My Genealogy Hound

JAMES G. HAYDEN, a prominent and successful lumber merchant located in Cassopolis, Mich., has been identified with the progressive interests and leading enterprises of Cass County almost his entire life. He is a native of the State and, born in Calvin Township, November 10, 1854; has made his constant home within the limits of the county for nearly two-score years. His parents, Joseph G. and Harriet (Lincoln) Hayden, were natives of New York and Ohio, respectively, the father having been born in Chautauqua County, while the maternal grandparents reared the mother in the Buckeye State. The father, trained in the duties of agriculture, decided to try farming amid the broader opportunities of the West, and emigrated to Cass County while yet in early manhood. He was prospered and was rapidly winning his way upward, when he died aged thirty-five years, mourned by the community among whom he had then spent a number of years. An earnest and intelligent citizen, he took an active interest in local affairs and was ever ready to assist in all matters tending to the promotion of the public good.

Our subject was the fourth-born of five children, three sons and two daughters, who clustered about the family hearth of the old homestead. William B. is a well-known citizen of Cassopolis; George W., the eldest, is associated in business with his brother James G. Adalaide is Mrs. Jesse Parker, of Calvin Township. Mattie, the youngest daughter, is the wife of Jacob Keene and resides in Battle Creek, Mich. Mr. Hayden was six years of age when he came to live with an uncle at Cassopolis, and therefore received his primary education in his present locality. He enjoyed the advantage of a thorough course of instruction in the Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College but, beginning life for himself, for seven years devoted his time to general agriculture. It was upon the fine old homestead of his father-in-law that he engaged in the tilling of the soil and industriously aided in the cultivation of the three hundred and eighty acres which comprised the extensive and highly improved farm.

November 8, 1879, the marriage of our subject and Miss Ruth T. Kingsbury was celebrated at the home of the bride’s parents, Asa and Jane (Monroe) Kingsbury. Five children have made the home bright with their intelligent presence. Asa K., named in honored remembrance of his maternal grandfather, was the first-born. The eldest daughter is Vera. Then follow in order of birth Jay G., Hazel and Robert T. In January, 1886, Mr. Hayden entered into the grocery business in Cassopolis and remained actively engaged in handling that line of goods until March, 1893. Upon this latter date, in company with his brother George, he associated himself in the lumber business on the mill property owned by C. W. Bunn, and the firm name under which their joint interests are prosperously conducted is the Bunn & Hayden Lumber Company.

Our subject has always taken a deep interest in local and national issues and is in political affiliation a stanch Republican. In the fall of 1886 he was elected County Treasurer and, serving with great acceptance two terms, ably discharged the duties of the responsible position. Mr. Hayden enjoyed the honor of being appointed one of the Auxiliary World’s Fair Committee in Cass County. Fraternally, our subject is a valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and belongs to Backus Lodge No. 155. He is also connected with Kingsbury Chapter and is numbered among the representative citizens and public-spirited men of the county. He was also one of the charter members of the Knights of Pythias at this place, and the first political office held by him was that of Township Treasurer, he being elected in La Grange Township by a majority of seven in the spring of 1883, although the Democrats outnumbered the Republicans by one hundred and twenty.