Individual Details
Rutherford Hayes Sr.
(29 Jul 1756 - 25 Sep 1836)
He was a blacksmith, a tavern keeper and a farmer.
Belinda Elliot McLellan wrote, Dec. 8, 1870, about him:
"Grandfather I recollect as a neat, fat, wholesome looking old gentleman; his face rosy and round - almost free from wrinkles. I think he had some little pride about his looks. I can remember seeing him stand before the glass to adjust his wig to the exact poise, and then with his hand brush down his coat collar and vest. He kept his hands remarkably white, and washed and washed them when soiled in the least.
I heard Grandmother once joke him upon so much washing and his speaking a little quickly for him "perhaps you don't wash enough". She looked hurt and replied a little sadly "perhaps not" - when he answered " I didn't say it was so. I only said perhaps". I rather think this was as near as they ever came to a quarrel!
Grandfather's laugh was a most uproarious one. His fat sides shook and his voice came hale and hearty from lungs that I venture to say had no tubercular deposits among them. At family prayer it was his custom to stand at the back of a chair, and his voice subdued and child like. One thing was remarkable about him. He always said he had enough of this world's goods to carry them through, and took no farther anxious thought about it. He believed in enjoying himself and taking the good of what he had"
Horatio Smith Noyes, Newtonville, Mass. wrote on Jan. 14, 1871, sent to RBH
"Rutherford Hayes, Sr. was a man of about the same height and size as Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1869. He had a very square step, which bordered upon a waddle late in life...His complexion was florid and his hair sandy...His temper was mild and uniform, and his manners courteous. He was fond of good living, and delighted above all things in a bowl of New Haven Oysters, and for many years made an annual visit to his old New Haven home, as much, perhaps , of the purpose of tickling his palate with the delicious bivalves, as of indulging his social and friendly propensities, which were strong and active. He was a good blacksmith, and I have often heard him extol that trade, saying that although it "was a smutty, black business, it brought white money". In the course of a few years, his sturdy blows on the anvil pounded out quite a snug little sum of silver, with which he bought the old homestead in West Brattleboro, and turned inn-keeper. In this new business, he was equally successful, being of a temperament well qualified for it, being materially assisted therein also by the industry and skill of Grandmother, and fortunate in the location of the inn. Hayes' tavern was famous the country round for good cooking, and the flip concocted there was something marvelous..."
Complete article is held at the Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, OH
More description of Rutherford Hayes can be found on pages 38-39 in George Hayes of Windsor (Hayes, 1884).
Belinda Elliot McLellan wrote, Dec. 8, 1870, about him:
"Grandfather I recollect as a neat, fat, wholesome looking old gentleman; his face rosy and round - almost free from wrinkles. I think he had some little pride about his looks. I can remember seeing him stand before the glass to adjust his wig to the exact poise, and then with his hand brush down his coat collar and vest. He kept his hands remarkably white, and washed and washed them when soiled in the least.
I heard Grandmother once joke him upon so much washing and his speaking a little quickly for him "perhaps you don't wash enough". She looked hurt and replied a little sadly "perhaps not" - when he answered " I didn't say it was so. I only said perhaps". I rather think this was as near as they ever came to a quarrel!
Grandfather's laugh was a most uproarious one. His fat sides shook and his voice came hale and hearty from lungs that I venture to say had no tubercular deposits among them. At family prayer it was his custom to stand at the back of a chair, and his voice subdued and child like. One thing was remarkable about him. He always said he had enough of this world's goods to carry them through, and took no farther anxious thought about it. He believed in enjoying himself and taking the good of what he had"
Horatio Smith Noyes, Newtonville, Mass. wrote on Jan. 14, 1871, sent to RBH
"Rutherford Hayes, Sr. was a man of about the same height and size as Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1869. He had a very square step, which bordered upon a waddle late in life...His complexion was florid and his hair sandy...His temper was mild and uniform, and his manners courteous. He was fond of good living, and delighted above all things in a bowl of New Haven Oysters, and for many years made an annual visit to his old New Haven home, as much, perhaps , of the purpose of tickling his palate with the delicious bivalves, as of indulging his social and friendly propensities, which were strong and active. He was a good blacksmith, and I have often heard him extol that trade, saying that although it "was a smutty, black business, it brought white money". In the course of a few years, his sturdy blows on the anvil pounded out quite a snug little sum of silver, with which he bought the old homestead in West Brattleboro, and turned inn-keeper. In this new business, he was equally successful, being of a temperament well qualified for it, being materially assisted therein also by the industry and skill of Grandmother, and fortunate in the location of the inn. Hayes' tavern was famous the country round for good cooking, and the flip concocted there was something marvelous..."
Complete article is held at the Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, OH
More description of Rutherford Hayes can be found on pages 38-39 in George Hayes of Windsor (Hayes, 1884).
Events
| Birth | 29 Jul 1756 | Branford, New Haven, CT | |||
| Marriage | 1779 | Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT - Chloe Smith |  | ||
| Death | 25 Sep 1836 | West Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT | |||
| Burial | 1836 | Cemetery, W. Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, United States | |||
| Occupation | 1778 and for years later | a well know blacksmith - Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT | | ||
| Occupation | inn-keeper - Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT | | |||
| Occupation | a farmer - West Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT "at the old 'Hayes homestead'." | |
Families
| Spouse | Chloe Smith (1762 - 1847) |
| Child | Polly Hayes (1780 - 1866) |
| Child | Linda Hayes (1782 - 1833) |
| Child | Russell Hayes (1784 - 1856) |
| Child | Rutherford Hayes Jr. (1787 - 1822) |
| Child | Clarissa Hayes (1789 - 1883) |
| Child | Sarah "Sally" Hayes (1793 - 1882) |
| Child | Abigail Hayes (1796 - 1867) |
| Child | Fanny Hayes (1800 - 1870) |
| Child | William Rutherford Hayes (1804 - 1852) |
| Child | Hayes ( - ) |
| Child | Hayes ( - ) |
| Father | Ezekiel Hayes Capt. (1724 - 1807) |
| Mother | Rebecca Russell (1723 - 1773) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Hayes (1750 - 1827) |
| Sibling | Ezekiel Hayes II (1753 - 1828) |
| Sibling | Sarah Hayes (1758 - ) |
| Sibling | Mary Hayes (1761 - 1775) |
| Sibling | Abigail Hayes (1764 - 1767) |
Endnotes
1. Hayes, Charles Wells, George Hayes of Windsor and his Descendants ) (Buffalo: Baker, Jones & Co., 1884).
2. Hayes, Charles Wells, George Hayes of Windsor and his Descendants ) (Buffalo: Baker, Jones & Co., 1884).
3. Hayes, Charles Wells, George Hayes of Windsor and his Descendants ) (Buffalo: Baker, Jones & Co., 1884).
4. Hayes, Charles Wells, George Hayes of Windsor and his Descendants ) (Buffalo: Baker, Jones & Co., 1884).