Most of Hayward's huge house was unused

Hayward came to California in 1851. For six years he worked at grading the streets of San Francisco. In 1857, he went to Amador County to try mining for gold. It is said that Charity took in laundry to add to their income. He was a proud man who was reluctant to admit that his wife worked. Charity took pains to hide her money-making ventures from him. He also worked as a "bull whacker," or ox driver, in the timber industry.

He made his fortune mining in Amador County. Hayward is mentioned as one of the mining entrepreneurs who used locally developed advances in technology to sustain the gold production into the '60s and '70s, past the boom years. This would include the use of stamp mills and steam engines. He was once criticized by a state mining inspector for using dangerous practices to make a quick profit. He sold his mine for $8 million and made more millions after opening his San Francisco office, dealing in mining stock. He had skill in accessing the value of mining claims.

Hayward came to the Peninsula in the 1860s and purchased 500 acres southeast of the town of San Mateo. He built a modest home. In the 1880s he began work on his mansion. It was a massive three-story house with a square tower that came to a point two stories higher. It had many rectangular windows and the roof was full of gables. The ornate assemblage of rectangles and triangles contributed to a severe but excessively ornate appearance. It was surpassed only by Flood's place in exaggerated ornamentation. The grounds had beautiful lawns and trees. There was a racetrack, parks with deer and elk, and ponds stocked with ducks and swans. The stables were fabulous. Hayward was very proud of his horses and raced them at his track, the best private track in the state.

Hayward, who came from a small community in New York, became involved in community affairs here. He was among the group that dominated local politics from the 1870s through the 1890s. He was elected chairman of the state central committee of the Republican Party in 1872. This position assured him of being very influential, and he saw his hand-picked candidates succeed in office. Hayward built the first municipal water works in the city of San Mateo. When Spring Valley Water Co. was established, they had to buy out Hayward's rights and supply free water to San Mateo. He attempted to have the county seat moved from Redwood City to San Mateo, but failed in this effort due to the actions of south county men such as Faxon Dean Atherton.

The elaborate mansion was occupied only by Hayward and, on rare occasion, his wife and daughter. Few, if any, social events were ever held there. He lived alone the last 30 years of his life. After his death in 1904 and his wife's death in 1905, the mansion was turned into the Peninsula Hotel. It burned down in 1920.

Rediscovering the Peninsula appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal. For more information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City.