PRESIDENTS DAY
Born: October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio.
Education: Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio and Harvard Law School.
Occupation: Lawyer, politician. Served as officer during Civil War.
Religion: No formal affiliation.
Family life: Married Lucy Webb in 1852; she was the first president's wife with a college degree. She graduated from the Wesleyan Female College in Cincinnati at 18. They had seven sons and a daughter; three of them died in infancy. They celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in the White House. She died in 1889, she is buried in Fremont.
Political career: Elected to United States House of Representatives at the end of his Army career. Governor of Ohio, 1868-72 and 1876-77. Nominated by Republicans in 1876, to run against Samuel J. Tilden; the election was the most disputed in history. It was decided by a special bipartisan commission in March of 1877. Resigned after one term and worked for various social reforms.
Highlights of his presidency: Elected by an election commisssion despite receiving a minority of popular votes. Removed federal troops from the South. Urged civil service reform.
Appearance: About 5 feet 9 inches tall, brown hair and sandy red beard.
Died: January 17, 1893 at Fremont, Ohio.
Buried: Spiegel Grove, the home of President Hayes which is in (what was rural but what is now central) Fremont, Ohio, the President lies buried in a plot of land a few hundred yards from the house.
