Hayden, Stephen

HAYDEN, SIMPSON, KELL, ROBB

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 14:54:47

Stephen Hayden, a farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 13, Oregon Township, where he owns 117 acres of land, which is well improved in every respect. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 6, 1829, and is the son of Lot and Margaret (Simpson) Hayden, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent; the latter a native of Indiana and of Irish descent. In 1844 the family came to Iowa and settled one mile west of Burlington, where they remained one year, and then came to Washington County, and settled on section 26, Oregon Township, where Mrs. Hayden died in 1878 at the age of seventy-four, and Mr. Hayden in 1880, at the age of seventy-nine. They reared a family of eight children: Charity, now residing in Louisa County, Iowa; Jane, residing in this county; Priscilla, in Missouri; Stephen and Elizabeth of this county; Mary, of Kansas, and Margaret and Louisa, also of this county.

Lot Hayden was a soldier in the War of 1812, and on coming to this county entered 160 acres of land with a land warrant secured for service in that war. In early life he worked at the trade of blacksmithing, but after coming to Washington County he engaged exclusively in farming. He was one of the greatest hunters in the West, having, it is thought, killed more deer than any other man living in Washington County. During one fall he killed forty-seven deer. In his death the county lost one of its best citizens, and the family a kind and indulgent parent. Coming to this county at an early day, he lived to see the great changes that were made in transforming it from a wild state to one of the best improved counties in the State of Iowa.

Stephen Hayden, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon a farm, and as a farmer has spent his entire life. He has been twice married; his first wife was Rebecca J. Kell, to whom was married in this county in 1859. She died in 1866, leaving two children: Anna F., the wife of Ormond Jackson, of Ida County, Iowa; and the mother of two children – Stephen O and Clara B.; and Charity L., the wife of Howard Carringer, of Lane County, Kan., and the mother of four children – Mary F., Jennie L., Laura M., and Frankie, deceased.

Mr. Hayden’s second wife was Monica J. Robb; they were married in 1867. She is the daughter of Andrew and Margaret Robb, and is a native of Ohio, born Dec. 20, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Hayden are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Hayden commenced life in very limited circumstances, but by hard labor, economy and good management, assisted by his good wife, he has acquired a nice property, and is regarded as one of the thrifty and enterprising citizens of Washington County.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Stephen Hayden, page 418.