Raymond B. Hayden

1821 - 1885  (64 years)

• Name	Raymond B. Hayden
  Birth	11 Feb 1821
  Gender	Male
  Death	11 Jun 1885	Nelson County, Kentucky
  Burial	Saint Joseph Cemetery, Bardstown, Nelson County, KY
  Origins
  Patriarch & Matriarch	Lewis Hayden, Sr.,   b. 21 Jul 1792, Washington County, Kentucky d. 1849, Nelson County, Kentucky  (Age 56 years)  (Father)  Elizabeth Belinda Shercliffe,   b. Bef 1777, St. Mary's County, MD d. Bef 1833, Washington County, Kentucky  (Age < 56 years)  (Grandmother)
  Person ID	I4767	1665 GOUGH/GOFF (US-MD-STM/US-VA-LOU) I-Y6902-A
  Last Modified	20 Oct 2023

  
  

  Father	Lewis Hayden, Sr.,   b. 21 Jul 1792, Washington County, Kentucky d. 1849, Nelson County, Kentucky (Age 56 years)
  Mother	Mary Treacy "Polly" Dant,   b. 1795, Nelson County, Kentucky d. 10 May 1879, Nelson County, Kentucky (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	13 Feb 1810	Washington County, Kentucky
  Family ID	F1322	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  HAYDEN, BASIL DAILY IOWA STATE PRESS, IOWA CITY, IOWA 5/1/1899 A KENTUCKY HERMIT OWNS FINE FARM AND IS VERY WEALTHY WAS ONCE A LEADER IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD SERVED IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY SAYS THE LORD HAS TREATED HIM WRONGLY HIS QUEER ACTIONS Living ten miles east of Bardstown, Ky., is one of the most singular characters in the state. Now in his 75th year, he has not touched his foot to the earth for over thirty years. Living in a comfortable residence, surrounded by many acres of the best land in Nelson county, he is spending his declining years in colitude. Basil Hayden, referred to above, is one of the wealthiest farmers in a district composed of half a dozen counties , and is descended from a family well known in the pioneer annals of the state. Many of them have also been distinguished in the different lines of life. One of his brothers, Raymond Hayden, was the originator of a celebrated brand of whisky, and for years held a controlling interest in once of the most famous distilleries in the United States. He, too, had peculiar ideas, and lived a bachelor all his life, and at last died at an advanced age under singular circumstances. He was found dead in his orchard, a number of years ago, a bottle that had contained poison lying by his side. It was generally supposed that he comitted suicide, but there were some of the opinion that he had met with foul play, and that the poison bottle had been placed near him for a blind. Basil Hayden, or "The Hermit," as he is known throughout the section in which he lives, in his youth was a social leader, and very popular with a circle of friends. When the war broke out he entered the confederate army and made a good soldier to the last end. When he returned home he found his slaves free and his property greatly damaged. The emancipation of the negroes affected him seriously, and he brooded over it constantly. He became silent and morose, declining all overtures of friendliness on the part of his neighbors. He declared the Lord had dealt harshly and unjustly with him in depriving him of his slaves, and out of revenge he registered a terrible oath that he would never again put his foot to the Lord's ground, and so far he has kept his vow. Never since its registration has he appeard without his door, nor will he have intercourse with any save one or two, who are immediately connected with him, and then his words are of the briefest possible character. His landed interests are extensive, and under the management of the competent overseer yield him a handsome income. The overseer makes his reports to the queer old man in his darkened retreat, who gives his directions and orders as tersely as possible. He has never spoken to a woman in any manner since his self-imposed exile, nor will he allow one to be employed upon his place. How he spends his time in his darkened room no one knows, but it is said he is a miser as well as a hermit, and that his chief employment is counting and toying with his money, of which he is said to have a vast amount in silver and gold. Be this as it mauy, a Bardstown banker twice a year visits Mr. Hayden, and through him the recluse settles his financial manners with the outside world. Mr. Hayden is described as a fine-looking man, with a full beard and flowing hair. His confinement has bleached him until his is as white as a infant, and his hands are as soft as raw cotton. He had a sale of mules at his farm recently and a number of animals were sold at fancy prices. A large number of people were present at the sale, among them the writer, but never a glimpse was caught of Hayden. His instructions to the auctioneer were sent out by the overseer, written in a crabbed hand and were very direct. mdstmary@rootsweb.com mary.yoder@verizon.net wrote: >Mary Polly Dant Hayden, w/o Lewis Sr Hayden is buried >in St Joseph Cem, Bardstown, Nelson, KY--1795-10 May >1879--buried next to her son Raymond B. Hayden >11 Feb 1821 - 11 Jun 1885.