| Notes |
- Sister Mary Donnelly (citation details below) points out that the 1900 census of Daviess County lists Dora Hayden as a widow, living with the five then-living children of her and Lee Madison Hayden. And yet we also have a 1928 death certificate for Lee Madison; it's clearly the same man, correctly listing his parents and his wife. We know from contemporary newspaper reports that he succeeded in divorcing her in November 1898; so she may have preferred to tell the 1900 census taker that she was a widow. The excerpts from the Owensboro Messenger reproduced below suggest some pretty plausible reasons why this might have been the case.
It's also notable that on 16 Apr 1905, years after they divorced, "Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hayden" appear in the Owensboro Messenger, jointly announcing the impending marriage of their daughter Daisy Cecilia to Virgil Bowlds.
Lee Madison Hayden's death certificate has problems. The date of death is given as 31 Sep 1928; there are of course only thirty days in September. The doctor's statement is that he last saw the deceased on 30 Sep at 12:10; whether this was 12:10 AM or PM is illegible. Our guess is that Lee Madison Hayden died on 30 September, but it could have been 1 October.
The birth date we show for him, 5 Jun 1851, is derived from the age given on his death certificate: 77 years, three months, 26 days. This assumes he died on 30 Sep instead of 1 Oct.
From 1889 to 1923, the archives of the Owensboro Messenger and Messenger-Inquirer contain literally dozens of references to Lee Hayden being arrested, held overnight, and/or fined for drunkenness. We forbear to reproduce them all. A few of them are notable for language that appears to wryly acknowledge Hayden's evident incorrigibility: "Lee Hayden, the old 'regular,' was again locked up for drunkenness last night" [Messenger, 5 May 1894]; "Lee Hayden got on his regular Saturday night drunk last night and occupied a bunk in the police station" [Messenger, 19 Aug 1894]. Later in life, notes of pathos creep in: "Lee Hayden, a grey haired white man, was arraigned for drunkenness. Judge Haskins apparently saw something familiar in the make-up of Hayden and gave him $3 and costs" [Messenger-Inquirer, 23 Sep 1909]. "Lee Hayden was gathered in at the Union Station during the noon hour by Railroad Officer G. W. Sanderfur and sent to the lockup on a charge of intoxication at a railroad depot. Hayden will explain to Judge Watkins in the morning" [Messenger-Inquirer, 18 Jan 1923].
From 1900 on, it's not always clear whether a Lee Hayden referred to in newspaper reports is this Lee Hayden. For instance, the story on page 5 of the 19 Sep 1909 Messenger headlined "LEE HAYDEN WORSE", about Lee Hayden and two others being bitten by a mad dog, is probably not about our Lee Hayden, since it refers to another victim of the dog as a "little girl" who is his "daughter", and by then all of Lee Madison Hayden's daughters had grown up. Likewise, it's unclear that the Lee Hayden, farmer of Yelvington, mentioned several times in the early 1900s, is our Lee.
Owensboro Messenger, 1 Oct 1889, p. 4:
LEE HAYDEN STABS A NEGRO
Henry Phillips, the Horse Trainer, Tries to Use a Brick but is Stopped by the Steel.
A colored horse-trainer named Henry Phillips was stabbed and dangerously wounded Sunday afternoon by Lee Hayden.
Hayden and some other white men were at Baer's and Price's saloons and had been drinking beer when Phillips came up. He went in to get beer and left his horse and cart in the street. Two of the men got into the cart and drove up the street, and when they came back Phillips got a brick and swore he intended to knock them out of the cart. Hayden remonstrated and Phillips cursed him and threatened him. Hayden then took hold of Phillips' coat and the latter struck at him with the brick. Hayden had his knife out, his friends say before the quarrel began, and with it he stabbed Phillips in the right breast. They were pulled apart at this time and no more blows were passed.
Hayden was arrested and put under guard. He was taken before Esq. Adams yesterday and on account of the negro's condition the case was postponed until Thursday at 2 o'clock.
The negro was resting well last night, but serious fears are entertained regarding him.
[Henry Phillips survived this incident.]
Owensboro Messenger, 22 Oct 1893, p. 8:
AN OBSTREPEROUS PRISONER.
Lee Hayden Peels an Officer's Head and in Turn Is Peeled.
Lee Hayden got on a tear last night and drove his wife and children out of the house. His wife notified the police and Officers Grady and Myrick effected his arrest about 11 o'clock after a lively fight, in which Grady had his head peeled by an iron poker. Myrick then took a hand in the scrimmage and returned the compliment by skinning Hayden's head also. He was put in the lock-up. He is charged with disorderly conduct and breach of the peace.
Owensboro Messenger, 4 Nov 1893, p. 5:
Notice is hereby given by this article that I warn and forbid any person to give, sell, or convey in any manner any intoxicating drink to my husband, Lee M. Hayden, from this date on, as I will most positively prosecute any one so doing to the fullest extent of the law.
Mrs. Lee M. Hayden
Owensboro, Ky., Nov. 3, 1893
Owensboro Messenger, 29 Nov 1893, p. 1:
Lee Hayden's Wife Brings Suit for Divorce
Madora C. Hayden sues Lee M. Hayden for divorce. She alleges cruelty, drunkenness and failure to provide. Hayden has featured in police court frequently of late for beating his wife and is now on the rock pile.
Owensboro Messenger, 21 Aug 1894, p. 8:
While being taken to the workhouse yesterday Lee Hayden managed to escape the officers by pretending to be changing shirts at his home on the way.
Owensboro Messenger, 28 Feb 1895, p. 4:
In the circuit court yesterday the petition for divorce of Mrs. M. C. Hayden vs. Lee M. Hayden, filed a few days ago, was dismissed, the couple having "made up."
[This is clearly at least the second time that Madora sued for divorce, since we know she also did so in November 1893.]
Owensboro Messenger, 24 Jul 1897, p. 5:
LEE HAYDEN IN JAIL
On a Peace Warrant Sworn Out By His Wife.
Lee Hayden, a market gardener, living just below the city on the Henderson road, was arrested and lodged in jail Friday on a peace warrant sworn out by Mrs. Hayden charging him with abuse of his family. Hayden and his wife have not lived together for about two years. One of Mrs. Hayden's daughters is ill at the father's house and she desired to go and nurse her, but he would not permit it. Hayden is a hard drinker, is of a quarrelsome disposition, and gives his family considerable trouble. When arrested he was too drunk to be tried and he was sent to jail till today when he will be brought out for trial on the warrant.
Owensboro Messenger, 28 Oct 1897, p. 5:
Suit for Divorce.
A petition for divorce was filed with the circuit court clerk late yesterday afternoon by Little & Little, attorneys for the plaintiff, Lee Hayden, against Madora C. Hayden. The plaintiff says that he and the defendant were married on the 27th of October, 1875, and that they continued to live together as man and wife until July 1896, when, the plaintiff alleges, without fault of his own, his wife left him and they have since lived apart. Of the children born to the couple, five are under twenty-one years of age, and the plaintiff prays for custody of these.
Owensboro Messenger, 23 Jun 1898, p. 3:
LEE HAYDEN'S TROUBLES.
Denies He Beat His Daughter and Talks of Family Affairs.
Lee Hayden feels aggrieved at the paragraph in the Messenger of Tuesday which represented him as having beaten his daughter. He is sure his wife, who has not been living with him for three years, had it put in the paper. He says he didn't beat the girl, but that she refused to do certain work he had assigned her, and he slapped her four or five times, and then she left and went to her mother. He says the girl is now past sixteen, is thinking more of buggy-riding with the boys than attending to domestic duties, and he grew tired of it. Her elder sister also left the next day, taking with her the afflicted daughter, aged twelve, so only two of the children, both boys, now remain with the father, and when he dies he proposes to leave all he has to them. Lee says the Messenger is always writing him up unnecessarily, frequently attributing to him the misdeeds of another Lee Hayden. It was suggested to Lee that he was a hard-working, thrifty man and if he would [paper torn] let whisky alone he would not [paper torn] much trouble with his family, [paper torn] insisted that as long as whisky [paper torn] ade he intended to have his [paper torn] f it.
[paper torn] policeman who reported the [paper torn] the Messenger says the girl [paper torn] evidence of having been badly [paper torn]
Owensboro Messenger, 13 Nov 1898, p. 7:
Mary Mitchell was granted a divorce from Link Mitchell, and Fanny Houston was granted a divorce from Frank Houston, and Lee Hayden a divorce from Madora Hayden.
Owensboro Messenger, 23 Nov 1898, p. 3:
HIS HANDY KNIFE.
Lee Hayden Stabs a Man Perhaps Fatally at Henderson.
Henderson, Ky., Nov. 22. — Several men who have been working for the new telephone company filled up on mean whisky Sunday and after returning to their rooms, upstairs in the Stanley building, on North Main street, they got into a general fight, resulting in black eyes, mashed noses, and bruised faces. One of the fighters, Will O. Hanback, was stabbed in the stomach and breast in a horrible manner by Lee Hayden, of Owensboro. The wounded man was taken to the sanitarium, where he is lying in a critical condition, but the indications are that he will pull through, provided that blood poison does not set in. Hayden, the man who did the stabbing, succeeded in making his escape. Tom Barrett and Will Hurbert, of Evansville, both of whom were engaged in the difficulty, were arrested and locked up as accessories to the stabbing. In the event that Hanback dies from the effects of the knife wounds Barret and Hurbert will have to answer for murder.
Hayden was arrested in Evansville Monday night.
[This would have been the evening of the day after the melee, Monday 21 Nov.]
Owensboro Messenger, 24 Nov 1898, p. 2:
Lineman Badly Stabbed.
Henderson, Ky., Nov. 22. — W. O. Hanback was probably fatally stabbed by Lee Hayden at the Eblen hotel here, the result of a trivial quarrel. Both were linemen for the new telephone company, and lived in Evansville. Hayden has skipped. The victim was stabbed in the right breast. Physicians have no hope for him.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 24 Nov 1898, p. 4:
Will Be Tried Next Monday.
Lee Hayden, who cut William Handback at Henderson last Sunday, is still in jail awaiting the results of Handback's injuries. His case is set for hearing next Monday, but it will probably not be tried then.
Owensboro Messenger, 25 Nov 1898, p. 7:
HAYDEN'S TRIAL POSTPONED.
The Man He Cut Still Unable to Appear in Court.
Henderson, Ky., Nov. 24. — A sequel to the cutting scrape among the linemen of the new telephone company was a trial of three of the offenders yesterday in 'Squire Davis' court. W. Hubert, against whom the charge of cutting with intend to kill was made, was acquitted. Tom Barret was charged with striking with intent to kill, but the charge was reduced to breach of the peace. The trial of Lee Hayden, charged with cutting with intent to kill, was postponed until next Monday, the delay being made to await the results of the wounds of Hanback, who is at the sanitarium.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 30 Nov 1898, p. 2:
Lee Hayden Fined.
Lee Hayden, who stabbed William Handback, in Henderson, a week ago, was tried yesterday and fined $50, and not being able to pay, was returned to jail. He was arrested in Evansville, on a charge of malicious cutting and wounding, but the charge was reduced to cutting in sudden heat and passion.
[One infers that William Hanback, or Handback, ultimately survived.]
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 18 Dec 1900, p. 6:
LEE HAYDEN ATTACKED.
Negro Makes a Murderous Whack at Him With a Corn Knife.
Lee Hayden was badly cut by a negro named Will Moorman at Stanley Monday afternoon. The weapon used was a corn knife. The two men had a quarrel, and Moorman struck at Hayden with the knife. Hayden raised his arm to avert the blow from his neck, and received a cut about six inches long on the forearm, which penetrated to the bone. But for this he would certainly have been killed. Moorman was arrested and brought to the city by Constable John Bowling and placed in jail.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 5 Feb 1904, p.7:
POLICE COURT.
Trial of General Row on Henderson Road Comes Off.
The trial of Gus Hocker, George Bausch, Lee Hayden and B. A. Sandefur for having a general row on the Henderson Road one week ago last Sunday. According to Hocker the dispute arose over the price Hayden was to pay for a piece of meat. Hocker is the proprietor of a butcher shop. Hocker and Sandefur threw Bausch and Hayden out of the building. A day or so later Hayden told Officer Rhodes that "we had a hell of a fight, and me and George Bausch got knocked out." Bausch has never been arrested, having gone to Evansville immediately after the fight. Hayden was fined $20 for provoking a difficulty by attempting to force Hocker and Sadefur to sell him meat. Hocker was himself fined $10 for cursing Hayden. Sandefur was released.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 16 Apr 1905, p. 11:
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hayden announce the marriage of their daughter, Daisy Cecelia, to Mr. Virgil Bowlds, to take place on Wednesday, April 26, in the parsonage of St. Paul's Catholic Church, the ceremony to be performed by Rev. E. S. Fitzgerald. The attendants will be Miss Nina Clark and Mr. Tony Smith.
Owensboro Messenger, 1 Sep 1905, p. 7:
Mr. Lee Hayden recently happened to a very painful accident. He ran a nail in his foot, causing a painful but not serious wound.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 2 Mar 1906, p.3:
Lee Hayden Hurt.
Mr. Lee M. Hayden, an old man residing across the river, fell on the levee Wednesday evening and badly fractured the cap of his knee. He was walking down the path to the ferry when he slipped on the ice and fell. Men who witnessed the accident picked him up and Dr. C. C. Phillips was summoned to attend him. The ambulance of the Owensboro Undertaking association was called and the injured man was removed to the hospital. The accident will make him a cripple for life, as the use of the knee will never be fully regained.
Owensboro Messenger, 14 Apr 1906, p.8:
Mr. Lee Hayden, who has been at the city hospital for several weeks on account of a broken limb, is able to be out.
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 26 Oct 1919, p. 13:
FARMERS BUSY STRIPPING WEED
Early Cutting Is Prepared For Market; Burley Growers Are Selling Crops
Many farmers in the county, especially in the St. Raphael's neighborhood, were busy during the past week stripping tobacco. Most of this weed is of the early cutting, and it has cured up beautifully, with a heavy weight and nice color, the farmers in this section, who are experienced tobacco growers, say that the tobacco will keep in good order until the market opens in December. In this neighborhood James U. Hayden, Lee Hayden and others have stripped possibly 3,000 sticks.
[James U. Hayden was James Urban Hayden (1856-1933), Lee Hayden's brother.]
Owensboro Messenger, 4 Oct 1928, p. 7:
WILL OF LEE HAYDEN
Lee M. Hayden devised his entire estate to Joseph U. Hayden and his wife in his will admitted to probate in county court yesterday after it had been proven by the evidence of Theresa Clark and J. M. Vowells. He provided that $50 be paid to the pastor of St. Raphael's church for masses. Joseph Hayden was named executor, without bond, and he qualified. Judge McFarland appointed F. M. Shively, Tom Hayden and Roy Simmons as appraisers. The will was executed September 26, 1928.
[Joseph U. Hayden was his nephew Joseph Urban Hayden (1889-1966), son of his brother Charles William Hayden (1845-1918). "J. M. Vowells" may have been his first cousin once removed James Madison Vowels (1863-1935). Theresa Clark was almost certainly his niece, PNH's great-great aunt Teresa McQuina Hayden (1875-1940), who married Philip Ernest Clark. The identity of "Tom Hayden" is unclear to us.]
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 4 Oct 1928, p. 7:
Mrs. Virgil Bowlds, who was called here by the death of her father, Lee M. Hayden, and who has visited the past few days in the home of J. M. Bowlds, returned to her home at Detroit yesterday.
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Nielsen Hayden genealogy
Abt 1851 - 1928 (~ 77 years)
[1, 2] 
Siblings