Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-16
THROUGH OHIO,
The Pivotal State-A Fine COuntrv-FremOnt-
Ex-President Hayes and Family, Etc.

The Pivotal State-A Fine C0untry-Fremont-
Ex-Presiient Hayes and Family, Etc.
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
WANDERING IN OHIO, Sept. 14th, 1882.
Since last wrote have been at large in this
pivotal state. where find one can take long
time 10 do very little travelling not only because
OF the objects or interest inviting one to linger but
because some OF its railroads travel in very leis-
urely way indeed.
Among these is the oldest road in the state
which runs between Cincinnati, Columbus and
SanduSky, and passes through very pretty agri-
cultural country This road rarely runs over twenty
miles an hour, and usually less, as delays from
freight trains being run off the track are many.
L am now writing from Speaker Keifer'S district,
his home, Springfield, where he spoke last week
being about twenty-five miles distant from my
present resting place. 1t is smiling, undulating
landscape that before me still fresh and YER.
dant, notwithstanding the dust which has accu-
mulated latterly, for there has been no good rain
IN any neighb0rhood l have visited in Ohio Ior
nearly fortnight find the Speaker well spoken
or oy MS ne1ghbors. One who knew him well in
me army speaks OF him as the most absolutely in
d,nerent man as TO danger when in battle he had
ever seen. To all appearance he was absolutely
unconscious Of the fact that balls or shells were in
tie ar Within striking distance OF himself. But
ms courage never took the form OF bravadO, While
he was always perfectly cool anu composed.
Ex-PREsIDENr HAYES HOME
one or the most interesting places have seen
this summer is Fremont, in this state, which
louuu Iar larger ana more thrifty looking place
than had anticipated. fancy that few WASH
ington people, among those who know it only as
the home OF ex-Presdent Hayes, have any ade-
du1te idea OF the kind of place it Is and its SIZE
1t now has three railroads passing through 1.-THE
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, the Wheel
Ing and Lake Erie, and Lake Erie and Western.
IL has over eight thousand Inhabitants all of
whom seem TO be in good circumstances and
many possessed or more than an average income
Ihere are no houses which suggest great poverty.
a "a a nd hnI.a lci6 re
stone or wood; there are number Of brick stores
and dwellings OF that material as well as very
ornamental ones of wood. The streets are all
shaded by some OF the finest elms and naples |
nave ever seen. The dwellings all have ample
and neatly kept lawns and gardens around them.
There Is very handsome national bank and
q savings bank and fine public buildings.
one OF the latter marks the site of
Fort Stephenson, where Col. Croghan defeated the
British in the war or 1872. park adioins tn s,
wherein is large public library. founded and en-
Gowed by the late Mr.. Birchard the uncle of ex-
President Hayes. Fremont was his home, and
owes much to his generosity in many ways
In 1917 the town was laid out after a plan in
tai; and Fremont also has its Pennsylvania ave-
nue. for its broadet street. which is about 100 feet
vide Fremont likewise has triangular parks at
certain intersections Of streets, and the lawns in
them are so perfectly Kept and free from rubbish
as to furnish model worthy of imitation In re-
SpeCt 70 certain or the triangular reservations on
our own Pennsylvania avenue, which seem to be
receptacleS for trash Fremont is now preparing
for the int! OiuctOn OF Water works
Gen Backland, the misrepresentation from that
district, lives in Fremont, and also Dr.. Rice, the
member OF the present Congress. II is predicted
that Hon Frank Hurd. OF Toledo Will be Dr. Rce's
successor IN the next Congress, Us the redistrict
ing OF the state makes this democratic.
There are number OF handsome brick houses I'm
the county. built by farmers from the plans pro-
feSsional architects. These surrounded by fine
grounds. The neatness of the lawns and hedges
about all the houses in town apd country Is re-
markabe.
sPIEGEL GROVE,
now the residence OF eX-PreSIdent HAYES and
family, is his uncle5 old home, and was given its
present owner in 1874. There are thirty acres In
the enclosure Immediately around the house and
farm lands outside. The grove contains magnif1-
cent trees mostly old oaks and elmS a spacious
lawn and beautiful flower garden in the center OF
which IS bed or roses most OF the plants in which
were sent Mrs. Hayes by Mr.. George Bancroft last
year. Iney were blooming finely when saw
them. Mrs. Hayes devoteS much Of her time to
her flowers and poultry, while the ex-Presiient
gives part OF each day to visiting the farm and
work in the gardens. Most of his time is devoted
TO reading and writing in his large library. His
home Is, OF course, the most interesting place to
visit In the neighborhood, andas strangers are al
ways sure OF welcome, the family see company
almost as constantly as when living in the White
House. Travellers often stop in Fremont from one
train to the next in order to make call upon Che ex
President and his family, and they always have
some friends staying in the house, often inviting
families to come with servants and children
Those who come to call near the hour for meal
are always asked to stay to it. The family have
aCtutiy HoIe room IOf themselves ana their
friends than they had in the private part of the
White House, and just as many comforts as there
They seem absolutely happy in their quiet and
beautiful home and while speaking with warm
affection OF all their Washington friends and re-
calling many pleasant incidents OF their lie there
they evidently have no regrets that the time for
retirement has come
IN RETIREMENT
Owing to Mr.. Hayes having been in the army
during the war, then in Congress- and three times
governor OF Ohio before the four years he spent in
the White House, 1t is the first time in many years
that he and his family have had settled home,
where they could reasonably expect to spend
many years and have leisure to adorn 1T according
10 their taste. Their house, while large and finely
nniSheo ana furnished, has none of the modern
affectationS in architecture or furniture but was
built evidently for comfort and convenience, and
not Tor show. 1t Is pre-eminently cheerful and
therefore well lighted and ventilated, the Queen
Anne houses are not Several family portraits in
Oils, as we'll as other paintings, aCforn It, The
portraits painted both by Mr. Brown and Mr. An
drews OF President Hayes are there, and also that
painted by Mr.. Andrews last year Of Mrs. Hayes,
which Is the most pleasing one have seen OF her.
she wears In 1t the white and gold satin brocade
IN which Washington people so well remember
her at some OF the last entertainments in the
White House before she left there.
The latest addition TO the gallery Is a portrait
OF Mr. Hayes mother, painted by Mr.. Andrews
from miniature. 1t arrived only last week and
has been highly approved by the family. At FIRE.
mont / met Mr.. Noah Swayne, jr, who was
road, the Wheeling Lake Erie, In which Com
modore Garrison Is largely interested. He told
me his father and sister, Mrs. Parsons, would not
return to New York from Europe before the midi
die OF October. His brother, Mr. Frank Swayne,
and his Wife, who have also spent the summer in
Europe viii return to Toledo, where they reside
about the same time. Mr. Harry Swayne and his
wife, the daughter of President pro tenn David
fT0laGn