[Page 96]

  The sketch is: - Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Dela-
ware, Ohio, October 4, 1822. He began to prepare for college
in the law office of Sherman Finch in Delaware in 1834. He
continued his preparatory studies at Norwalk Seminary 1835-
 1836, and at the school of Isaac Webb in Middletown, Con-
necticut, 1837-1838 and entered Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio,
in October or November 1838. He graduated August 3, 1842.
He began the study of law at Columbus, Ohio, October 1842,
and completed his preparation for the bar at the law school
of Harvard College 1843-1845 under Justice Story and Profes-
sor Greenleaf.  He was admitted to the [bar] at Marietta, Ohio,
in 1845--March 10--and began the practice of his profession
at Lower Sandusky, Ohio (now Fremont, Ohio). In 1846 he
formed a partnership with Ralph P. Buckland, afterwards a
distinguished general in the War for the Union, and a public
man of probity and influence. In 1849 he removed to Cincinnati
where he resided until 1873, when he returned to his old home
at Fremont, Ohio, where he still lives.
  He served in the War of the Rebellion from the beginning
to the end; saw much severe service; was five times wounded-
twice badly; and had four horses shot under him. He began
as a private in the Burnet Rifles and became captain, major,
lieutenant-colonel, colonel, brigadier-general, and major-general
(by brevet).
  He was ten times a candidate for civil offices; was elected
eight times; twice defeated, and twice chosen by one majority.
  He is President of the Regimental Association of the Twenty-
third O. V. V. I.; of the Society of the Army of West Vir-
ginia; of the Maumee Valley Historical and Monumental So-
ciety; of the Garfield Monumental Society; of the Slater Educa-
tion Fund for Freedmen; of the National Prison Association;
Commander-in-Chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion
of the United States, and of other organizations. He is a mem-
ber of the board of trustees of the Peabody Education Fund;
of the Ohio State University; of the Western Reserve Uni-
versity; of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and of other educa-
tional institutions and benevolent and charitable societies.
  The most interesting fact in his life is his marriage December
30, 1852, to Lucy Ware Webb at Cincinnati, Ohio. She died
June 25, 1889, leaving five children - four sons and one daughter
- all now grown to maturity. Her motto was the Golden Rule,
and with wonderfully attractive powers her life was an illus-
trious example of the rule.
  He serves his party best who serves his country best.