My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM B. HAYDEN, an energetic business man and prosperous hardware dealer located in Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich., is a native of the State and county where he now resides, and was born in Calvin Township August 10, 1850. His parents were Joseph G. and Hannah (Lincoln) Hayden, early and highly respected settlers of Cass County. The father was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and remained in the home of his childhood until he had attained to maturity, but was a young man full of hope and enterprise when he journeyed to the farther West and located in Michigan. He followed the avocation of farming his entire lifetime, and was successfully engaged in the pursuit of agriculture when he passed away in the full strength of middle life, aged thirty- five years. The ancestors of the mother, Hannah (Lincoln) Hayden, were Ohio people and in the Buckeye State she received her youthful education and training.

The home of the parents was blessed by the birth of six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons were, our subject, William B., James G. and George W. Hayden. The eldest daughter, Adalaide, is now the wife of Jesse Parker, of Calvin Township. Mattie married Jacob Keene, of Battle Creek, Mich.; and Esther is deceased. William B. remained at home until he arrived at his majority when he went to Redfield, and at once obtained employment in the Redfield flouring-mill. He continued in the same occupation for two and a-half years and then went to Waukegan, Ill. In this latter city he learned the miller’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years to the business. His services were next given to the Elkhart Flouring Company, but it was not long before our subject returned again to the mill at Redfield, the scene of his first business experience.

Two years later the owner of the mill died, and Mr. Hayden, fully qualified by practical experience, succeeded his former employer. He was more than usually successful in the milling business and continued to conduct the same until January, 1885. At the latter date he permanently moved with his family to Cassopolis and purchased a half-interest in the general hardware store of D. L. French. The business, established by Mr. French fully thirty years ago, is planted upon a substantial foundation and rapidly extending its present limits. Our subject has entered into the handling of hardware with the same ambitious determination and enterprise which have characterized his previous undertakings. He has, as heretofore, been prospered and the outlook for the future is most encouraging.

Mr. Hayden was united in marriage April 13, 1879, to Miss Tillie J. Fulton, a lady born and educated in Waukegan, Ill. Her parents, well-known residents of Waukegan, were William and Lizzie (Jenkins) Fulton. Our subject and his estimable wife have four children, the eldest of whom, and their only son, is Joseph F., named in honor of his paternal grandfather. Belle, Stella and Bernice are the daughters. From his infancy associated with the growth and progress of his native State, Mr. Hayden enjoys a wide acquaintance in Cass County, and possesses the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends.