Alameda County CA Archives Biographies.....Aylward, John 1843 - 
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Author: Lewis Publishing Co.

JOHN AYLWARD, proprietor of the Livermore Water Company, and the leading spirit
in this valley in the line of manufacturing, is a native of Ireland, born in the
county Kilkenny, in January, 1843. He was reared at his native place, and there
commenced the blacksmith's trade. In 1865 he came to America and located in
Boston, where he continued the trade with T. K. Very, veterinary surgeon, who
had a shop where the most intricate work in horse-shoeing was performed in a
scientific manner. Under instructions there Mr. Aylward obtained a thorough
knowledge in that branch of his trade, and, having a natural taste for the trade
he had adopted, he became expert in the business. To this day he attributes much
of his success to the knowledge obtained in the shop of Mr. Very. He remained
with the latter until September, 1866, working as a journeyman after he had
finished his trade. Leaving Boston, he proceeded to New York, where he took
passage for California on the steamer Santiago de Cuba (since sunk). The vessel
was shipwrecked and he returned to New York and again took passage, this time on
the steamer San Francisco. He made the trip via Nicaragua, finishing the journey
on the Pacific side on the steamer Moses Taylor, and landing at San Francisco on
the 7th of October. He soon went to Mission San Jose, where he worked for N.
Bergmann six months, then started in business for himself, doing general job
work, and built up a fine trade. To this he gave his personal attention until
1874, when he came to Livermore to start a shop and manufacture the iron piping
for the Livermore Spring Water Company. His business in Livermore proving a
large one, he sold out his shop at mission San Jose in 1876 to James Stanley
(now public administrator). Mr. Aylward has made a thorough success of his shop
in Livermore.

  In 1886 he patented a hay press, which, it can be said with strict adherence
to the truth, is far and away ahead of any other press now in use. Other hay
presses are simply not in competition with it. Though the machine has many
skillful devices for the perfect compressing of hay, yet everything about it is
of such strength that there is practically no stoppage for repairs when once in
operation. This is accomplished, too, without making the press at all unwieldy.
In fact, it is a handsome-appearing machine. Two bales of hay are constantly
being made at the same time by the process used, so that there is no loss of
time or power. The saving in cost of compressing is very great, and then the
bales are very compact, so that it is possible to get in a car about twice as
much hay as if packed by other machines. In shipping either by sea to the
islands or by rail to the coast points, this is a great item, the difference in
this particular alone affording a good profit to the commission man. About fifty
of the Aylward presses have been made by the proprietor, who has been unable to
supply the demand, and the writer of this article predicts great results for Mr.
Aylward when the merits of his great hay press become known in other sections as
they are now recognized in the Livermore Valley. He is also manufacturing the
Aylward Automatic Gate, constructed of either iron or wood, which also has a
wide reputation and a good sale. Mr. Aylward is a natural mechanical genius, and
has patents on other useful articles, which, however, he has never pushed, owing
to the pressure upon his time by other machines and general business interests.

  He was married at Mission San Jose in May, 1869, to Miss Margaret Downs, a
native of Ireland, but reared in this country at Nantucket, from childhood. They
have six children, viz.: Mary Frances, wife of John J. Aylward, of San
Francisco; Richard, who is with his father in the shop; Lulu, John, Grace and
Edward. Mr. Aylward has held the office of Trustee of Livermore, though he is in
no sense of the word an office seeker. He is now a supporter of the principles
of the American party. He is a member of Mosaic Lodge, F. & A. M., and Doric
Chapter, R. A. M., of Vesper Lodge, A. O. U. W., and of the Legion of Honor. If
Livermore reaches the destiny outlined for her by some, it will be through the
efforts of just such men as Mr. Aylward, who, while a safe and conservative man,
has that spirit of true progress, aided by pluck and perserverance, which is
always the leading factor in building up communities.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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