The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-01
How Governor Hayes Won His Wife
"A Bis OF Domestic History,

How Governor Hayes Wen Afe wife
"A Bis OF Domestic History,
From the Chicago Tribune.
The amiabitity of Mrs. Governor
Hayes, and her ability to entertain COM
pany, have been good deal talked about
by the press of the country, since the val.
liant Ohio Governor and soldier has be-
come the standard-bearer of the great Re-
publican party in the coming President
isl fight, and therefore the statement of
how Governor Hayes won his wife may
not be undressing, especially to the
lady readers of the Tribune.
After Rutherford B Hayes graduated
at the Harvard Law School, in l845, he
commenced the practice Of law, and hung
out his single in Fremont, Ohio, where
he held forth for FIVE years, and was con-
sidered at the time brilliant, rising
young man. He was Incorporating, in
telligent and handsome, and, as it was
well understood that he was the heir of
his bachelor uncle, Sardis Birchard, q
well-known banker and merchant of the
town, young Hayes was considered good
catch BY mothers all over the State who
had manageable daughters.
In ls49 or 80 young Hayes visited his
mother at his birthplace, Delaware, Ohio.
It so happened that Delaware was the
seat of the celebrated Ohio Wesleyan
University, q Methodist institution, used
extensively as female college, which
stood there, and does now, in the midst
of the town In the center of large and
beautiful park. The park is and always
has been the popular resort of the towns
people, and especially the beau-catching
young women. The feature of this
ground is its immense spring, which
gushes out of the earth in a huge jet, cool
and sparkling, furnishing pure water to
all who come Around this spring seats
have been arranged, and tasteiully laid
out little fower-beds embelllsh it. In
the evening this is most popular spot.
Young Hayes, in company with other
young men, used to go to this spring in
the evening, generally choosing their
time when the University girls came there
also. Among the bevy of the young
ladies was ono in particular who attracted
Governor Hayes attention. She was
sparkling. bright and witty, and the park
always rang with the echo of her merry
laughter when she came to the spring.
This young lady was remarkable for Ter
long, flowing black hair. dark eyebrows,
pearly white teeth and beautiful eyes, and
was famous for her laughter, ano, of
course, was leader among the girls of
her school. Before knowing her name
the young lawyer fell in love with her,
and he made up his mind that the gay,
laughing girl he met at the college Spring
evening after evening was the one he was
looking for as his wife and future com.
panion in life, and SO he opened his heart
to his uncle and mother. In the course
of time the lawyer and lady were intro
duced, and she turned out 10 be Mis-
Webb, o. Chillicothe, Ohio, descendant
of a most excellent family. The love
engendered at the spring ripened INTO
true and honest affection, which Was fully
reciprocated by the lady, who in due
course of time became Mrs. Hayes. 1t
was true love-match, and happy union
it has proven. Mrs. Hayes has done
much towards making Governor Hayes
popular She is modest and retiring, with
rare faculty for entertaining company.
Her virtues are extolled by all who know
her. She will prove an ornament to the
White House.