The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-03-24
Rutherford B. Hayes.
THE JURIsT, SOLDIER, STATES
MAN AND PATRIOT.
His Birth and Parentage-The Man for
the Nations Executive.

His Birth and Parentage-The Man for
the Nations Executive.
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born
Oct. a, 1922, in the town of Delaware,
Ohio. His father, Rutherford Hayes,
was born in Vermont, and emigrated to
Ohio in 1917. AS business man, the
father was intelligent, enterpfising and
active. AS O citizen he was above re-
proach, and was distinguished among
his neighbors. He was not wealthy.
His death in July, 1922, left the family
in comparatively straitened cicumstan-
ces. But the widow, Mrs. Sophia
Hayes, woman ofgreat energy ofchar-
acter- sincere Christian-ably sup
piled the loss. The education of her
children was her supreme care, and she
was aided in this by her brother, Sar-
dis Birchard.
|. The whole life of Rutherford b. HAYES
Is the crown of her noble success. lie
was early sent to school. With Judge
Sherman Finch he studied Greek and
Latin, and these studies were extended
at the Academy at Norwalk, Ohio. In
1887, at Isaac Webb's noted institution
at Middletown, Gonna preparatory
school for students entering Yale
young Hayes prepared himself for col
lege. In 1888, at the age of sixteen, he
entered Kenyon College, and in 1912
graduated with the highest honors, de-
livering the valedictory of his class. lie
early entertained an inclination for the
law, under the influence of Mr.. Ebene-
ger Lane, an eminent jurist of Ohio, and
long justice of the Supreme Court of
the State, while attending the proceed
inge of the courts. Upon leaving col
lege he entered upon The study Of law
at Columbus, and in 1S43 entered the
law school of Harvard University, then
under the charge of the celebrated jul
rists, Justice Story and Prof, Simon
Greenleaf, and finished the course of
lectures in 1847. While in Boston, the
arguments of Webster in the courts at
once instructed and delighted the
thoughtful young student. He also at
this time made the acquaintance of the
venerable patriot, ex-President John
Quincy Adams, at his home in Quin-
cy.
Great diligence and proficiency in his
studies, and irreproachable morals, was
tlC DOt u Vi ClliIucltT u1dW III
by his several instructors. Everywhere
he was the popular favorite: a popua-
rity everywhere won by manly bear
ing, a frank and generous spirit, and
upright conduct. II was these that ear
ly secured for young Hayes, in Judge
Finch, all interest so deep that caused
the Judge to devote the hours between
the labors ofhis profession to his insiruc-
ton in Latin and Greek.
In December, 1862, at Cincinnati, by
Prof. l.. ID. McCabe, of the Ohio Wes-
leyan University, Mr.. Hayes was unit
ed in marriage to Miss Lucy Webb, an
estimable lady ofrare accomplishments
and domestic virtues-a most fortunate
union, which has greatly Influenced his
character and life. Her father, Dr.
Webb, was a popular practicing physic.
ian of Chillicothe. He was an early
anti-slavery hero. In 1888 he died in
Lexington, Kentucky, where he had
gone to superintend the arrangements
preliminary to the departure to Liberia
of certain slaves liberated by himself
and father. Her grandfather, Lieut.
Col. Cook, in 1777, in the army of the
revolution, was attached to the regi
ment of Col. Andrew Ward. Hence, il
the presidential mansion for the mex
four years, both in the person of The
general and that Of his lady, we shall
have worthy representatives. of the ole
revolutionary blood.
Admitted to practice in the courts o
Ohio in 1915, the young lawyer, prou(
of his profession, and burning with al
ambition for distinction in its honorcC
walks, hung out his "shingle" at Lower
Sandusky, now Fremont, Sandusk,
county, Ohio. In 1916 he formed law
partnership with Gen. Ralph =. Buck
land, subsequently u member of tn,
state senate, and Union veteran il
the war of the Rebellion, but in 1885,:
failing health forced him to seek recup
Grafton under the climate of Texas will
his friend, Guy NJ. Bryan. Six month
of active life on the prairies, boating
fishing and hunting, restored his con
stitution to robust health, which sine,
has never failed.
In 1850 he established himself in III
Office in Cincinnati, and in 1854 unite,
in q law partnership in that city witt
r. M. Corwine and w. X. Rogers, I'm
der the firm name of Corwine, Have
& Rogers. But his profession, labori
GUS and severe as was his application t,
its duties, did not wholly engross hi
busy life. Literature also claimed hin
as devotee. She divided his studie
with,the law. The pages of Shakespeare
Burke, Webster and Emerson were hi
favorites; and the influence of these
and that Of his literary club, renowr
ed institution Of Cincinnati, ofwhich h
was eleven years member, and at th
social gatherings of which he enjoye
the society of such men, distinguishe
alike for their professional and litcrar
. culture, rs Chief Justice Chase, Tor
Corwin, the Ewings, father and sol
Gen. Pope, Gen. Edward Il, Move,
Stanley Matthews, Manning +. ForcC
II. ID. Mussey, and others.
The Rebellion, in 1861. found Ruthel
ford B. Hayes among the foremost
the field of perilous duty. As major
the 23rd Ohio volunteers, and Judge at
vocate of tho department, and Us lei
tenant colonel of the regiment, in II
1ummer and fall of 1861, Hayes was q,
tive with tho army of Rosccrans in II
gallant work of clearing the mountain
Gus regions of West Virginia of TO
midable enemy. In the fall of 1862 |
was at South Mountain. Leading Il
Y Union advance at the head of his reg
ment-one Of the regiments of the I
r. nous "Old Kanawha" brigade--agaln
superior forces, posted advantageous
I. on the crest of the mountain, Lieutel
\ ant Colonel Hayes encountered stu
= born resistance. The rebels dispute
every foot ofground, but Hayes, char
er ing rapidly and gallantly, again al
shl again, drove the rebels out ofthe wood
drove them across the fields, and up Il
al mountain. Wounded and faintlng fra
Il loss of blood, but recovering, he adya
e ced his regiment, which had retired u
'' on his fall; falling again while fightil