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 in 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. He studied law in New York State, but also pursued lumber and lead mining interests in Michigan. California His experience in Michigan vein mining proved invaluable after his move to California during the Gold Rush. He moved to Amador County, California in 1851 with his wife and eldest son. 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). He is estimated to have mined more than US$12 million worth of gold from his mine, which ran as deep as 1,700 ft. The Old Eureka Mine portion changed hands many times, before its last owner Hetty Green who closed it in 1881.