Title:  Messages and Papers of Rutherford B. Hayes A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents

Author:  James D. Richardson

Release Date:  July 25, 2004 [EBook #13021]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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A COMPILATION OF THE MESSAGES AND PAPERS OF THE PRESIDENTS

BY JAMES D. RICHARDSON

Rutherford B. Hayes

March 4, 1877, to March 4, 1881

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware:  Ohio, October 4, 1822.  His father had died in July, 1822, leaving his mother in modest circumstances.  He attended the common schools, and began early the study of Latin and Greek with Judge Sherman Finch, of Delaware.  Prepared for college at an academy at Norwalk, Ohio, and at a school in Middletown, Conn.  In the autumn of 1838 entered Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio.  Excelled in logic, mental and moral philosophy, and mathematics, and also made his mark as a debater in the literary societies.  On his graduation, in August, 1842, was awarded the valedictory oration, with which he won much praise.  Soon afterwards began the study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, at Columbus, Ohio, and then attended a course of law lectures at Harvard University, entering the law school August 22, 1843, and finishing his studies there in January, 1845.  As a law student he had the advantage of friendly intercourse with Judge Story and Professor Greenleaf, and also attended the lectures of Longfellow on literature and of Agassiz on natural science, pursuing at the same time the study of French and German.  In May, 1845, was admitted to practice in the courts of Ohio as an attorney and counselor at law.  Established himself first at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), where in April, 1846, he formed a law partnership with Ralph P. Buckland, then a Member of Congress.  In the winter of 1849-50 established himself at Cincinnati.  His practice at first being light, continued his studies in law and literature, and also became identified with various literary societies, among them the literary club of Cincinnati, where he met Salmon P. Chase, Thomas Ewing, Thomas Corwin, Stanley Matthews, Moncure D. Conway, Manning F. Force, and others of note.  December 30, 1852, married Miss Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, a physician of Chillicothe, Ohio.  In January, 1854, formed a law partnership with H.W.  Corwine and William K. Rogers.  In 1856 was nominated for the office of common pleas judge, but declined.