The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes | Page 5

of Ohio, an
intimate associate of Sardis Birchard, the patron uncle, had early turned
the thoughts of the guardian of the nephew in the direction of the law.
Rutherford B. Hayes entered the law school of Harvard University,
August 22, 1843, and finished the course of lectures, January 8, 1845.
The law institution was at this time under the charge of Mr. Justice
Story, whose eminence as a jurist is only surpassed by that of his
bosom friend, the great Chief Justice, John Marshall. He enjoyed the
friendship and counsel of Story, and also that of Prof. Simon Greenleaf,
who bears testimony to his diligence, exemplary conduct, and
demeanor. He kept a minute record, still preserved, of all the trials and
proceedings of the moot courts, presided over by Professors Greenleaf
and Story, and pages of authorities are cited where "R. B. Hayes"
appears as counsel for the fictitious plaintiff or defendant. It might have
been safely assumed that a young man of his quick perceptions while in
the atmosphere of Boston would make the most of his opportunities
and advantages. He attended the lectures of Prof. Longfellow on the
literature of foreign languages. He profited by the lecture-room talks of
the great scientist, Agassiz, upon the grand theme of nature. Watching
his opportunities, he heard Webster deliver his model arguments before
juries, and his great political speeches in Faneuil Hall. He visited John

Quincy Adams at his home in Quincy, with a party of his
fellow-students, who, when he learned that some of his visitors were
from Ohio, read to them a part of an address Mr. Adams was about to
deliver on the laying of the corner-stone of the Observatory on Mt.
Adams, near Cincinnati.
He renewed and prosecuted with ardor the study of the French and
German languages, both of which he now translates with ease, and
speaks the former with reasonable fluency.
Leaving with regret the classic shades of Cambridge, and parting from
fellow-students such as George Hoadly, Manning F. Force, and the
since famous orator, J. B. L. Curry, of Alabama, he returned to Ohio an
educated young man. He was fitted for the battle of life which he has
since so courageously fought, so far as America can afford facilities for
procuring a complete, symmetrical education. Impatient to begin the
struggle in his profession, he proceeded to Marietta, where the
ambulatory Supreme Court of Ohio was then sitting, and having passed
before an examining committee, composed of Messrs. Hart, Gardiner,
Buel, and Robinson, was duly admitted to practice in the courts of the
State as attorney and counsellor at law. The certificate of admission,
which is dated March 10, 1845, has so good a name attached to it as
that of Thomas W. Ewart, clerk. The Plymouth of the West had
therefore the honor of welcoming to the bar the rising son of the West.
CHAPTER III.
AT THE BAR.
Commences Practice--First Case--Partnership with Ralph P.
Buckland--Settles in Cincinnati--Becoming Known--Literary
Club--Nancy Farrer Case--Summons' Case--Marriage--Law
Partners--City Solicitor.
The young lawyer, R. B. Hayes, full of hopefulness and ambition,
commenced the practice of the law at Lower Sandusky, now Fremont,
Sandusky county, Ohio. This growing town of Northern Ohio was
selected because it was the home of the uncle whose extensive business

connections would naturally throw more or less law business into the
nephew's hands.
His first case was one against a sheriff's sureties, the sheriff having
become insolvent. There were five or six bondsmen, who employed as
many different lawyers, who of course made a fierce fight to protect the
pockets of their clients. The pleadings were difficult under the old
practice, and the slightest technical defect in them would adroitly be
taken advantage of by the defendants' attorneys. But so accurately had
the pleadings been drawn, and so well had the case been worked up by
the young lawyer, that no flaw could be found, and his suit was at all
points successful.
After this success he had a good run of office business, and was
employed both in the defense and prosecution of criminals. In April,
1846, he entered into a law-partnership with Ralph P. Buckland, an
older practitioner in good practice. Mr. Buckland subsequently became
a conspicuous member of the Ohio Senate, and a gallant officer of the
rank of brigadier-general in the war. He became a member also of the
Thirty-ninth Congress.
One of the most important cases tried by Hayes while a member of this
firm was an action to prevent or enjoin the building of a railway bridge
across the Bay of Sandusky, on the ground of its obstructing navigation.
The cause was tried before Judge McLean, in the United States District
Court at Cincinnati. Thomas Ewing, who was one of the opposing
counsel in the case, continued to compliment Hayes