-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Lwx+YsUkQkVg65qkSP1FDrwk8VcALDR9SuqoPfTIsA4KZBmzuipdvbhv+9Gw3JY/
 9gMw6eSPRUnzD1edrDQn/w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892251-03-000524.txt : 20030917
<SEC-HEADER>0000892251-03-000524.hdr.sgml : 20030917
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030917160802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892251-03-000524
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030917

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAYDEN LOIS T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001105797

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06026
		FILM NUMBER:		03899664

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 MIDLAND BLVD
		CITY:			AMELIA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5139437500

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MIDLAND CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000066025
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				310742526
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7000 MIDLAND BLVD
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			AMELIA
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45102-2607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5139437100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		N/A
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1256
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lthayden4091503_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000066025</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MIDLAND CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001105797</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAYDEN LOIS T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7000 MIDLAND BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AMELIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-15</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>225</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1812501</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>Through Ltd. Partnerships</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>191314</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>172358</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>11.375</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2000-04-01</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-02-21</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>15000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>15000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.594</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2001-02-15</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-02-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>3000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>20.78</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-02-01</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-01-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>2200</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2200</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>17.23</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-02-14</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-02-13</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>2700</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2700</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Spouse</value>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Hayden Investment Limited Partnership and J&amp;L Hayden Holdings Limited Partnership, both limited partnerships organized under the laws of Georgia with a princpal place of business in Amelia, Ohio, of which the reporting person is the sole owner and 0.1% owner, respectively. The remaining 99.9% of J&amp;L Hayden Holdings is owned by the Hayden Family Trust II, of which the reporting person's son William T. Hayden is Trustee.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Gift.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Lori Birkenhauer, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----