Home Page Menu
 
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