The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-07-13
POINTS IN A STIRRING LIFE.

1HE Aim 1"HON lie COI OFF The
RETREAT OF MORGAN FROM OHIO
HIS PUBLIC CAREER AND PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS.
Since the nomination of Gen. r. B.
Hayes for the Presidency, there appears to
be very great and general desire for
history. Fortunately it SO happens that
this desire may be readily gratiGed, for
Gen. Hayes has not been less fortunate in
his private relations than in his public
career, and the more intimate the acquain-
tance the people have with him the more
popular he is likely to become. An out
line of his personal history has already been
correctly given in the Times, aud need not
not now be repeated. His acestry on his
fathers side was Scotch, and on his mothers
| anco-English. 'The name of Hayes"
rims an old and fanciful tradition, ''began
by valor. The Scotch; being at war, were
retreating before an enemy near where the
head of the ancient family of Hayes was at
work with his sons in a field. He said to
his sons: Pull your plow and harrow to
pieces and fight They engaged and beat
their foes. The King, passing ty, observed
what had been done, and said to his defcn-
der: Your name shall be Hayes He
then gave him q large tract Of land for his
valor. Therefore the coat of arms for
Hayes should be plow and harrow, and
battlefield"
George Hayes, son of the ancestor
above mentioned, migrated to Dcrbyshire,
in England, and afterward to America,
where he married and had three children
born to him. His wife and children all
died, and marrying again, this time Abb
gail Dibo, of Dong Island, he settled at
Windsor, Conn. BY his second wife he
had ten children OF this family Ruther-
ford 3. Hayes, father Of the present Cover
nor Of Ohio, was a descendant He was
native of Windham county, Vermont,
and emigrated to Ohio in 1917, He was
u man Of excellent temper, and Of moderate
though comfortable circumstances and was
greatly esteemed by his neighbors.
The mother of Governor Hayes was
Sophia Birchard, descended from
Huguenot French family, which took
refuge in England and intcrmarried there.
Her ancestor, John Birchard, came over
from England in 1875, and settled at
Norwich, Conn Her father, Roger Birch
ard, was a native of that State, but emf
grated to Windham county, Vermont,
where Sophia Birchard was born. Both
her grandfathcrs were Revolutionary sol
diers, one of them, Captain Daniel Austin,
serving as an officer under Washington
throughout the war. Her other grand
father, Elias Birchard, died near the close
Of the war of disease contracted in the
service. Her brother, Sardis Birchard
uncle to Governor Hays, settled in Fremont,
Ohio, where he died two years ago, leaving
a large estate. He was public-spirited
citizen, very liberal in contributions for
public and benevolent enterprises, and
greatly beloved in the community in which
he lived. In politics he was an ardent
Whig and Republican, and he was one Of
the original purchasers Of United States
bonds in Ohio when they were first issued
in 1862. Among his intimate friends were
Hon. NJ. r. Waite, present Chief Justice
of the United States, and one of the last
acts Of his life was to dictate letter con-
graduating Mr.. Waite upon his appoint
ment to that position. Governor Hayes
was a great favorite with his uncle, and
upon his death became his principal heir.
The father of the Governor died before
his son was born, and Mr.. Birchard there
fore directed the education of yound Hayes
and had much to do with the formation Of
his character. His mother was a most
valuable counsellor, all accounts agreeing
that she was u lady of extremely excellent
qualities. She died in 1866, at the resi-
dence of her son-in-law, Mr.. William n.
Platt, of Columbus. She was member
of the Presbyterian church for fifty years.
Young Hayes received his education at
Kenyon College, an Episcopalian institution
at Gambler, Ohio. He graduated there
in 1912, with the first honors of his class,
Of which he was the youngest member.
Among his associates in college were Hon.
Stanley Matthews, of Cincinnati, now one
of the most eminent lawyers in Ohio, and
Hon. David Davis, of Illinois, now one Of
the Associate Justices of the United States
Supreme Court. Young Hayes was greatly
esteemed among his schoolfellows for his
unassuming, genial manners, his manliness,
and his sturdy common sense. On one
occasion severalsf the students undertook
to revolt against college discipline, and some
of Hayes most intimate friends were
induced to take part in the outbreak. He
firmly refused to be party to it, though
his pride was strongly appealed to, and by
his example and persuasion he induced
others, who were afterwards very grateful
to him for this friendly service, to resist
the boyish madness of the moment and
obay the rules Of the college.
Upon graduating, young Hayes received
the usual college degree, and the institu
ton has since conferred upon him the title
of Ii. d. Having passed the law course
at Harvard University, he settled at
Fremont, Ohio, where he formed part
nership with General Buckland, promi-
nent officer of the late war, and since the