Rutherford Birchard Hayes

  General Notes:

Information From WFT #89
One of Rutherford Hayes favorite pastimes was researching and learning about his ancestors and the history of their towns and states. It is because of this interest that the Hayes Presidential Center has a large library of genealogy and local history books and materials. The Center has continued to build on his interest, collecting genealogies and local histories, especially for Ohio.

Rutherford B. Hayes' Thoughts on Genealogy
Diary Entry, March 6, 1870 -
"I have always thought of myself as Scotch, but of the fathers of my family who came to America about thirty were English and two only, Hayes and Rutherford, were of Scotch descent. This, on my father's side. On my mother's side, the whole thirty-two were probably all of other peoples beside the Scotch.
Again, I have been proud of my descent (not very of course, only a trifle so,) from the famous Rutherfords; but it is plain that the brains, energy, and character possessed by my grandfather's children and grandchildren-- by the children and grandchildren of Rutherford Hayes--are mainly derived from our plain ancestor, whom [who] Uncle Sardis says was the homeliest woman he ever saw (!), Grandmother Chloe Smith.
I have been digging into Savage and other books on genealogy during the last week. I trace my lineage up almost to the Mayflower but not yet into it. I have only run back on the line of my father's side of the house, and the important family of the Smiths is left out!! Almost one-half of the stock! To be exact, it leaves out exactly one-fourth of the stock, as I find nearly one-half of the Smiths.
Now, the new idea I get by this study is, how futile it is to trace one's descent from a distinguished name in the past. Two hundred and thirty or forty years ago my ancestors were from thirty to a hundred different persons. The Hayes or the Rutherford of 1625 was only one out of forty or more who are equally my ancestors. What does it signify that John Russell was able and pious in 1640? I am but one part in fortyto sixty of his blood. We attach more importance to the deeds of ancestors of our own names. But this is a mere figment of the imagination.I am just as much a Trowbridge, referring now to the Thomas Trowbridge who founded the family in New Haven in 1640, as any of those now living there who bear his name. The blood, the physical, mental, or moral qualities which distinguished an early "father," do not follow the name; do not accompany it."

He was born in Delaware, Ohio , October 4 1822 to Rutherford Hayes and Sophia Birchard. Hayes' father died before Hayes was born. He attended the common schools and the Methodist Academy in Norwalk, Ohio . He graduated from Kenyon College , Gambier, Ohio , in August 1842. He moved to Cincinnati in 1849 and resumed the practice of law. He was city solicitor from 1857 to 1859 . He was commissioned a major of the Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry , on June 27, 1861 , lieutenant colonel, on October 24 , 1861 , colonel on October 24 , 1862, brigadier general of Volunteers on October 9 , 1864, and brevetted major general of Volunteers on March 3 , 1865 .

He was rather close to his sister as can be seen in this diary entry:July, 1856.--
My dear only sister, my beloved Fanny, is dead! The dearest friend ofchildhood, the affectionate adviser, the confidante of all my life, the one I loved best, is gone; alas! never again to be seen on earth.

He was a Representative from Ohio prior to his Presidency. Hayes was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congressesand served from March 4 , 1865 , to July 20, 1867 , when he resigned,having been nominated for Governor of Ohio. He was Governor from 1868 to 1872 , and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Forty-third Congress. He was again elected Governor and served from January 1876 to March 2 , 1877 , when he resigned, having been elected President of the United States. Since March 4 , 1877 was a Sunday, Hayes tookthe oath of office in the Red Room of the White House on March 3 . He took the oath again publicly on March 5 on the East Portico of theUnited States Capitol , and he served until March 4 , 1881 .

Rutherford married Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of James Webb and Maria Cook, on 30 Dec 1852 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Lucy Ware Webb was born on 28 Aug 1831 in Chillicothe, Ohio and died on 25 Jun 1889 in Fremont, Ohio.)