Person Page - 18

     Sophia Birchard was born on 15 April 1792 at Wilmington, VT. She was the daughter of Roger Birchard and Drusilla Austin. Sophia Birchard married Rutherford Hayes, son of Ensign Rutherford Hayes and Chloe Smith, on 13 September 1813 at Wilmington, VT. Sophia Birchard died on 30 October 1866 at Columbus, OH, at age 74.

McCracken: Sophia's brother, Sardis Birchard, was influential in rearing his fatherless nephew and bequeathed him the estate called "Spiegel Grove".

     President Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born on 4 October 1822 at Delaware, OH. He was the son of Rutherford Hayes and Sophia Birchard. President Rutherford Birchard Hayes was graduated in 1842 at Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. He married Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of James Webb and Maria Cook, on 30 December 1852 at Cincinnati, OH. President Rutherford Birchard Hayes died on 17 January 1893 at Fremont, OH, at age 70. He was buried at Spiegel Grove, Fremont, OH.

from the whitehouse.gov web site:


Beneficiary of the most fiercely disputed election in American history, Rutherford B. Hayes brought to the Executive Mansion dignity, honesty, and moderate reform.

To the delight of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Lucy Webb Hayes carried out her husband's orders to banish wines and liquors from the White House.

Born in Ohio in 1822, Hayes was educated at Kenyon College and Harvard Law School. After five years of law practice in Lower Sandusky, he moved to Cincinnati, where he flourished as a young Whig lawyer.

He fought in the Civil War, was wounded in action, and rose to the rank of brevet major general; one of his sergeants, William McKinley, was later himself 25th president. While he was still in the Army, Cincinnati Republicans ran him for the House of Representatives. He accepted the nomination, but would not campaign, explaining, "an officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer... ought to be scalped."

Elected by a heavy majority, Hayes entered Congress in December 1865, troubled by the "Rebel influences ... ruling the White House." Between 1867 and 1876 he served three terms as Governor of Ohio.

Safe liberalism, party loyalty, and a good war record made Hayes an acceptable Republican candidate in 1876. He opposed Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York.

Although a galaxy of famous Republican speakers, and even Mark Twain, stumped for Hayes, he expected the Democrats to win. When the first returns seemed to confirm this, Hayes went to bed, believing he had lost. But in New York, Republican National Chairman Zachariah Chandler, aware of a loophole, wired leaders to stand firm: "Hayes has 185 votes and is elected." The popular vote apparently was 4,300,000 for Tilden to 4,036,000 for Hayes. Hayes's election depended upon contested electoral votes in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida. If all the disputed electoral votes went to Hayes, he would win; a single one would elect Tilden.

Months of uncertainty followed. In January 1877 Congress established an Electoral Commission to decide the dispute. The commission, made up of eight Republicans and seven Democrats, determined all the contests in favor of Hayes by eight to seven. The final electoral vote: 185 to 184.

Northern Republicans had been promising southern Democrats at least one Cabinet post, Federal patronage, subsidies for internal improvements, and withdrawal of troops from Louisiana and South Carolina.

Hayes insisted that his appointments must be made on merit, not political considerations. For his Cabinet he chose men of high caliber, but outraged many Republicans because one member was an ex-Confederate and another had bolted the party as a Liberal Republican in 1872.

Hayes pledged protection of the rights of Negroes in the South, but at the same time advocated the restoration of "wise, honest, and peaceful local self-government." This meant the withdrawal of troops. Hayes hoped such conciliatory policies would lead to the building of a "new Republican party" in the South, to which white businessmen and conservatives would rally.

Many of the leaders of the new South did indeed favor Republican economic policies and approved of Hayes's financial conservatism, but they faced annihilation at the polls if they were to join the party of Reconstruction. Hayes and his Republican successors were persistent in their efforts but could not win over the "solid South."

Hayes had announced in advance that he would serve only one term, and retired to Spiegel Grove, his home in Fremont, Ohio, in 1881. He died in 1893.

     Miriam Giddings I was born on 4 August 1751 at Lyme, New London Co., CT. She was the daughter of Deacon Thomas Giddings and Mary Colt. Miriam Giddings I died in November 1752 at Lyme, New London Co., CT, at age 1.

     Mary Giddings I was born on 8 November 1760 at Hartland, CT. She was the daughter of Deacon Thomas Giddings and Mary Colt. Mary Giddings I died on 6 April 1763 at age 2.

     Joseph Giddings was born on 29 June 1789 at Hartland (prob), CT. He was the son of Jabez Giddings and Mercy Johnson.

     Miriam Giddings was born on 4 September 1786 at Hartland, CT. She was the daughter of Jabez Giddings and Mercy Johnson.

     Job Giddings was born on 8 October 1710 at Gloucester, MA. He was the son of Thomas Giddings and Sarah Andrews. Job Giddings died on 25 May 1748 at Lyme, New London Co., CT, at age 37.

     Joseph Giddings was born on 26 July 1713 at Gloucester, MA. He was the son of Thomas Giddings and Sarah Andrews. Joseph Giddings died on 10 January 1803 at New Fairfield, (Sherman), CT, at age 89.

     John Giddings was born in 1717 at Gloucester, MA. He was the son of Thomas Giddings and Sarah Andrews. John Giddings died in 1761 at Lyme, New London Co., CT.

     Joshua Giddings was born on 23 January 1719 at Gloucester, MA. He was the son of Thomas Giddings and Sarah Andrews. Joshua Giddings died on 4 February 1807 at Hartland, CT, at age 88.

     Jay Thomas Struthers was born on 21 May 1883 at Marion Co., OH. He was the son of Joseph McNeal Struthers and Adaline Jane Shaffer. Jay Thomas Struthers died on 5 November 1914 at Martel, Marion Co., OH, at age 31. He was buried on 7 November 1914 at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH.

from the Marion Daily Star, Marion, OH, 6 November 1914:


Jay Tt. Struthers, thirty-one years of age, died at his home at Martel, yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, following a three-weeks illness of typhoid fever.


The deceased was the son of Mrs. Joseph Struthers of Martel. He was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Williamson, at Martel, two years ago and to this union one child, Thomas, was born. He was well known in the vicinity in which he resided and was an auctioneer.


The funeral will be held, Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, at the Methodist Episcopal church at Iberia, Rev. Mr. Hastings, pastor of the church, officiating. He will be assisted by Rev. Mr. Riggs, of Westford. Burial will be made in the Iberia cemetery.

     Joseph McNeal Struthers was born on 12 October 1849 at Marion Co., OH. He was the son of Thomas Struthers and Mary Jane McNeal. Joseph McNeal Struthers married Adaline Jane Shaffer, daughter of Joel Franklin Shaffer and Frances Ellen Mears, on 9 October 1879. Joseph McNeal Struthers died on 2 September 1898 at age 48.

     Adaline Jane Shaffer was born on 20 January 1856 at Meeker, OH. She was the daughter of Joel Franklin Shaffer and Frances Ellen Mears. Adaline Jane Shaffer married Joseph McNeal Struthers, son of Thomas Struthers and Mary Jane McNeal, on 9 October 1879. Adaline Jane Shaffer died on 17 April 1940 at Marion Co., OH, at age 84. She was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH.

     Thomas Struthers was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH. He was born on 13 February 1819 at Washington Co., PA. He was the son of James Struthers and Martha C. Paley. Thomas Struthers married Mary Jane McNeal, daughter of John McNeal and Mary Riddle, on 14 January 1846. Thomas Struthers died on 10 April 1852 at age 33.

     Mary Jane McNeal was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH. She was born on 22 August 1823 at Washington Co., PA. She was the daughter of John McNeal and Mary Riddle. Mary Jane McNeal married Thomas Struthers, son of James Struthers and Martha C. Paley, on 14 January 1846. Mary Jane McNeal died on 25 January 1906 at age 82.

     Joel Franklin Shaffer was born on 13 January 1824. He was the son of John Shaffer and Orpha Terrell. Joel Franklin Shaffer married Frances Ellen Mears, daughter of Samuel Mears and Sarah Gardner, on 30 September 1847. Joel Franklin Shaffer died on 13 January 1864 at age 40.

     Frances Ellen Mears was born on 6 August 1828. She was the daughter of Samuel Mears and Sarah Gardner. Frances Ellen Mears married Joel Franklin Shaffer, son of John Shaffer and Orpha Terrell, on 30 September 1847. Frances Ellen Mears died on 28 June 1860 at age 31.

     James Struthers was born in 1774 at Cecil Co., MD. He was the son of John Struthers Senior and Agnes White. James Struthers married Martha C. Paley in 1807. James Struthers died on 16 December 1862.

     Martha C. Paley was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH. She was born on 28 July 1786. She married James Struthers, son of John Struthers Senior and Agnes White, in 1807. Martha C. Paley died on 8 January 1853 at age 66.

     John McNeal was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH. He was born on 29 May 1779 at County Down, Ireland. He was the son of Allen McNeal and Mary (?). John McNeal died on 2 September 1854 at age 75.

     Mary Riddle was buried at Iberia Cemetery, Iberia, Morrow Co., OH. She was born on 25 January 1785 at Washington Co., PA. She was the daughter of Joseph Riddle and Martha (?). Mary Riddle died on 12 August 1846 at age 61.

     John Shaffer was born on 15 March 1791. He married Orpha Terrell, daughter of Ichabod Terrell, on 21 April 1816. John Shaffer died on 29 January 1872 at age 80.

     Orpha Terrell was born on 2 May 1798. She was the daughter of Ichabod Terrell. Orpha Terrell married John Shaffer on 21 April 1816. Orpha Terrell died on 11 August 1852 at age 54.

     Agnes White was the daughter of John White. Agnes White died on 15 November 1814 at Washington Co., PA.

     Joseph Riddle died in 1822 at Washington Co., PA.

     Betsy Jean Johnson was born on 23 June 1916.¹ She was the daughter of James Talbot Johnson and Kate Miriam Holcombe. Betsy Jean Johnson died on 19 June 2003 at Franklin, VA, at age 86.¹

     Wescott Burlingame Junior was born on 9 March 1914 at Albany, NY.¹ He was the son of Wescott Burlingame Senior. Wescott Burlingame Junior died on 23 June 1999 at Southern Pines, Moore Co., NC, at age 85.¹

     Clarence Bowman was born on 29 December 1928 at Gordon Co., GA. He died on 2 May 1987 at Dalton, GA, at age 58.

     Chester Co., Pa., is now Cecil Co., Md. John White died in 1758 at Chester Co., PA.

     Wayne Brewster Rule was born on 27 December 1912 at IA.¹ He was the son of James Garfield Rule and Ada Eunice Hallowell. Wayne Brewster Rule died in August 1966 at age 53.²

     Edgar A. Doody was born circa 1879.¹ He married Annie Josephine McCafferty, daughter of John Thomas McCafferty and Sarah Ann McDonald, circa 1904.¹