William S. Hayward (February 26, 1835 – November 5, 1900) was an American banker, baker, and politician who served as

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...

, from 1881 until 1884.

Early life

Hayward was "born and reared a poor boy" in Foster, Rhode Island. As a young man, he attended public schools and worked on a farm.

Baker

Hayward moved to Providence 1851. He was hired as an employee of bakery Rice & Hayward, which was owned by Mr. Fitz James Rice and Mr. George W. Hayward. He left the firm for a year, then returned as a salesman until 1858; then moved up to the delivery department, supplying out-of-town customers. In 1860, Hayward became a member of the firm, and the name was changed to Rice, Hayward & Company. In 1861, at the start of the Civil War, Hayward moved to Washington, D.C., and opened another bakery branch called "Rhode Island Bakery". It supplied biscuits to soldiers stationed in Washington, D.C. When soldiers moved out of District of Columbia into Virginia early in the war, Howard sold the District of Columbia location at a loss and returned to Providence. By 1863 Hayward bought out the business and became full owner of Rice Hayward, & Co. He later partnered again with Fitz James Rice. The company was successful. They supplied biscuits to the Union Army stationed in Rhode Island during the Civil War and grew into one of the largest bakeries in New England.

Politician

1872 Elected to the Common Council from the Sixth Ward, and was re-elected until in 1876 he was elected to the Board of Aldermen. He served as President of the Board of Aldermen from 1878 to 1880. He was elected mayor of Providence in 1880 and held the post for three years, but declined to run for re-election in 1884. During his years in office, the city's debt was reduced by nearly $600,000. Hayward was also a member of the board of State Charities and Corrections; commissioner of the City Sinking Fund; and a commissioner of Dexter Asylum.

Banker

Hayward was co-founder of

Citizens Savings Bank Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...

in 1871, along with his bakery partners Fitz James Rice and George Hayward. He was president of the Union Trust Bank of Providence, and a director of the Eagle National and Citizens Savings Banks.

Personal life

Hayward married Lucy Maria Rice in 1859. She was the daughter of Fitz James Rice, Hayward's business partner in the bakery and fellow founder of Citizens Savings Bank. Hayward was described as "a man of fine physique, and of commanding presence, standing over six feet, two inches in height, and weighing two hundred and twenty pounds". Hayward was a member of What Cheer Lodge of Masons, and a member of the Union Congregational Church on Broad Street. He died of

Bright's disease Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that are described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. It was characterized by swelling and the presence of albumin in the urine, and was frequently accompanied ...

after an illness of eight days and is buried in

Swan Point Cemetery Swan Point Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Established in 1846 on a 60-acre (0.24 km2) plot of land, it has approximately 40,000 interments. History The cemetery was first organ ...

Memorials

Sixth Avenue Park, in Providence, was renamed Hayward Park in his honor in 1889. The park was demolished for construction of the interchange for Interstate 95 and Interstate 195.

References

External links

Providence Mayors

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hayward, William S. Mayors of Providence, Rhode Island 1900 deaths 1835 births Burials at Swan Point Cemetery Rhode Island Republicans People from Foster, Rhode Island American Freemasons American bakers 19th-century American politicians