Two historic circa 1880 photographs of an early and notable HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA settler, OTIS HILL, and what appears to be his young daughter, in front of their house at "Willow Tree Farm" in what was then called HAYWARDS, California.

Two photographs, one 6.5x8.5 inch and one 6x8 inch, both mounted on 11x14 inch card mounts. Written on the backside of each mount is: "WILLOW TREE FARM / OTIS HILL / HAYWARDS / CAL." The fact that the photograph identifies the town as "Haywards" allows the photograph to be dated from between 1876 and 1880. (The town was incorporated in 1876 and given the official name HAYWARDS, but a few years later, circa 1880, the "S" was dropped and the town became HAYWARD.)

VERY GOOD condition: The mounts are lightly soiled, have some edge and corner wear, and a few smallish stains to the backsides; one mount has a clipped corner. The photographs are lovely with just a few light rubs and a couple small superficial scrapes.

How HAYWARDS California became HAYWARD California (from the City website):

******Hayward was originally known as "Hayward's", then as "Haywood", later as "Haywards", and eventually as "Hayward". On his way from gold country to San Francisco in 1851,a failed prospector named William Hayward passed through what is now downtown Hayward. He liked what he saw and bought some land. In 1852, Hayward set up a small general store at the corner of A Street and Mission Boulevard. The store became a major stop on the road from Oakland to San Jose. Hayward expanded his business, erecting a lodging house that grew to become the famous Hayward's Hotel. When the town was incorporated on March 11, 1876, it was officially named "Haywards" after the landmark hotel. The "s" was dropped several years later.******

About OTIS HILL of HAYWARDS, California (from History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California, Pages 1189-1190. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.):

******Prominent among the pioneer residents of Alameda county is OTIS HILL, a venerable and highly respected agriculturist, whose ranch is located about one mile from the city of Hayward. In the development of this section of the county, and in the advancement of its welfare, he has been an important factor. Coming here a full half century ago, he, with the other early settlers of this locality, bravely endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Mr. Hill was born, September 21, 1827, in Lockport, N.Y., a son of Orson Hill.

Coming to California by the Nicaragua route in 1855, he located in Hayward's, where he had a brother living. In 1856 Mr. Hill bought, for $900, one hundred and thirty acres of land in the Castro valley. Some time during the sixties he got the Spanish grant title to two hundred acres. He has now in his home ranch many acres of valuable land, supplied with water from a spring, and lying on the line of the Haywards and Oakland Electric line, a most favorable location. He carried on general farming, paying special attention to the cultivation of fruits, and is quite successful. He also has a valuable gravel pit, which is a source of considerable revenue.******