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This Wexford man walked 10,000 miles through China in 1914 to find his family

Dr Hadden survived 2,000 people throwing “clods of earth” at him during one point in his journey…

china chronicling america An article about the family in the Day Book, a Chicago publication Library of Congress Library of Congress

DR GEORGE HADDEN was remarkable in many ways: a 7ft tall Wexford man who lived in China, a medical missionary of the Methodist faith… and a husband who apparently trekked 10,000 miles to find his lost family.

American newspapers from 100 years ago tell the fantastical tale of what happened to Dr Hadden when he became separated from his wife during riots in China, and spent years before seeing her again.

Where it all began

A look at American newspaper archives fills us in on the story the couple told when they finally met again, three years after they last saw each other.

Dr Hadden had been living in Yungchowfu for seven years with his wife when they became separated during the Shangsha riots on the Yang river.

Mrs Hadden was pregnant, and gave birth to a boy on St Patrick’s Day, who she named Patrick. This was March 1910 and little Patrick wouldn’t see his father until he was three years old.

Understandably, Dr Hadden had little idea of where his wife Helen was, and went “wandering” as the Day Book reports, for three years trying to find them.

Here’s how their story was depicted at the time:

china hadden 1 Arizona Republican Arizona Republican

It was also covered in the Ogden Standard of Utah and in the Kennewick Courier in Washington:

china hadden 3 Kennewick Courier Kennewick Courier

The Day Book reported that it was only when Dr Hadden returned to his old post at YungChowfu that he learned that his wife was in Hongkong.

However, the Rock Island Argus said that Helen Hadden (for some reason she remains unnamed in all articles) was sent with her husband’s knowledge to a different town, where she gave birth at a missionary settlement.

The Argus also said that after a year apart, Dr Hadden got in touch with his wife, and found out he had become a father.

He didn’t leave his post, however, but trekked through the country by foot until he was reunited with his spouse and child at Canton.

Fact and fiction

While Day Book reported that Dr Hadden was 7ft 4, the Argus said he was “nearly 7ft”.

While on his 10,000 mile trek, Dr Hadden must have had some incredible adventures.

In the colourful and not particularly racially-sensitive parlance of the time, the Day Book said that while walking across the fields in Kuei Yang Chow, the “natives” “looked upon him as a devil in the flesh and blood, and followed him 2,000 strong”.

Dr Hadden reported that he “walked a little faster” than usual as he was “pelted with clods of earth”.

Did the experience change the family? Perhaps these sentences tell it all:

final par Chicago Day Book Chicago Day Book

We do know that eventually, Hadden returned to Wexford – where his family were in the drapery and outfitting business – at the age of 60, where he remained until his death at the age of 91. Helen Hadden lived to the age of over 100.

No doubt their son Patrick had plenty of tales to tell his own children.

Read: Rare treasures displayed for first time at Dublin’s Chester Beatty Library>

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25 Comments
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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:57 AM

    Dr Hadden was elected to Wexford Corporation where he served for many years. He also founded the Wexford Male Voice Choir which is still going strong. I , like many of my generation, knew Dr Hadden as he was extremely well known in town. Summer or Winter he never wore an overcoat or socks and only wore very lightweight shoes. He was indeed a great walker and walked miles every day , for many years with his little dog at his side. When his dog was killed by a car it made the newspapers.As far as I can remember he was made a Freeman of the Borough.It was an honour to have known such a man.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:19 AM

    Thanks for that great info, John!

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    Mute L-Plate
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 12:53 PM

    Was he actually 7ft?

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    Mute Anne Marie O'Connor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 4:25 PM

    No he wasn’t. He was tall, 6ft six maybe.

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    Mute Adam Murphy
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:19 AM

    The Pretenders don’t look so impressive now huh?

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    Mute Conor Dunne
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:56 AM

    Classic Adam. I tip my hat to you sir

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    Mute Hipster Enda
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:06 AM

    The Proclaimers ?

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 3:58 PM

    Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
    Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:09 AM

    Just to confirm that Dr Hadden was made an Freeman of Wexford in 1972. He never sought to serve as Mayor but probably would have succeeded had he done so. He also founded the Old Wexford Society now known as the Wexford Historical Society.

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    Mute Captain kirk
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:55 AM

    Was he 7ft tall?

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:39 AM

    No he was about 6’1″ when he was in his later years so probably about 6’3″in his prime.

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    Mute Robespierre
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:23 AM

    Great story – some man for one man.

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:53 AM

    Incidentally his wife Helen lived beyond 100 yrs and died in the early 1980′s. During his time back in Wexford from approx 1940 to his death in 1973 he never practiced as a doctor. He spent his time organising the bodies he had founded and started to conduct tours around town for tourists a practice which is commonplace today. In appearance he had a Chinese type long white beard down beyond his chest and walked very fast ( even when old) usually with his hands clasped behind his back.

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    Mute the flying picket
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    If only he had facebook !

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    Mute Noel Quinn
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:18 AM

    Some men would walk 10000 miles in the opposite direction !!!!

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    Mute bob®
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    Wexford always had great Walkers

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    Mute damien kierans
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:43 AM

    Movie please

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:36 AM

    There already are films where it’s just people walking and nothing else happens. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:38 AM

    The present Wexford hurling could do with a few (15) like him.

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    Mute Dave Field
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:47 AM

    Some tall tale…

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:25 AM

    I wonder if he sang any Proclaimers songs to keep himself amused along the way…
    da da-da da duh. da da-da da duh …..

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:27 AM

    Now I see Adam got in ahead of me!

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    Mute Dylan Ryan
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 5:45 PM

    He woulda spotted her miles away with that hat on her….

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Dylan Ryan: actually that is my great great grandmother. Don’t make fun of her hat. It was the early 1900s

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:46 PM

    actually the story is real. I should know. That man is my great great grandfather.

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