Father Francis Hayden (1852-1926)                                 HOME                   Update: October 20, 2009

                     Father Hayden was born 11-3-1852 in County Roscommon, Ireland. He traveled to the United States in 1869. He studied at a seminary that was located at the present site of the Assumption Church in Topeka (Seminary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin). When that school closed, he went east to St. Vincent's seminary at Pittsburgh, PA where he completed his studies in 1875. 

                                   After serving as an assistant at Leavenworth and Topeka, he was given his first parish in Solomon, KS. His mission covered four counties: Dickinson, Saline, Ottawa & Marion. He traveled by horseback to serve those Catholics who had survived many hardships in their attempts to settle the area. Churches were not abundant and sometimes Fr. Hayden would celebrate mass in farm houses. 

                                    In 1880 Fr. Hayden started  a church (ST. BRIDGET'S) in the packing house district of Kansas City. (SEE BELOW) He showed his ability to influence local business men when he convinced saloon keepers to stay closed on Sundays. He and the parishioners were able to keep going even through a devastating flood in 1881. 

                                    Fr. Hayden returned to Assumption Church in 1887. After the death of Fr. James O'Reilly, he became pastor of Assumption parish. Assumption was the only parish in Topeka when Fr. Hayden took over. He was known as a very competent business man and was respected by all  for his basic goodness and honesty. He was successful in removing indebtedness from the parish. He started a Catholic high school in Topeka in 1911 known as Assumption High. The name was changed in 1912 to Topeka Catholic when a new building was opened on Jackson street to the north of the church.  (Continued below)

                                                                                      C. 1914 ? Assumption Church before the fire of 1922 (Arthur Capper postcard). 

                                                                                                                                                                        School is the red building at extreme right

                                 Fr. Hayden retired from his post as pastor in 1914. His failing eyesight had reached the point where others could handle the parish better. His sister, Katherine had kept him informed by reading to him and she would continue to be his companion until his death in 1926. The 50th anniversary of his ordination in 1925 was a front page news story.  The Topeka State Journal  noted that the gathering of clergy for this celebration was "the greatest gathering of Catholic divines in the history of the state." Besides Archbishop John Glennon of St. Louis (later Cardinal), the celebration was attended by Bishop Schwertner of Wichita, Bishop Ward of Leavenworth, Bishop Byrne of Galveston, TX, Bishop Tihen of Denver, CO and Bishop Gilfillan of St. Joseph, MO.

                                    The news stories of the day reflected a great respect and genuine love for the man who, in his last years, traveled the streets of Topeka with his faithful dog "Mutt". **  The TSJ editorial page commented 8/9/26 "Probably there has never lived, in this city, a man who was so universally respected and loved. In the truest sense he was pastor of his people and to all who knew him he was friend, guide and counselor. "   

                                    Arthur Capper's TOPEKA DAILY CAPITAL said the following in their tribute. "While for more than 50 years Father Hayden labored constantly for his church and its members, he also gave bountifully of his time and money for the betterment of the city. He was a real citizen. How we will miss him." 

SOURCES: TDC, TSJ 8/6 to 8/10/1926. TSJ 5/19/1925.

Excerpts from the Sermon offered by Rev. A.J. Kuhlman of St. Mary's College at the funeral mass for Fr. Hayden 8-8-1926.

  He gave up father, mother and home for Christ, but he would not have us speak of that. He gave comfort to the sinners and worked among all classes. He came to this town and built into the fiber of the town itself, his personality. No, he would not have us speak of those things. His works follow him. He rests with his maker.

  You know that Father Hayden worked many years. During many of those years he suffered an infirmity. Sight that brings to man the beauty of God's creation was not his. In spite of that he did his work thru the divine power of God. There was one link in his life that made up for this failing eyesight. God gave him a sister and together they bore the cross. 

  He took up work reaching from the east portion of the state, on out to the Middle West. We should learn in this age to be thankful for the many God has given us, and we also should realize that men and women faced hardships in order that we might enjoy the comforts of this life. Father Hayden was one of them. He went where cities were not established, or there were no temples of worship. It was to those communities that Father Hayden gave unity, stability and Christianity. He built schools and churches. He was not exactly a pioneer but he made the work of the pioneers enduring.

  He met many of different faiths but being a man of tolerance was able to bring about peaceful solutions of difficult problems.

  Tolerance is a word I would rather not use in speaking of Father Hayden from the pulpit. Rather, he was a man of Christian charity. This spirit was in him just because the spirit of Christ was in him. He was a fair minded, tolerant, Christian American citizen.

  He was born in another country, but he brought to us the fine culture of that nation and maintained it here. In every community they found him in anchorage. Father Hayden wove together two elements, the civic and religious. For Father Hayden our prayers will have power indeed before God. His works follow him. 

Father Hayden - Solomon, KS  1877-1880.

  August 6, 1926 Topeka Daily Capital

     Fr. Hayden's death resulted in several stories about his life prior to his appointment to Topeka. The following excerpt describes his time spent as pastor of a parish in Solomon, Ks.

  "Central Kansas then was being settled and his mission embraced four counties, Dickinson, Saline, Ottawa and Marion. Abilene then was the cattle town of the Central West. 

    Most of his traveling over that territory was made by horseback and a great majority of the people were very poor after having gone thru the ravages of the grasshopper years. They were industrious an persevering and devoted to the old faith. All the priest's traveling was not done on horseback as at that time he held an 'annual' pass on the Union Pacific and could work his way by helping pump a hand car. His pass did not help him so much as only a few of his parishes were on the railroad. Churches were not so abundant either and many times he would celebrate mass in farmhouses. "

  OTHER NOTES FROM SOLOMON: Solomon Sentinel

   The great social event of August 1879 in Solomon was the Catholic Church picnic. Fr. Hayden organized the event that combined dancing, music, contests and "other things". The 9-3-1879 Solomon newspaper stated, "The dinner table was groaning with the weight of good things. It was a feast and no mistake. Everything was orderly and conducted with care. It was a credit to the Reverend Father Hayden and the people whose welfare is dependent in a great measure upon his judgment and influence. The picnic was generously patronized by Solomon's citizens outside of the Catholic Church and many came from other communities to participate in the general enjoyment." This event showed Fr. Hayden's knack for community involvement beyond the Catholic Church that made him popular wherever he worked. 

   A 2-11-1880 notice in the newspaper described Fr. Hayden's plea for funds to help the starving poor of Ireland. He had raised $100 from the residents, most of whom were not that well off themselves. By November of 1880 the paper proudly announced the great event of the dedication of the new Catholic Church. The arrival of Fr. Leary was noted with mention that he would replace Fr. Hayden as pastor. 

Father Hayden - Kansas City 1880-1885. 

April 9, 1881 THE EVENING SPY, Kansas City, Kansas

       A story from this newspaper tells of a speech that Father Hayden gave to a meeting of the Irish Land League in Kansas City. The SRO audience frequently interrupted his speech, "Ireland, Past & Present" with applause as reported by the writer for THE EVENING SPY.

      "He commenced with the entrance of St. Patrick on Irish soil, giving a glowing account of his work for the spread of Catholicism in that country. Then narrated the means used by the English to get possession of the country. The part taken by Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell to crush out the Irish people, telling how they were massacred and ill-treated. He went on to show that the Irish people were a musical people, mentioning the many Bards of that country and giving incidents of his own experience in that section; he gave a graphic description of the various sections of the Emerald Isle and her cities. He spoke at length of the present troubles and the work of the land league and paid the Irish ladies many flattering comments, and closed his lecture by reading a beautiful Irish poem. "

Father Hayden and his faithful dog "Mutt"

August 7, 1926  Topeka Daily Capital

     The headline read " GRIEF STRICKEN BY DEATH OF FATHER HAYDEN, DOG WANDERS OUT IN FRONT OF CAR, KILLED. "

    "Grief stricken over the death of his master, 'Mutt', the faithful old pet dog of Father F.M. Hayden, who died Thursday night, wandered in the way of an automobile yesterday and was killed. 

    The accident happened in front of the Father Hayden residence, 720 Harrison street. For many years Father Hayden and the dog had been inseparable friends. Mutt was about 17 years of age. The venerable priest never went for a walk without being accompanied by the little dog.  When they came to a crossing the dog would look up and down the street both ways. He then would cross, turn around to see if Father Hayden was coming and wag his tail until his master had made his way across the street.   .....  It probably is better for Mutt that he is gone. No one could take the place of Father Hayden and mutt was really lost without him." Or, the sentimental might say that  Mutt just followed his master's call.