Hayden, John 1861-1943

HAYDEN, SULLIVAN, KEEGAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/24/2022 at 22:25:48

OBITUARY OF JOHN HAYDEN died 11 Sep 1943 Rock Valley IA

His death record states his parents were James Hayden and Mary Sullivan both born in Ireland.

Rock Valley Bee of Friday September 17, 1943
Operated Gravel Pit Here for Many Years
John Edward Hayden, native of Illinois who came here in 1884 as a young man of 23 years and helped break the prairie in this vicinity, died Saturday Sept 11, at this home in Rock Valley after an extended illness.

Born December 15, 1861, on a farm near LaSalle, Illinois, he grew to young manhood there and came to Rock Valley in the Spring of 1884, the same time that D. J. Scanlan and many others located here. Bradking prairie was the big thing around here in those days and everybody went to work at it who could get the equipment. Mr. Hayden got his start in that way and located on a farm of his own a few years later.

Just before the blizzard that claimed so many ____(not legible ) of January, 1888, he met Miss Julia Keegan , they were married at St. Mary’s church at Rock Valley on Dec 28, 1887, with Father Phelan solemnizing the ceremony. At that time they their home where John McKeegan’e farm is now located at but the following spring moved to their own farm which was located three miles north and one mile west of Rock Valley. In 1904 the family moved into town.

For a couple of years he worked in the gravel business for Wilson, who operated a dray line here at that time, but in 1906 branched out for himself in the sand and gravel business. In those days the heavy stuff was all handled and loaded by shovel method but in 1917 the business had grown to such an extent that he added a conveyor belt, scraping the gravel onto the belt with a team. In 1902 when he was awarded contracts for supplying part of the gravel for the Hull Perkins paving and the Sheldon Hartley paving on highway 18 he installed a steam shovel at the gravel pit. Mr. Hayden retired from business in 1922.

The couple had the misfortune to lose six children in infancy and their son James, died Jan 9, 1916. The wife and mother died Dec 19, 1928. Earle Hayden of Rock valley is the only surviving member of the family.

He is also survived by one brother, James Hayden,of De Smet, SD who attende the funeral services, and by tow sisters, Miss Minnie Hayden and Mrs. Morgan Flaherty both of San Jose CA.
Funeral services frot the highly respected pioneer were held on Tuesday morning at S.t Mary’s Catholic church with Rev. Father David McGoey officiating. Pallbearers were the Messers, Henry Kaskie, E. R. Scanlan, Pat Rielly, J. H. Kearns, Martin Cullinan and Frank O’Meara. Interment was at St. Mary’s cemetery here.