"Eugene S. Haden, formerly a resident of Peoria but more recently of East Peoria, died early this morning at the Proctor hospital, after a long illness. He was 77 years old. Mr. Haden was born in Kentucky April 8, 1850, and had lived in this vicinity since his boyhood. For many years he was employed by the Fuller Rug Company, but on retirement from business, went to live with a son in East Peoria. His wife died three years ago and he is survived only by their four sons, William H. Haden of Champaign, Ill; Eugene S. Jr. of Chicago; Walter C. of this city and Rodney E. Haden of East Peoria, at whose home he died. Funeral services will be held in the Belned(sp?) Mortuary, Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. F.T. Munns officiating. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Pekin."

Eugene and Catharine are buried in unmarked graves at the Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, Illinois. Grave location shown on Lakeside Cemetery, bill of sale, dated 27 March 1924, for "Two Single Graves in Block No. Four (4) in (near East Fence)"

Eugene's unproven middle name is likely "Samuel", since his son Eugene Samuel Haden Jr., has a middle name as such and the same first name of his grandfather was, Samuel H[arris] Haden. The name "Eugene" comes from his mother's Curtis side of the family.

During the early days of the Civil War, Eugene was 11-12 years old when Union forces recaptured Bowling Green, in February 1862. There was one 40 year old female slave in his father's household, in 1860. After the war, his father moved to Muhlenberg County, where some of their Haden and Harris kin lived. Eugene then removed to McLean County, Illinois ca. 1873, and married Catharine "Kate" Sharbine on 2 Apr 1874, in Dry Grove Twp, McLean County, Illinois.

Eugene's & Catharine's first son Curtis, was born and died in 1875, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. So apparently after they were married, Eugene SR. and Catharine moved back to the farm of Eugene's father, Robert Harris Haden SR, for a a few years. Eugene is listed on the Muhlenberg County Militia Roll in 1875, with his father Robert H. and brothers "T.J., Levi G. & Joseph C." Son Walter Curtis was born on the Haden farm in Kentucky on 21 August 1878.

By 1880, Eugene had moved the family back to McLean County where Kate's father and some siblings still resided. Eugene is listed in the census that year as "farmer", and living next to "Edward N. Pool (b.ca.1843/KY) who was married to Jennie [Virginia Hagan] Pool (b.ca.1846/KY)", who were likely connected to the Hadens back in Kentucky, since Eugene's brother - Robert Harris Haden JR., was married to another Jennie Pool, born in Kentucky. Between 1880 & 1890, Eugene moved the family to Peoria, Illinois, where they raised their family until their deaths.

1890-1891 Peoria City Directory: Eugene S. Haden, residence 625 Smith, occupation is "plumber".

1893 Peoria City Directory: Eugene S. Haden, residence 703 Smith, occupation is "driver" working for Williams Transfer Company.

1900 Peoria Illinois Census living at 411 Glendale Street, no occupation listed.

According to my father (Rodney Hayden Jr.), Eugene's sons ran an auto dealership and loan business in Peoria, in the 1915 to 1920 time frame. Eugene worked in a retail rug business for many years. My Grandfather, Rodney Earl Hayden Sr., was the 4th and youngest of the children to Eugene & Catharine. He hadn't been born yet when the family photo to the left was taken.

Biography compilation constructed by great grandson Mark Hayden.