William Gammon Hayward Family
By Ira Hayward
Transcribed by Marolyn Cross
William G. Hayward was born October 1, 1854, at Salt Lake City, a son of Gammon Hayward and Sarah Ann Cripps, who had immigrated from England several years before. His marriage to Ellen Neibaur occurred June 27, 1878, and together they reared a fine, honorable family, many of whom have become prominent in their professions in Bear Lake and other areas.
He took advantage of opportunities to learn several trades while he was a young man in Salt Lake. He was engaged as a carpenter and builder. He learned harness making and he helped his father build and operate a wheelwright shop. He was also a shipwright and built the first steamboat to navigate the waters of Great Salt Lake.
While William lived in Salt Lake, he became well acquainted with the John A. Sutton family. Shortly after the Suttons moved to Bear Lake and settled in Paris. He followed and made his home with them until the time of his marriage. He continued in the trade of contracting and building and set up a wheelwright shop adjoining the Sutton blacksmith shop.
The year 1889 saw the Hayward family move from town and settle on a homestead southwest of Paris. They were the parents of 7 children. The site was very beautiful, as it overlooked much of the Valley. A comfortable home was built and here they passed through many trials and satisfying experiences as well.
One of the big problems of pioneering was to get water out onto the lands, so that farming could be more successful. Being adept to and self-taught in mathematics, William supervised the building of an irrigation canal from the creek in Paris Canyon, which took the waters of this stream onto the thirsty acres of his own farm and those of his neighbors, extending its benefits to resident of the northern section of Bloomington.
For a number of years, he and his close friend, Charles Innes followed the telegraph lines leading from Paris up over the mountains to the summit. Their work was to keep the lines in good repair. These journeys were made on snowshoes and at times the traveling became very hazardous, especially when heavy snowstorms and blizzards would strike.
He filled a mission to Montana. He left his wife and several children under conditions that were not too prosperous. Food often became scarce, and managing the farm fell upon the shoulders of the mother and a 19 year old son.
Following the mission he was called by President William Budge to serve on the High Council. Following this he became first counselor to Bishop H. Edward Sutton of the Paris First Ward.
He was always interested in and helped promote civic improvements, serving on the city council for several years. He supervised the installation of the first water system for Paris. Besides working as a building and contractor, he became a first-rate plumber.
William and Ellen loved to attend parties, plays and dances. He often called for the dances, which were mostly plain quadrilles, with a few waltzes and two-steps allowed.
Many honors are in order for his good wife, who labored along with her husband and always gave him her full support. Along with the hardships of pioneer life, she served as president of the Relief Society of the First Ward for a long period of time. She and her associates spent many hours visiting and caring for the sick, comforting those in mourning, and keeping abreast of the needs of the people of the ward. She was a friend to everyone and shed cheerfulness and good will wherever she went. She was a daughter of Joseph William Neibaur, one of Bear Lake's earliest pioneers. Two sons, Joseph William and James Clement, became medical doctors, Joseph William, during the early years of his career practiced in Bear Lake under pioneer conditions, making long trips to visit the sick. He used a team of horses and buggy in summer, and in winter, a cutter, and donning a heavy fur coat, was protected against the intense cold and blizzards. Later, he and his brother, James Clement, practices the healing arts in Cache Valley, both making homes in Logan. Another son, Charles Lynn, gained a doctorate in zoology and teaches at Brigham Young University. Ira Neibaur earned a master's degree and has been teaching in the fields of English, literature, and philosophy at Utah State University at Logan. Five grandsons have also become doctors of medicine.
Other children who grew to adulthood were Libbie, Clara, Ellen, Enid, Kezia, and Gammon Henry. Two girls, Ruth and Gladys, died in infancy.
Return to the Alexander Neibaur Organization.