Alvinza Hayward

Alvinza Hayward (1821 – February 14, 1904) was an American mine-owner, capitalist, businessman, and financier. He was a well-known gold mining millionaire who made his fortune during the California Gold Rush. He lived in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Early life Born in Vermont in 1821, Hayward moved to Canton, New York, early in his life.

After buying an interest in the Eureka Mine (also known as the Old Eureka Mine) in Amador County, Hayward made new investments and successfully extracted gold where others had failed. He later bought the neighboring operation, Badger Mine and consolidated the companies into Hayward Mine (also known as Amador Mining Company). In 1901, the near-vertical Utica quartz deposit; twice abandoned, and once believed so unworkable traded hands for just US$50; In later life he mined silver. and in 1870 he was one of the original investors in the San Francisco City Gas Company, which would eventually become the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

In 1867, the Union Mill and Mining Company was incorporated after the company had foreclosed, in order to relieve the Bank of California.

Hayward was part of a group of men that helped San Francisco's Lone Mountain Cemetery became the Laurel Hill Cemetery around 1867 with the filing of the articles of incorporation, others in the group including William Chapman Ralston, John Parrott, Henry Huntly Haight, Nicholas Luning, James Otis, Henry Mayo Newhall, and C. C. Butler.

Hayward was often called California's "first millionaire," and in his lifetime was frequently referred to as “the richest man in California.” Grandiose and eccentric by turns, Hayward turned even more strongly to Spiritualism and the occult in his later years, using mediums to predict business investments (with poor results).

Death and legacy He died on February 14, 1904, in San Francisco, California. The hotel had burned down in a 1920 fire.

The US Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System states the city of Hayward, California was named after him. This has been disputed by historians.

Family life Hayward married Charity Hathaway (1826–1905) in Wisconsin in the 1840s. They had a difficult relationship; their first son, James, was born in 1846, and would die of consumption at age 27. They divorced in 1878, the couple remarried again later that year only to separate again, living the rest of their lives apart.

In 1860s, the Hayward family moved to San Mateo, California. He built Hayward Park (1880), his Arts and Crafts-style estate, in San Mateo, which included a lake, race track, and deer park.