Rutherford B. Hayes' Life

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born on October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio. His father died when he was born. He was educated at home and attended private schools. In 1838 he enrolled Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He graduated in 1842 and went on to Harvard Law School. He graduated in 1845 and was admitted to the Ohio bar. Rutherford B. Hayes married Lucy Webb in 1852 and they had eight children. In 1857 he was elected City Solicitor of Cincinnati. When the Civil War he joined the Union Army. He was elected to Congress in 1864 but refused to leave the battlefield. Haves advanced to the rank of brevetted major general. He was reelected to Congress in 1866 and served only one year because he was elected Governor of Ohio in 1867. He remained in office until 1871 when his term ended. He returned to Spiegel Grove, Ohio where he practiced law and worked to develop public libraries. He ran again for Governor of Ohio in 1876 and won. He was nominated Republican candidate for President against Samuel B. Tilden that same year. Hayes won in a close election that was disputed for four months and ultimately decided by an electoral commission. During his administration Hayes removed all federal troops from the South ending Reconstruction- the period after the Civil War during which the southern states were reorganized and made part of the Union once again. He tried to prevent civil service reform. He did not want to serve a second term and returned to his farm in Spiegel Grove, Ohio where he devoted his time to philanthropic activities. He died in Fremont, Ohio on January 17, 1893. Note: Hayes was President form 1877 through 1881 and the Vice president was William Almon Wheeler.