Shawnee-Leavenworth-Dickinson County KS Archives Biographies.....Hayden, Francis M. 1852 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 20, 2006, 12:06 am

Author: James L. King (1905)

VERY REV. FRANCIS M. HAYDEN.

    VERY REV. FRANCIS M. HAYDEN, rector of the Church of the Assumption, of
Topeka, is one of the city's representative men and one of the most able,
intellectual and courtly members of the Roman Catholic clergy in the State of
Kansas. Father Hayden was born at Roscommon, County Roscommon, Ireland, November
3, 1852.

    His early education was pursued with the idea of his dedication to the
church, and after coming to America, in 1869, his studies were continued with
this end in view. After his graduation, with high honors, at the Seminary of St.
Vincent, at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, he was ordained priest at St. Michael's
Seminary, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Domenec on May 17, 1875.

    Father Hayden's work has been almost entirely confined to Kansas. The annals
of the development of this great State would be incomplete indeed, without
extended mention being made of the great work done by the faithful, persevering
Catholic clergy, and among these the esteemed subject of this review must take a
prominent place. His first charge was at Leavenworth, and then the young priest
came on his first mission to Topeka. Young, zealous and self-sacrificing, he
next accepted the little Catholic mission at Solomon City, in Dickinson County,
a center at that time for a large territory of scattered Catholic families. When
he parted from this congregation, it was no longer counted a mission, for his
vigorous labors had resulted in the building of a fine church edifice and the
cementing of bonds which make it a happy and prosperous parish. His four years
of arduous but successful work at Kansas City, where he established St.
Bridget's parish, opened the way for his transference to the deanery of Topeka,
in 1887.

    Here Father Haden entered upon congenial work. He faced debt and parish
difficulties of various kinds but these only aroused his latent energies and his
strong guiding hand was soon evident in the progress made here, both materially
and spiritually. His school, under the charge of the Sisters of Charity, has
been considered so highly educational that many careful parents, outside the
Catholic Church, have selected it in preference to others as a splendid
institution in which to have their children fitted for High School.

    On May 17, 1900, a notable event took place in the church of which Father
Hayden is pastor, this being the celebration of his sacerdotal "Silver Jubilee."
It was an event which will never pass from the minds of those who were permitted
to take part in it. While high dignitaries of the church assisted in the
exercises and rich gifts were presented, Father Hayden's heart was most touched
by the love and esteem shown him not only by those to whom he had so faithfully
ministered, but by those who were not of his religious faith but who honored him
as a noble man.

    Father Hayden's worth and work will stand for years as his monument. His
life, that of a true, cultured Christian gentleman, has not been lived in vain.
The material progress he has inaugurated has been remarkable, but none can
adequately tell of the influence exerted by the high standards he has held and
the Christian example he has set. A father to his people, a priest and all that
is priestly, he is broad-minded enough and tender-hearted enough to extend his
loving care and interest to all who need it.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

EDITED AND COMPILED BY
JAMES L. KING
TOPEKA, KANSAS 

"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples"

PUBLISHED BY
RICHMOND & ARNOLD,
GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
1905.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/shawnee/bios/hayden173gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/

File size: 4.3 Kb