great-grandfather of Enid Weston

Private    Co. E     25th MI Infantry

Dates of Service:  15 Aug 1862 - 24 Jun 1865 

Hayden E. Strong was born 14 July, 1843 in Medina, Ohio, to Lucius Milton Strong and Mary Ann Culver. The 1850 US Federal Census listed the family as L. M. Strong 47, Mary A. Strong 45, Children: Hiram 17, Henry 15, Horace 13, Howell 11, Cayden (Hayden) 9, and Homer 1. His father Lucius died in 1861, and his mother Mary died in 1874. Other children born to Lucius and Mary are: Elizabeth Mary born in 1826, who married Andrew Guyberson; Lucius M. born in 1827 – died in 1828; and Edward C. born in 1829 – died in 1830. Both little boys were buried in Old Wapping Cemetery, South Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, where the Strong family was living at the time.

He waited a year after his father died then enlisted (after three tries) as a Private 15 August 1862 in Co. E, 25th Michigan Infantry at Orange, Ionia County, Michigan. He was promoted to Full Corporal 1 March 1863. He mustered out 24 June 1865 in Salisbury, South Carolina.

He married Josephine Amelia Yaw Crook 25 April 1872 in Palo, Ionia County Michigan.  Hayden was 29, and Josephine was 18. They had two children – Harry Lucius in 1873, and Charlotte in 1883. They moved to North Dakota before it was a state and had two more children. Hayden applied for a pension 30 June 1880. The Application No. was 406550 and Certificate No. 637248. 

In 1890 in the North Dakota, Compiled Census Index, 1870-1890 for 1890 shows Hayden E. Strong living in Sargent County, North Dakota – Township of Milnor in the database ND 1890 Veterans Schedule.

The Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 (dated 1895) shows Hayden age 52, and Josephine age 40, with a daughter Bertha age 16 who was born in Michigan. They are living in LeSueur City, Montgomery County Minnesota. The 1900 Twelfth Census of the United States shows them living in the same place. Hayden is 56, Josephine is 44, and their children are listed as Bertha age 21, Lottie age 17, and Jay age 12. There is a boarder named Ida B. Crook, age 4 living with them. It shows that she was born in Minnesota. Hayden is listed as a house painter.

An application for a marriage license is issued to Otto M. Mattocks and Charlotte May Strong 13 September 1904 in Williams County, Ohio. Otto is 22, and Charlotte is 21. Her father is listed as Hayden E. Strong, and her mother as Josephine Yaw. The marriage took place on 14 September 1904 in Ohio. (It appears that Josephine may have divorced Hayden and moved back to Ohio).

The Wisconsin State Census, 1855-1905 for the year 1905 shows Hayden E. Strong, born in Ohio, living in Dodgeville, Iowa, Wisconsin married to Esther A. Strong. His age appears to be listed wrong as born about 1863, but this is the same information that Enid Strong Weston, his great-granddaughter was given.   

Hayden’s widow Esther A. Strong filed for his pension showing Application No. 952709, and Certificate No. 861215. The pension application was dated 18 Nov 1910 from Wisconsin. The family story was that Hayden had wanted to move back to Michigan, but Esther didn’t want to go, so she stayed in Wisconsin. The Wright Directory Co.’s Janesville City Directory 1927 edition shows “Strong, Esther A. (widow Hayden) h452 Blain av, Janesville, Wis. She died in 1928.

He moved back to Michigan sometime in 1908 sick with cancer of the face. (I have wondered if that was due to poor nutrition while in the war. Enid Weston).  Hayden died on 28 July 1909. His death certificate lists him as “Grass Widower.” His occupation was Carriage Trimmer. He is buried in the G.A.R. section of Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan.

Three of Hayden’s brothers also served in the Civil War. Hiram Strong born October 1833 in New York served in Co. H 12th Michigan Infantry; Henry F. Strong born 1 April 1835 in New York served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry; and Howell Fillmore Strong born 12 January 1840 served in Co. C 12th Michigan Infantry.

GRAVESITE: Forest Home Cemetery (G.A.R. section), Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan

Written by Wenda Fore, March 2020

Family information – Enid Weston