Lucy Webb Hayes Interesting Facts
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Lucy Webb Hayes welfare of children and veterans. During his tenure as governor of Ohio, she secured Wife, Mother, and Advocate funding for an orphanage for the children of Interesting Facts Civil War veterans. Lucy Webb Hayes was born in Lucy was the first First Lady to receive a Chillicothe, Ohio, to Dr. James Lucy was a helpmate during Rutherford’s term college education. Webb and Maria Cook on August as President. She did not serve alcohol at the 28, 1831. Two years later, Dr. White House, but in reality, it was Rutherford’s Lucy owned the nation’s first Siamese Webb died during a cholera decision to forego alcohol. He realized the cat. epidemic in Kentucky, where he importance of temperance advocates to the had gone to free slaves he had Republican Party and the need for public Lucy was the first wife of a president to inherited. In 1844, the Webb family officials to maintain a dignified demeanor in be formally referred to as “First Lady.” moved to Delaware, Ohio. Lucy’s public. brothers enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan University Lucy’s favorite past time was fishing there, and although women were not allowed to Lucy’s compassion and sincerity endeared her Beloved by the Civil War soldiers of study at Wesleyan, Lucy was permitted to enroll to Washingtonians. She regularly visited the with her brothers. Several months later Lucy National Deaf Mute College and the Hampton President Hayes’ regiment for her care transferred to Cincinnati Wesleyan Female College Institute where she sponsored a scholarship for and kindness, Lucy was known as the and graduated from there in 1850. an African American student. She continued to “Mother of the 23rd.” show concern for the poor by contributing Lucy first met Rutherford B. Hayes on the campus generously to Washington charities. Fond of Lucy loved to play the guitar as she of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware. Two children, Lucy opened the White House to her sang patriotic songs and hymns years later Lucy and Rutherford were married in children’s friends. She also started what has Cincinnati in a simple ceremony on December 30, become a tradition: when the children of Lucy’s White House china was the first 1852. Eight children were born to the couple: Washington were banned from rolling their to feature pieces entirely of American Birchard Austin (1853-1926), Webb Cook (1856- Easter eggs on the Capitol grounds, they were flora and fauna. 1934), Rutherford Platt (1858-1927), Joseph invited to use the White House lawn on the Thompson (1861-1863), George Crook (1864- Monday following Easter. At one time, while Lucy invited the first African- 1866), Fanny (1867-1950), Scott Russell (1871- Hayes was president, the White House was American professional musician to 1923), and Manning Force (1873-1874). home to a mockingbird, two dogs, a goat, and appear at the White House. the nation’s first Siamese cat, Lucy’s young Lucy and Rutherford respected each other’s ideals adult nieces and cousins were also guests at Many years after her death, historians and goals. When he practiced law in Cincinnati, the White House, often assisting in the hosting christened Lucy “Lemonade Lucy” due Rutherford, influenced by Lucy’s anti-slavery of White House social functions. By the end of to her staunch support of the sentiments, defended runaway slaves who had Rutherford’s term in office, Lucy was acclaimed Temperance Movement. While Lucy’s crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky. Lucy the "most widely known and popular supported Rutherford’s decision to volunteer for President’s wife the country has known." grandfather, Isaac Cook, did impress military service during the Civil War. As often as upon Lucy at a young age the she could, Lucy – sometimes with her mother and The Hayes family returned to its Fremont, Ohio, importance of Temperance and she children – visited Rutherford in the field. She often home, Spiegel Grove, in 1881. They were signed an abstinence pledge, it was assisted her brother, Dr. Joe Webb, in caring for surrounded by family, friends, flowers, and actually her husband who banned the sick. fauna. Lucy spent her last eight years at Spiegel Grove. A few days after suffering a alcohol from the White House so that he Lucy took an active interest in her husband’s stroke, Lucy passed away at home on June 25, could keep the Temperance faction political career. When Rutherford served in the 1889. She was 57 years old. within the Republican Party. United States Congress, Lucy worked for the Biography in Brief HUSBAND: Rutherford Birchard Hayes Birth: October 4, 1822, Delaware, OH Lucy Webb Hayes Death: January 17, 1893, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH BIRTH: August 28, 1831, Chillicothe, OH Parents: Rutherford Hayes, Jr. & Sophia DEATH: June 25, 1889, Spiegel Grove, Birchard Hayes Fremont, OH Education: EDUCATION: Norwalk Seminary, Norwalk, OH Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH Maple Grove Academy, Middletown, CT Wesleyan Female College, Cincinnati, OH Kenyon College, Gambier, OH ANCESTRY: English Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA OCCUPATION: Wife, Mother, Advocate OFFICES HELD: CHILDREN: President of the Women’s Home Birchard Austin (1853-1926) Missionary Society until 1889 Webb Cook (1856-1934) RELIGION: Attended Methodist Episcopal Rutherford Platt (1858-1927) (precursor of today’s Methodist Church) Joseph Thompson (1861-1863) HUSBAND: Rutherford B. Hayes George Crook (1864-1866) MARRIAGE: December 30, 1852 Fanny (1867-1950) Scott Russell (1871-1923) LUCY’S FAMILY Manning Force (1873-1874) FATHER: Dr. James Webb Birth: March 17, 1795 Rutherford B. Hayes Death: July 1, 1833 Presidential Library & Museums Spiegel Grove MOTHER: Maria Cook Fremont, OH 43420-2796 Lucy Webb Hayes Birth: March 9, 1801 Wife, Mother, and Advocate 800-998-PRES Death: September 14, 1866 rbhayes.org .