Jasper William Hayward, M. D. Since he earned his privilege of practicing medicine in 1909, Doctor Hayward has become increasingly well known as a physician and surgeon in Kansas City, Kansas. Aside from his attainments professionally much interest attaches to his career because of the valiant struggle he made as a youth to secure an education and win a position in a learned profession against heavy odds.
Doctor Hayward was born in Kingman, Kansas, April 3, 1885, a son of Charles and Kate (Weir) Hayward. His father was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, of English descent, was reared in Boston, and his father Nathaniel Hayward afterward came West locating in Glasgow, Missouri, where he became a member of Gen. Joe Shelby’s body guard during the Civil war and was also with General Price’s army. He fought as a Confederate soldier in the battle of the Blue. Nathaniel Hayward after the war removed in prairie schooners to the Colorado line and later to Indian Territory, and finally located in Kingman County, Kansas, about the time it was organized. Nathaniel and his son Charles took up claims and in the early days lived in dugouts and went through many privations during the lean years of that country. Charles Hayward married his wife at Glasgow, Missouri, where she was born. In 1885 he sold his farm on account of ill health and in 1887 located in Kansas City, Kansas. He operated in real estate, but died in 1891. His widow is still living, but married for her second husband Frank Williams. At the time of the death of Charles Hayward there were three small children, Doctor Hayward being the oldest. Grace is now the wife of George McCarten, a grocer at Nineteenth and Central streets in Kansas City, Kansas; Harry is a photographer connected with the Kennedy studio.
Doctor Hayward was six years old when his father died. He attended the public schools of Kansas City, Kansas, but at the age of nine began earning his own way in the world. He worked as dishwasher in a restaurant and whenever possible he attended school from 1895 to 1898. Those three years were spent in various kinds of restaurant work from dishwasher and cook to cashier. He next was paid wages of $1.50 a week for his services after school hours in a queensware store. While attending high school he carried a paper route for the Kausas City Star. His earnings from this route were not only sufficient to maintain him while in high school but also while a student in the University Medical College of Kansas City, Missouri. While in medical school he was also employed as night doctor of the Emergency Hospital service. In 1909 he graduated M. D. and the same year passed the State Board of Medical Examiners of Kansas.
On December 25, Christmas Day, 1909, Doctor Hayward married Miss Cornelia Andrews, daughter of J. V. Andrews. Her father has long been well known in banking and real estate circles in Kansas City, Kansas. To their marriage have been born two children: Mary Dorothy, now four years of age; and Evelyn Gertrude, aged two.
Doctor Hayward is a republican, has been interested in political affairs and especially in any matters relating to the good of his community. He is a member of Robert E. Sherman Lodge of Masons in Kansas City, Kansas, and also belongs to the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and is physician for the local Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the line of his profession he is a member of the Wyandotte County Medical Society and the State Medical Society and is a member of the Union Club. He is also coroner of Wyandotte County, Kansas.