions. He belongs to a family of
nine brothers, who have contributed in large measure toward the
improvement and progress of the southwestern part of Lake county.
They own adjoining farming property in West Creek township, and
contribute in large measure to the agricultural interests of this
portion of the state. They always favor general progress and
improvement touching the interests of society at large, and Mr.
Hayden has given his hearty co-operation to many movements that have
been of direct benefit to this portion of the state.
Ball, T.H., Encyclopedia of Genealogy
and Biography of Lake County,
Indiana, Lewis, 1904, pp 522-524]
Submitted By Philip L. Ritter
Email philr@leland.Stanford.edu
|