William Dutton Hayward facts for kids

William Dutton Hayward (born August 31, 1815 – died July 10, 1891) was the person who started and gave his name to the city of Hayward, California. He was an important figure in the early history of the area.

Growing Up in Massachusetts

William Dutton Hayward was born on August 31, 1815. He grew up on his family's farm near Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In 1836, he moved to Georgetown, Massachusetts. There, he found work in a shoe factory. He worked there for about ten years. In 1836, William married Louisa Bartlett. They had a daughter named Sarah Louise in 1838. Sadly, Louisa passed away in 1840.

Journey to the California Gold Rush

In 1848, gold was discovered in California. William Hayward heard about this exciting news. He decided to travel to California to seek his fortune. On April 23, 1849, he boarded a ship called the Unicorn. The ship sailed all the way around South America, through the Strait of Magellan. William arrived in San Francisco on August 31, 1849.

He went to the gold fields to try mining. However, he didn't find much gold. He mined until his money ran out. William then returned to the San Francisco Bay Area, feeling disappointed.

Starting a New Life in California

After the Gold Rush, William Hayward settled on land owned by Guillermo Castro. This land was in Palomares Canyon. Castro tried to make William leave. But William was very determined. He also made a pair of boots for Castro. Castro was impressed by William's stubbornness and his skill at making shoes. So, Castro decided to hire him instead.

William opened a small store. He saved enough money to buy about 40 acres (16 hectares) of Castro's land. This land included what is now downtown Hayward. On this land, he started a store and a small dairy farm. His land was located along the main road. This road connected San Jose to Oakland. Today, this road is called Mission Boulevard.

In 1864, Guillermo Castro moved to Chile. He had lost his land in a card game. His large ranch was then divided and sold. William Hayward bought more land from Castro's former ranch. He built a large resort hotel on his property. This hotel grew to have one hundred rooms. The area around the hotel became known as "Haywards." This was because of William's hotel, which was called "Haywards Hotel."

The Famous Haywards Hotel

The Haywards Hotel became a popular place for visitors. It grew to be four stories tall. Inside, it had a big lobby, reception rooms, and dining areas. There were also rooms for sitting and playing cards. The hotel even served as a post office.

The main reason the hotel was so successful was William's wife, Rachel. She was very good at organizing events. Rachel planned parties, receptions, picnics, and entertainment for the guests. She made the hotel a lively and fun place to visit. Sadly, the hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1923.

Founding the Town of Haywards

William Hayward also became a road commissioner for Alameda County. This job allowed him to help build roads. He used his position to improve roads near his own property.

In 1876, the town was officially recognized. It was named "Haywards." However, there was a rule that a post office could not be named after a living person. So, the official post office name was "Haywood." In 1876, "Haywood" was made into the "Town of Haywards." At that time, about 1,100 people lived there.

William served two terms on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. This group helps manage the county.

On April 5, 1866, William married Mrs. Rachel Rhodes Bedford. She was a widow. Rachel had a daughter from her first marriage, Mary E. Bedford. William and Rachel had one child together, named William Martin Hayward.

William Hayward passed away at the Haywards Hotel. He was 75 years old. He was buried in Lone Tree Cemetery in Fairview. His tombstone says he died on July 10, 1891. His wife Rachel is also buried there. She is called "Mother of Hayward" on her tombstone. William Martin Hayward, their only son, is also buried there. William's daughter from his first marriage, Sarah Louise Hayward, is also buried in the family plot.

The City of Hayward Today

In 1894, the "s" was removed from "Haywards." Then, on September 18, 1928, the city's name was officially changed to the "City of Hayward."

Images for kids

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  1991 dedication at Hayward gravesite

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  Hayward grave at Lone Tree Cemetery