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HUBERT H. HAYWARD. Many appellations have been applied to the present epoch or cycle of the world's history, such as the electric or steam age, none of the terms, it seems being broad enough, but if we should christen it the age of invention, we would evidently not go far amiss, as any contemplative mind will readily agree. If we look at the far-reaching effects of the inventions of only a few such wizards as Edison, Tesla, Bell and Maxim, we would see the appropriateness of the last named phrase to this the greatest age since the dawn of the world's history. But as in other walks of life, not all the inventions that have blessed the race have been made by men bearing names which have become household words the world over. Here and there, in every civilized nation may be found some one outside of "fame's eternal camping ground" who has by his genius or talent or, perchance, by merely commonplace hard work produced some device that has lightened or facilitated man's work, and therefore added his little quota to the great aggregate force that is lifting from humanity's shoulders "the burden of the world," of which the poet, Markham, wrote in "The Man with the Hoe." Belonging to this class of minor inventors who have accomplished definite results is Hubert H. Hayward, president of the Hayward Wrench Company, of Springfield, and skilled machinist and talented inventor.
Mr. Hayward was born on June 22, 1882, in Sac township, Dade county, Missouri. He is a son of Albert Clinton and Harriet A. (Rector) Hayward. The father was born in Sac township, Dade county, on July 27, 1841, his parents being among the pioneer settlers there. The paternal grandfather was Edwin Clinton Hayward. He was born in New York and served as apprentice in the shipyard for several years; also worked in the United States navy yard. He was born in 1811, and died at the age of seventy-eight years. Grandmother Hayward's maiden name was Caroline Smith. She was born in Roane county, east Tennessee in 1824, and died at the age of sixty years. The maternal grandmother was Angeline Butler, who was born on May 14, 1829, in Anderson county, east Tennessee, and is still living, and enjoying good health for one of her age.
Albert C. Hayward, father of our subject, grew to manhood in Dade county, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his vicinity in connection with farming. He prospered with advancing years and became owner of a fine farm of about five hundred acres there. He has spent the major part of his life in his native county, where he now lives retired and is one of the most widely and favorably known men in that county. He was for three terms assessor of Dade county, which position he filled with credit and efficiency. He has always been a loyal Republican, and is a stanch member of the Christian church at Bona, Missouri. His wife, Harriet A. Rector, was born on May 21, 1848, in eastern Tennessee, but when only six years of age she made the long overland journey in wagon from that country to Missouri, the family locating in Dade county. She was fairly well educated for that period and she taught school several years in Dade county before her marriage. She is a member of the Church of Christ at Bona, near which village the parents of our subject are spending their declining years in their pleasant home. To them six children were born, namely: Mrs. Ina Perkins lives in Cedar county, Missouri; Albert C. is an attorney and lives in Springfield, Missouri; Ada is teaching school in Dade county; Hubert H., subject of this sketch; Henry is operating the old home farm; Homer lives in Springfield and is treasurer of the Hayward Wrench Company.
Hubert H. Hayward spent his boyhood days in Dade county with his parents on the farm, and he received his education in the township schools, and the high school at Everton, Missouri. Having natural inclination to the machinist's trade he learned the same in the school of practical experience and hard knocks, and he followed his trade in Dade county and in Springfield for a number of years. He also learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for some time in his native county and other places with the highest honors of his trade in Dade county. He moved to Springfield in 1914, where he has since resided. His practical knowledge of the machinist's trade enabled him, by careful and well laid plans and thoughtful diagrams to invent a new wrench on which he secured a United States patent on November 4, 1913, and for the manufacture of which he organized a $100,000 stock company, which has been incorporated as the Hayward Wrench Company, of which he is president, and his brother Homer, vice-president. They have offices at 505 Woodruff Building, Springfield, Missouri, and they are making the wrench in large numbers in Chicago, Illinois, and placing it on the market, which is finding a very ready sale, as its merits ate made known over the United States and Canada. It is an automatic combination wrench of which the mechanism and advantages over all other wrenches speak for themselves, and is the only combination nut and pipe wrench made that is self-adjustable. It will fit any bolt, nut or pipe without having to be adjusted. It is invaluable as a ratchet wrench. It works on the same principle as ratchet, and many places where there is little room to work it is indispensable. It will not crush pipe, but the tighter one pulls, the tighter the jaws clamp the nut or pipe with equal force on each side. It is also most desirable as a pipe wrench, being so constructed that it will not mash or crush the pipe, although holding it very tightly. Most pipe wrenches slip after hold breaks, but this wrench will not slip, for the tighter one pulls the better the wrench holds. The jaws come together with equal force and the teeth in each one go straight in when the operator pulls on it so that it is impossible for it to slip. It is a handy, automatic combination, all-purpose wrench for the machinist, engineer, plumber, chauffeur and farmer. It is simple, handy and always ready. It is made of 80 to 90 carbon drop forged tool steel and constructed with links like the chain of a bicycle, and withal, is strong, durable and inexpensive, and is one of the most wonderful inventions of its kind in the history of the world. The construction and mechanism of its different parts are so perfectly arranged and fitted together that each function has part of the work to do. There is no mechanical science or mathematical rule discovered by which to figure out how to get the strength, length and size in the double-compound, balance leverage connection, in the different sized wrenches.
Hubert H. Hayward was married on February 17, 1902, to Ora Frieze, daughter of Richard Denton Frieze and Emily (Perkins) Frieze, both natives of Dade county, Missouri, where they grew to maturity, were educated, married and established their home, Mr. Frieze becoming a prominent farmer there, owning a fine farm of over two hundred acres, in fact he spent his life on the farm on which he was reared, dying in April, 1908. Politically he was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Church of Christ, to which his widow also belongs, she having remained on the home place. To these parents seven children were born, namely: Ora, wife of Mr. Hayward of this sketch; Claude lives in Dade county; Maude is the wife of Flavin Davis; Macy L. is the wife of A. R. Lee, who lives in Dade county Jessie is the wife of C. E. Martin, who lives in Jasper county, Missouri; Ernest, who at this time is a young man of eighteen years of age, lives with his mother on the homestead in Dade county; Norma, wife of J. C. Tygart, lives in Dade county, Missouri.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hayward eight children have been born, named as follow: La Vernice, Cleo, Theta, Clinton and Denton, twins; Wilbur, Raymond and Maude.
Politically Mr. Hayward is a hard-working Republican. He belongs to Lodge No. 9160, Modern Woodmen of America, at Dadeville, Missouri. He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ at Bona, Dade county.
[1923-1925]
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