Hayward wore many Hannibal hats, including that of local stage actor

James K. Hayward performed in the Gilbert and Sullivan production, H.M.S. Pinafore, in the late 1870s; a benefit for Hannibal’s First Congregational Church organ fund.  Photo was taken by the Deane brothers; identified by Mrs. Walter J. (Jennie) Hilton, and contributed by Mrs. Hilton's great--great-great great grandson, Joseph Haslwanter.

Hayward wore many Hannibal hats,

including that of local stage actor

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

James K. Hayward, 25, an 1873 graduate of Yale University and a Hannibal attorney, took to the stage at Mozart Hall, 407-409 Broadway, (third floor) circa 1877-78, in order to portray Ralph Rackstraw in the musical production of “H.M.S. Pinafore.”

A tenor in the First Congregational Church choir, he sang “Farewell, my own,” in conjunction with the stage performance.

The musical was presented on behalf of the church organ fund.

While his role in this musical didn’t make him a star, it did add enrichment to this young man’s life. Professionally during this era, in addition to his status as an attorney, he was also part owner and editor of the Hannibal Clipper-Herald.

A bachelor at the time of his stage performance, that marital status wouldn’t last.

In 1884, James Hayward was associated with his father and brothers in the Hayward Grocery Company, 201-205 N. Third, in Hannibal.

A young Miss Elizabeth Thompson, a student at the Sacred Heart Convent in St. Louis,  captured his attention, and on New Year’s Eve, 1884, they were united in marriage in the parlor of her parent’s home, 3145 Franklin Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

The new Mrs. Hayward was a daughter of George C. Thompson and Anna Rollins Bosworth Thompson of St. Louis.

Among the Hannibal guests at the wedding was Mr. Fred Dubach.

While the afterglow of the wedding ceremony prevailed for a time, about six months after his daughter was married, George C. Thompson left for what he indicated was to be a short business trip.

Instead, he abandoned his wife and those children still living at home, sending money from time to time, but basically leaving them without resources.

Mrs. Thompson preserved, entering into the field of journalism. In 1895, the St. Louis Post Dispatch profiled the female journalists at work in the city. Among them was Mrs. Thompson:

“Her first experience in journalism was with the old Missouri Republican, 12 or 14 years ago. Having at that time five children, requiring much of her time and attention, she found a daily paper too absorbing, and resigned her position of special work for similar work on the American Queen of New York, a weekly publication, and on a local weekly, The Criterion, of St. Louis.

“She has adhered religiously to weeklies since that time, and five years ago started ‘St. Louis Truth’. Her name had headed the editorial page from the first issue, though others have owned a part interest, until the first of January 1895, when she purchased the other half. In addition to her journalistic work, and while carrying it on she has reared and educated five lovely children.”

Hayward family

James Hayward, 1852-1927, was a son of John Thornton Kirkland Hayward, a civil engineer who served as president of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.

The younger Hayward, who arrived in Hannibal along with his parents circa 1857, prepared for college. The following partial biography, which may have been written by James Hayward himself,  was published in the “History of Yale College Class of 1873”, compiled by Frederick J. Shepard, class secretary. Digitized by Cornell University.

“Early life: Born in Bangor, Me., Feb. 1, 1852. Prepared for college at Phillips academy, Andover, being graduated with the class of 1869. Here he played on the first ball nine and was a president of the Philomathean society, but ‘ran down in scholarship’ (due to female seminary influence) from the top of his division to the middle of the class, probably because it was true, as stated by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Taylor, principal of Phillips academy, that he was ‘content with mediocrity.’

“He entered Amherst college with the class of 1873, of which he remained a member until January of his junior year. He then sought to enter Yale, but owing to a disagreement with the Amherst faculty, in which, he is pleased to say, President Porter sided with him, the transfer was delayed some months, and he was not admitted to the Class until the beginning of senior year and did not take his place in it until the second term. While in college his home was in Hannibal.”

Married life

James and Elizabeth Hayward lived in St. Louis, before moving to Harriman, Tenn., then Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1893, he was associated with the Cumberland Building and Loan Association.

In 1896-97, they were still at home in  Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Daily Times on Oct. 19, 1896, reported:

“The advent of the amateur theatrical season is to be heralded by the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. James Hayward in a one-act comedietta to be given shortly for the benefit of the Library association. It has not yet been determined whether the performance will be given in a hall or at a private house.”

James Hayward died in 1927, in Johnson City, Tenn., at the home of his brother, Charles Hayward. Elizabeth Claybourne Thompson Hayward died in 1943 at the Masonic Home in St. Louis. They are buried together in the Hayward family plot in Belfontaine Cemetery, St. Louis. They had no children.

George Claybourne Thompson

Born Nov. 29, 1840

Mercer County, Ky.

Died April 10, 1928, age 87, Keokuk, Iowa.

Buried in Oakland Cemetery, Keokuk.

Anna Bosworth Thompson

Born Nov. 5, 1843, in the state of Louisiana

Died April 27, 1923

Manhattan, New York County, NY

Buried Mount Hope Cemetery

Parents Felix and Mrs. Bosworth, both born in Louisiana

At the time of her death, at the age of 80, Mrs. Thompson was living at 436 Fort Washington Avenue.