Hayden, Sidney, 1813-1890

Sidney Hayden (1813-1890) was an active Mason and bookseller. Born in Colesbrook, Conn., he remained in that area until he married Florilla E. Miller (1814-c. 1869) of Torringford, Conn., on March 23, 1836. On March 20, 1840, Hayden, his wife, and their son Julius (1838- ) moved to Athens, Pa. There he and his wife had five more children: Algernon Sidney (1843-1843), Albert (1844- ), Charles (1846- ), Ruth (1848- ), and Sidney (1857- ). While residing in Athens, Hayden engaged in a variety of activities. He owned and operated a farm during the 1840s and 1850s in order to support his young family. There is evidence that he may have also dabbled in railroads and real estate during this time.

As a member and eventual master, 1863, of the Rural Amity Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 70, Hayden was very involved in lodge affairs, attending Grand Lodge encampments and collecting Masonic literature. In the early 1860s, Hayden also began to write pieces for Masonic publications. He contributed a sketch to a work entitled _Leaflets of Masonic Biography or Sketches of Eminent Free Masons_, 1862, which was edited and published by Cornelius Moore (1806- ), Hayden's close friend and business associate. Soon after this book was published, Hayden began the research for his own work entitled, _George Washington and his Masonic Compeer_s, 1866. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Hayden travelled through the Mid-Atlantic states as a dealer for both the _Leaflets_ and his own _Compeers_. His trips took him through Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania where he introduced his Masonic works at various lodge meetings. Although these ventures as a bookseller were profitable for Hayden, he often expressed regret over his extensive absences from home. While Hayden travelled, his son Albert kept track of the book sales and also maintained the farm for his father. During the later years of his life, Sidney Hayden retired to his farm in Athens, which was then still managed by Bert, where he died on April 4, 1890.