Biography of Henry G. Hayball: 16th Mayor of Logan
Dates in Office: 1912-1914
Terms in Office: 1
Age when Elected: 53
Henry G. Hayball was born 19 May 1859 in Chard, England to George Sampson Hayball and Louisa Hancock. He married Harriett Parry about 1880 in Logan, Utah and they had one child. His married his second wife, Eliza Parsons in 1885[1] and they adopted one daughter. He died 4 January 1939 in Logan, Utah.[2]
Henry G. Hayball came to Utah with his family in 1868 and traveled overland across the plains in Captain Mountford's company, settling in Logan, Utah where his father took up the business of merchandising and for many years was actively connected with the commercial development of the city.His mother is a descendant of John Hancock, who was secretary of the Continental Congress and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
In early life Henry Hayball worked for a time at the carpenter's trade and on Christmas Eve of 1885 he established a business, opening a general merchandise store which for thirty-five years was featured as one of the most important commercial interests of Logan.His activities were of a character that contributed to the development and prosperity of the west as well as to the upbuilding of his own fortunes.He had a large and splendidly appointed store carrying an extensive line of silks, dress goods, trimmings, groceries and in fact everything found in a thoroughly up-to-date department store of the twentieth century.
Mr. Hayball served the first paper, as deputy sheriff after Utah was made a state, and as such had charge of the first grand jury of Cache County. He was the first mayor of Logan under the commission form of government. For an extended period he was a member of the city council and during his mayoralty service he was instrumental in having laid forty miles of sidewalk paving. He was likewise instrumental in establishing the electric light plant, which is a municipally owned concern that was purchased with city taxes and which furnishes electric light to the citizens of Logan at a lower rate than was secured in any other city or county of the United States. He was also the treasurer of the Kimball Auto Company; vice president of the Utah mortgage Loan & Trust Company; and was actively interested in all movements that promoted the welfare and interests of the city and county.
In politics Mr. Hayball was always a democrat giving unfaltering allegiance to the party and its principles.The cause of education found in him a warm friend and he was a member of the city school board.He was also a member of the volunteer fire department and he brought to Logan the first fire engine owned by the city. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow and was very prominent in the order, having served as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Utah for the 1917.During the period of the World War he gave six months' service to the sale of thrift stamps for the government, his sales amounting to eighty thousand dollars. There was no phase of the country's development and progress with which he was not closely and helpfully associated. Into his life entered the distinctive and unmistakable elements of greatness.Forceful and resourceful, he ever directed his efforts also constructive lines, building not only for the present but for the future as well. [3]
[1] Warrum Noble, ed., Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical (Chicago : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1919) 4:291-292
[2] Family Group Record (FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19)
[3] Warrum Noble, ed., Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical (Chicago : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1919) 4:291-292
