Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan ...

92

B UTHERFiORDR B. HA YES.

_ R B. 1_ I YES.

subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of inquiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died
iast night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of
nim, said in a bantering way, " That's right! Stick to
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't
wonder if he would really come to something yet."
"You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You
rvait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him
President of the United States yet." The boy lived,
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his
mother.
The boy was seven years old before he went to
school. His education, however, was not neglected.
He probably learned as much from his mother and
ister as he would have done at school. His sports
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being
his sister and her associates. These circumstances
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of disposition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings
of others, which are marked traits of his character.
His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest
in his education; and as the boy's health had im..
proved, and he was making good progress in his
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His preparation commenced with a tutor at home; bilt he
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He entered Kenyon College in I838, at the age of sixteen,
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842.
Immediately after his graduation he began the
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq.,
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he remained two years.
In I845, after graduating at the Law School, he was
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he remained three years, acquiring but a limited practice,
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his protession.
ni I849 he nioved to Cincinnati, where his ambition found a new stimulus. For several years, however, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at
this period, had a powerful influence upon his subsequent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cincinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its
members such men as Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase,

Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did
more than she to reflect honor upon American womana
hood. The Literary Club brought Mr. Haye;s nto
constant association with young men of high character and noble aims, and lured him to display the
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and
modesty.
In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judg: of
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to accept the nomination. Two years later, the office of
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Co-nci[
elected him for the unexpired term.
In i86i, when the Rebellion broke out, he was a(
the zenith of his professional f. His rank at the
bar was among the the first. But the news of the
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take 'ID
arms for the defense of his country.
His military record was bright and illustrious. In
October, I86I, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he.
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude
that won admiration from all.
Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division,
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services
during the campaigns of I864, in West Virginia." In
the course of his arduous services, four horses were
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times,
In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Democratic. He was not present during the campaign,
and after his election was importuned to resign his
commission in the army; but he finally declared, " I
shall never come to Washington until I can come by
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in i866.
In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio,
over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat.
In I869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton.
He was elected Governor for the third term in I875.
In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Republican Party in the Presidential contest, and after n
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his
full term, not, however, with satisfaction to his party.
but his administration was an average or —