The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes | Page 4

his instructor
taught him.
Through the agency of his uncle, Sardis Birchard, his guardian, who at
this time took charge of his education, Rutherford was sent to an
academy at Norwalk, Ohio. Here he remained one year under the
instruction of the Rev. Mr. Chapman, a Methodist clergyman of
scholarly attainments. In the fall of 1837, to complete his preparation
for college, he was sent to quite a noted school at Middletown,
Connecticut, kept by Isaac Webb. Mr. Webb, being a graduate of Yale,
made a specialty of preparing students for admission to Yale College.
His scholars came from every part of the United States. In one year, his
Ohio pupil's preparatory course was completed. The character
established by him at this school is made known in the concluding
portion of a commendatory letter addressed by Isaac Webb, his
instructor, to Mrs. Sophia Hayes, which reads:
"The conduct of your son has hitherto done 'honor to his mother,' and
has secured our sincere respect and esteem. I hope and trust that he will
continue to be a great source of happiness to you."
The first prize for proficiency in Latin, Greek, and Arithmetic was
awarded at this academy to "R. B. Hayes."
In the fall of 1838, at the age of sixteen, young Hayes entered Kenyon
College, Ohio, after passing satisfactorily the usual examination for
admission. This institution is situated forty miles north of Columbus, in
the village of Gambier, which is celebrated for the secluded beauty of
its lawns and groves. The College was founded by Bishop Chase, with
funds collected by him in England, the principal donors being Lord
Gambier and Lord Kenyon. The institution was long under the
fostering care of Bishop McIlvaine of blessed memory.

Young Hayes excelled as a debater in the literary societies and in all the
college studies; but his tastes especially ran to logic, mental and moral
philosophy, and mathematics. In the words of a college mate, now a
very distinguished lawyer, he was remarkable in college for "great
common sense in his personal conduct; never uttered a profane word;
behaved always like a considerate, mature man." In the language of
another able member of the legal profession, who followed after him at
Kenyon: "Hayes had left a memory which was a fascination, a glowing
memory; he was popular, magnanimous, manly; was a noble,
chivalrous fellow, of great promise."
On the general points of character, conduct, and scholarship, it is
conclusive to say that, when graduation-day came, Rutherford B. Hayes
was found to have been awarded the valedictory, which was the highest
honor the faculty could bestow upon a member of his class. Although
the youngest in years, he was found the oldest in knowledge. In three
journals published in August, 1842, the month and year of his
graduation, we find exceptionally warm commendations of his
valedictory oration. The Mt. Vernon Democratic Banner said: "All who
heard this oration pronounced it the best, in every point of view, ever
delivered on the hill at Gambier."
In the class with Governor Hayes were Lorin Andrews, afterward
President of the College, who fell in the war for the Union, and the Hon.
Guy M. Bryan, late member of Congress, and present speaker of the
Texas House of Representatives, who, although engaged in the
rebellion, has paid a manly tribute to his College classmate since the
presidential nomination.
In other college classes at the same time were Stanley Matthews, now
one of the ablest lawyers in the United States; Hon. Joseph McCorkle
and Hon. R. E. Trowbridge, afterward members of Congress from
California and Michigan respectively; and Christopher P. Wolcott, who
subsequently filled with high distinction the office of attorney-general
of Ohio, and was also assistant secretary of war.
Kenyon College and its graduates bestowed additional honors upon the
valedictorian of the class of 1842. In 1845, he was invited back by the

faculty to take the second degree, and deliver what is known as the
Master's oration. He was invited also by the alumni to deliver the
annual address before them, both in 1851 and in 1853. All these honors
he modestly declined.
Soon after graduating, Mr. Hayes began the study of the law in the
office of Thomas Sparrow, of Columbus. Mr. Sparrow was a lawyer of
high standing, whose integrity was proverbial. Although a Democrat in
politics, he was regarded by his political adversaries as the purest of
pure men. This worthy instructor certifies to the "great diligence" and
"good moral character" of his student on the latter's departure to attend
a course of law lectures at Harvard. A taste for the legal profession had
been very early developed by young Hayes. The proceedings of courts
had possessed to him in boyhood peculiar interest.
Judge Ebenezer Lane, long a Justice of the Supreme Court