Clarence Decatur Hayward

 

Mr. Clarence Decatur Hayward was serving his sixth term as Assessor of San Mateo County when his sudden and entirely unexpected death on January 21, 1916, deprived the county of one of its most trusted and highly respected servants.

 

Mr. Hayward was born in 1863, and spent the early part of his life at the home of his parents of Pescadero, San Mateo County.  Part of his youth was spent working in his father’s lumber mill where he acquired a knowledge of the lumber business.  He was elected Assessor of San Mateo County in 1894, and has held that office ever since.

 

Mr. Hayward is the son of B. and Cornelia S. Hayward, and is survived by Mrs. Maud Merrill Hayward, Mrs. A. S. Kelenborn, and Mrs. David Moore.  He was a member of Redwood Lodge of Masons, San Mateo Elks Club and Redwood City Native Sons.  The Hayward home is located in Redwood Highlands, Redwood City, San Mateo County.

James Daniel Hedge

The name James Daniel Hedge has been only comparatively recently inscribed upon the scroll of names which includes some of the brainiest men of the county—its newspaper proprietors and editors. 

Although Mr. Hedge was born in Redwood City, he has been permitted by circumstances only recently with that city, where he is now the Managing Editor of the Redwood City Democrat. 

Mr. Hedge received his early education in the Redwood City grammar school and Sequoia Union High School, from which he went to Stanford University, finally fitting himself for a business career by a course at Heald’s Business College. 

Mr. Hedge has lived in the state thirty-two years; been in Goldfield, Nevada three years and in San Mateo County twenty-six years. He was married May 1906 in Goldfield. He has two children,--Roland L; and Norman J Hedge. Mr. Hedge belongs to Redwood Parlor No. 66 of the N. S. G.W.

EDWARD W. HOWARD

Edward W. Howard (Deceased) 

Upon leaving College, Edward W. Howard entered the Export & Commission Firm of Otis McAllister & Company. The will of his Father, Wm. H. Howard, who died in 1910, appointed him executor of the estate, which embraced vast holdings in San Mateo County, immediately adjacent to San Francisco, and a magnificent Ranch of forty-six thousand acres on the westerly side of the San Joaquin Valley. 

These properties he handled with extraordinary ability, and in 1905 formed the Howard Cattle Company, of which Corporation he acted as the executive head from it inception to his death. 

By its business integrity this corporation earned for itself a great name and today stands as one of the premier live stock corporations of the Pacific Coast States. 

In 1905 Mr. Howard married Miss Olivia Lansdale of Philadelphia, and of this union there have been born five children, Olivia, William Henry, Ann, Gertrude and Marion. 

The home life of the couple was one of beautiful simplicity, and perfect understanding, and the children are exemplars of the union. 

In 1904 Mr. Howard was appointed by Govenor Pardee a member of the California State Board of Agriculture and he remained in this position until 1914. During his incumbency, the Association made remarkable progress and today ranks high throughout the country.

Mr. Howard was long a devotee of the kingly game of polo, and a player of ability. The formation of the San Mateo Polo Club was his conception and the success achieved by that organization was, in large degree, due to his efforts as he was a controlling factor in the Club and served as a director thereof from its formation. It is generally conceded that no grounds excel in beauty, those of the San Mateo Polo Club. His love for the game and his association with things agricultural, naturally led him to take an active interest in the breeding of ponies, in which he proved very successful, and as a result the impress of the Howard ponies has been markedly felt throughout the United States, while many of them have been shipped to England.  

As a tribute to his agricultural knowledge he was elected a member of the live Stock Advisory Committee of the Panama Pacific International Exposition, and was also a member of the Polo Committee of the Exposition. 

Mr. Howard’s faith in California was complete, and preceiving the future of this great State, he, with two associates, in the latter part of 1912, secured an option upon eighty-six thousand acres of land on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley and worked actively and untiringly toward the development of this great property, forming as the holding company of the land a corporation, capitalized for ten million dollars, of which he was elected the president. 

It was in connection with this very business that Mr. Howard entered the building in which the breaking of the elevator cables caused his untimely death. 

As executor of his father’s estates, he had apparently insurmountable obstacles to overcome, but to them all he brought to bear great discretion and good judgment. No one could come in contact with him and not feel impressed by the weight of knowledge and dignity of expression. 

As a result of the national fame which he had achieved, he was, shortly before his death and without any previous knowledge on his part, unanimously elected a Director of the American Short-Horn Breeders’ Association. This is a position usually greatly striven for; and no more eloquent tribute could be paid to his standing in the live stock world. He was also for many years a member of the executive committee of the American National Live Stock Association and a very dear friend of the president of that Association. 

Mr. Howard was the president and executive head of the following corporations: William H. Howard Estate Company; Howard Ranch Company; Howard Cattle Company; San Mateo Development Company, and Black Mountain Land & Water Company. He was also a director of the National Bank of San Mateo, treasurer of the Church of St. Matthew of San Mateo, ex-president of the California Live Stock Breeders’ Association and vice president of the California Cattlemen’s Protective Association. Mr. Howard was also for many years a member of the Pacific Union Club of San Francisco. 

It can truly be said of him that his earnest efforts were beneficial to society at large, and the results of his activities were felt at an age when most men are only commencing their life work. 

He died at the age of thirty-six and had he been spared, it is impossible to conceived of any limitation to the achievements of his brilliant and fertile mind.

Ellis C. Johnson

 

Mr. Ellis C. Johnson is one of Daly City’s most influential citizens as well as having the distinction of being that city’s first Postmaster and City Recorder ever since that municipality was incorporated.  He is also serving as Justice of the Peace. 

 

Mr. Johnson was born in Philadelphia, July 1860.  He has been a resident of California since 1881, while San Mateo County has claimed him only since 1907. 

 

Before coming to Daly City, Mr. Johnson was located in Stockton, being the superintendent for the Haggin and Tevis Ranch.