Cyrus Tolman Hayward, one of the most highly respected
retired farmers of Chesterfield township, Macoupin County, as well as one of
its most venerable citizens, is a native of New England, born at Easton,
Bristol County, Masachusetts, in 1819. He is a son of Ansel and Lucinda
(Tolman) Hayward.
The father of our esteemed subject, also a native
of Massachusetts, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Lucinda
Tolman, of his own locality, who was a daughter of James Tolman and a sister
of Judge Tolman, later of Whitehall, Greene County, Illinois.
Although Mr. Hayward has passed his 84th birthday and has been a witness of
the greatest development the world has ever known, he is still the possessor
of a vigor and measure of endurance which may well be envied by many who
have not half his weight of years. The enjoyment of a walk of 10 miles on
his 83rd birthday was considered remarkable, but when it was easily
accomplished on his 84th birthday, his neighbors began to question what
early training gave him the capacity for such an athletic feat. As a
pedestrian, however, he has always been notable and it is recalled of him
that upon one occasion, during a year spent at Beverly, Ohio, when about 18
years of age, he walked to Zanesville, ordered his lumber and returned to
Beverly the following day, covering in all a distance of 90 miles on foot.
In 1839 Mr. Hay ward accompanied his brother Ansel to Illinois, and spent
about a year working as a cabinet-maker at Carrollton, Greene County. He
then settled in Chesterfield township, Macoupin County, with his father and
mother, and located on his present farm in section 20, which then consisted
of 40 acres, where his father died at the age of 65 years. Mr. Hayward also
had a quarter section of land west of Carlinville, which he sold at a later
date. To his original 40-acre homestead he added an 80-acre adjoining tract.
When he retired from activity, his son, Herbert M. Hayward, purchased the
farm. Mr. Hayward still resides here, surrounded by every comfort and
solicitously cared for by his children and grandchildren by whom he is much
beloved.
Mr. Hayward's first wife, Elizabeth Maria Olmstead, who
died July 8, 1856, was the mother of eight children, four of whom still
survive. On September 21, 1859, Mr. Hayward was married to Mary Ann Perry
(daughter of James Perry), who died August 22, 1898, leaving four children,
namely: Lillian O., Mrs. Mary E. Simpson, Herbert M. and Horace. Herbert M.
Hayward, who was born January 25, 1868, was married August 3, 1892, to E.
Emma Hall, who is a daughter of David T. and Elizabeth B. H. (Payne) Hall.
Mr. Hall was a farmer and brick mason of Chesterfield township, Macoupin
County, and Mrs. Hayward is the seventh member of a family of 10 children.
The one child of this marriage, Stanley Hall Hayward, was born July 6, 1893.
Horace Hayward, the youngest son of our subject, is now traveling in
California, representing a Chicago book concern.
Mr. Hayward has
always taken an interest in local enterprises and has done his part in the
development of his section of the county. He has always been a stanch
Republican and keeps himself posted on public movements. Although he has
outlived the greater number of his old neighbors, he has many friends among
the younger generation and his reminiscences of early days are accorded
marked attention. The experiences of 84 years are well worth heeding, and
the lessons they teach are of the utmost importance.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 494-496.
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