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Webb Hayes
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James Webb Cook Hayes (March 20, 1856 – July 26, 1934) was an American businessman and soldier. He co-founded a forerunner of Union Carbide,[1][2] served in three wars, and received the Medal of Honor.

Key Information

Early years and family

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James Webb Cook Hayes was the second son of President Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes.

With his father serving in the American Civil War from the time James was five years old, he spent six months every winter at his father's encampment, which was usually Camp White, West Virginia. He became very close with the commander of the unit, General George Crook, who later became his godfather. Crook taught him how to live off the land, including hunting, fishing and survival. Years later, after Crook became famous in the west as a hunter and Indian fighter, the two made annual trips into the Rocky Mountains for a hunt of big game.

College and career

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Hayes attended Cornell University from 1873 to 1875 and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. He left Cornell to work as his father's secretary when his father was the governor of Ohio. When his father was elected president, he again served as his father's secretary.

In 1881, Hayes moved to Cleveland to work as the treasurer of the Whipple Manufacturing Company. In 1887, he, with three others, founded the National Carbon Company, which is now known as Union Carbide. Hayes stayed with this company for many years as the vice president.

He was the principal proponent for founding the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, the first presidential library. It was established in 1916 at Spiegel Grove.

Hayes died on July 26, 1934, in Marion, Ohio, and was buried with his parents at Spiegel Grove, the family estate in Fremont, Ohio.

Military service

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Hayes also served in the military in the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and First World War. He was a member of the First Cleveland Troop, later known as Troop A of the Ohio National Guard. During the Spanish–American War, he was appointed a major in the First Ohio Cavalry. He fought in Santiago de Cuba Campaign, during which he was wounded during the crossing of the San Juan River and the assault on San Juan Hill, and later in the invasion of Puerto Rico.

Following this, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, reassigned to the 31st United States Volunteer Infantry, and sent to the Philippines. Just hours after landing there, he led a rescue party to free captured men at Vigan Island. He received the Medal of Honor for this action. He went on to participate in the China Relief Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion and as an observer in the Russo-Japanese War.

During World War I, Hayes was promoted to colonel and first served as a special agent for the State Department in France and later held an administrative assignment on the Italian front. After the war he was promoted to brigadier general.

Hayes was a member of the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States by right of the service of his uncle, Lieutenant Colonel J.T. Webb, as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was also a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

Hayes was one of two sons of Presidents of the United States to be awarded the Medal of Honor, the other being Theodore Roosevelt Jr. The fathers of both men were deceased and had been out of office for several years during their sons' Medal of Honor actions, so nepotism and politics were not likely a factor in their awards.

Medal of Honor citation

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Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 31st Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Place and date: At Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 4, 1899. Entered service at: Fremont, Ohio. Born: March 20, 1856, Cincinnati, Ohio. Date of issue: December 17, 1902.

Citation:

Pushed through the enemy's lines alone, during the night, from the beach to the beleaguered force at Vigan, and returned the following morning to report the condition of affairs to the Navy and secure assistance.

Military Awards

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1st row Medal of Honor Spanish Campaign Medal
2nd row Philippine Campaign Medal China Campaign Medal World War I Victory Medal

See also

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Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Webb Hayes

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from Grokipedia
James Webb Cook Hayes (March 20, 1856 – July 26, 1934) was an American soldier and businessman, the second son of President and . He received the for gallantry in action during the , where he single-handedly pushed through enemy lines at night to reach and report on a beleaguered U.S. force at , securing naval assistance the following day. Hayes served in multiple conflicts, including the as a major in the First Ohio Cavalry, the during the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I as a colonel in the . In his business career, Hayes organized the National Carbon Company alongside partners such as James Parmelee and served as its vice president; the firm later became part of Union Carbide. He also founded the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums in Fremont, Ohio, establishing the first presidential library in the United States. Hayes' military service spanned from the late 19th century to the early 20th, marked by leadership in volunteer units and national guard troops that escorted presidents from Hayes to Taft. His legacy includes not only valor recognized by the nation's highest military honor but also contributions to industrial innovation and historical preservation.

Early Life

Family Background and Upbringing

Webb Cook Hayes was born on March 20, 1856, in , , to , a lawyer, Civil War general, and future U.S. president, and Lucy Ware Webb Hayes, an educator and temperance advocate raised by her widowed mother after her father's early death. He was the second of eight children, five of whom survived to adulthood: older brother Birchard Austin Hayes (1853–1926), younger brother Rutherford Platt Hayes (1858–1927), sister Fanny Hayes (1867–1927), and youngest brother Manning Force Hayes (1874–1942); the other three brothers—Joseph Thompson (1861–1863), (1864–1866), and Scott Russell (1870)—died in early childhood. Hayes spent his early childhood in , where the family resided amid his father's rising legal and political career, including congressional service and the Civil War absence from 1861 to 1865, during which Lucy Hayes managed the household and emphasized moral and educational values. By age 10, he began spending time at the family estate, , in , fostering an affinity for outdoor pursuits that shaped his later interests in and . The family's relocations followed Rutherford Hayes's governorships of Ohio (1868–1872 and 1876–1877), exposing young Webb to political environments in Columbus before the presidential years in Washington, D.C., from 1877 to 1881, after which the Hayeses retired to Spiegel Grove, purchased in 1873 as a rural retreat emphasizing family stability and self-reliance.

Education

Webb Hayes, born James Webb Cook Hayes on March 20, 1856, received his early education in amid his family's frequent relocations due to his father's political career. He enrolled at in 1873, studying there for two years as a member of the fraternity. In 1875, Hayes withdrew from Cornell without completing a degree to join his father's staff as during Rutherford B. Hayes's third term as of (1876–1877). No formal higher education followed, as Hayes pursued and pursuits thereafter.

Professional Career

Early Business Involvement

In 1881, following his time in , Webb C. Hayes relocated to , , to commence his business career as treasurer of the Whipple Manufacturing Company, a firm specializing in locks and hardware. By 1887, Hayes co-organized the in alongside associates Myron T. Herrick, James Parmelee, and W. H. Lawrence, assuming the role of vice president, which he held for many subsequent years; the company focused on carbon products and later evolved into a precursor of . These ventures leveraged Hayes' family connections to 's political and industrial networks, marking his initial forays into and corporate organization prior to extensive military engagements.

Founding Contributions to Industry

In 1881, Webb Hayes relocated to , Ohio, initiating his business career as treasurer of the Whipple Manufacturing Company, a firm specializing in locks and hardware, where he gained experience in operations and financial management. This role provided foundational expertise that informed his subsequent entrepreneurial efforts in emerging industrial sectors. Hayes co-founded the in 1886 alongside W. H. Lawrence, Myron T. Herrick, and James Parmelee, establishing the enterprise in to produce carbon rods and products essential for electric arc lighting, batteries, and early electrical applications. As vice president, Hayes oversaw operational expansion, including the development of a production facility in , which achieved output exceeding 15,000 carbon rods per day by the early 1890s, supporting the burgeoning demand for reliable carbon-based components in the electrified economy. The company's innovations laid groundwork for advancements in batteries and filters, contributing to industrial scalability in electrochemical . Through strategic mergers, including consolidation with the in 1892 and further integrations, National Carbon evolved into a core component of Corporation by 1898, transforming Hayes' founding venture into a multinational leader in chemicals and materials that influenced twentieth-century energy and defense technologies. His leadership emphasized practical production efficiencies over speculative finance, aligning with the era's shift toward consolidated industrial enterprises.

Military Service

Spanish-American War

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Webb Hayes was commissioned as a major in the 1st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry on May 9, 1898, and the regiment was mustered into federal service shortly thereafter. The unit deployed with the U.S. Fifth Army Corps to Cuba as part of the Santiago de Cuba campaign, where Hayes participated in the advance toward Santiago. During the crossing of the San Juan River on July 1, 1898, Hayes sustained wounds but continued to lead efforts in the assault on San Juan Hill, during which his horse was also killed. An after-action report commended Hayes for his gallant service, noting he remained cool and collected under fire despite his injuries. Following the Cuban operations, the 1st Ohio Cavalry shifted to the invasion of Puerto Rico, completing Hayes's service in the war's Caribbean theater. The regiment was furloughed after the armistice and fully discharged on January 20, 1899.

Philippine Insurrection


At the outset of the Philippine Insurrection in 1899, Webb C. Hayes was commissioned as a in the 31st U.S. Volunteers. He arrived in after a 33-day voyage aboard the transport ship Manauense in late November 1899. Within hours of landing, Hayes led a effort to relieve American forces garrisoned at on , which had come under insurgent attack. On the night of December 4, 1899, during the insurgent assault on , Hayes voluntarily penetrated enemy lines alone from the beach to reach the beleaguered U.S. troops. He returned through hostile territory the following morning to inform naval forces of the situation and obtain reinforcements, enabling Sibley to anticipate and counter the attack, resulting in the capture of the enemy's camp and supplies. For this gallantry, Hayes received the , awarded on December 17, 1902. Hayes continued serving with the 31st Infantry in subsequent operations against Filipino insurgents on until the regiment's mustering out in 1901. His leadership in the Vigan engagement exemplified the challenges of warfare, where small-unit initiative and were critical amid dispersed enemy forces.

Later Military Roles and National Guard Service

Following his active duty in the Philippine-American War, where he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 31st U.S. Infantry, Hayes participated in the during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. He later served as an observer during the from 1904 to 1905. Hayes maintained extensive involvement with the as a member of Troop A, originally the First Troop. In this role, he provided personal escort services to U.S. presidents from through , spanning administrations from 1877 to 1913, and attended the funerals of Presidents Hayes, , and McKinley. During , after the U.S. on April 6, 1917, Hayes was commissioned as a full . He initially served as a for the U.S. State Department in until the French military's temporary withdrawal from amid the German advance, then commanded a regional sector of the on the Italian front. His military service concluded around 1918, upon the war's end.

Honors and Recognition

Medal of Honor Action

During the Philippine Insurrection, on December 4, 1899, at Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Colonel Webb C. Hayes, serving with the 31st Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, exhibited exceptional bravery by penetrating enemy lines alone under cover of night. Starting from the beach, Hayes reached a surrounded American force, assessed their situation, and returned the next day bearing critical intelligence that enabled subsequent advances against Filipino insurgents. This solitary reconnaissance occurred shortly after U.S. forces landed near Vigan, amid ongoing clashes with insurgent groups resisting American occupation. The citation formally recognizes Hayes' actions: "Pushed through the enemy's lines alone, during the night, from the beach to the beleaguered force at , and returned the following day with important information which facilitated the advance." His initiative provided vital , preventing potential isolation of the and contributing to the relief of the position. Hayes' effort exemplified the demands of in the , where small-scale intelligence operations often determined tactical outcomes.

Additional Military Awards and Citations

Hayes was awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal for his service as a major in the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry during the Spanish-American War, where he participated in the campaign and was wounded crossing the San Juan River on July 1, 1898, during the assault on San Juan Hill. In addition to the , he received the Philippine Campaign Medal for his command as of the 31st U.S. Volunteer Infantry in the Philippine Insurrection, including operations leading to the capture of on December 4, 1899. Hayes earned the China Campaign Medal for his participation as a volunteer aide-de-camp on the staff of Adna R. Chaffee in the (Boxer Rebellion) in 1900. For his World War I service as a full with the on the Italian front, following earlier roles as a for the U.S. State Department, Hayes was awarded the World War I Victory Medal. No further valor citations or decorations beyond these campaign medals and the Medal of Honor are documented in primary records of his service.

Later Life and Legacy

Philanthropic Efforts and Preservation Work

Following his father's death on January 2, 1893, Webb C. Hayes pursued the establishment of a memorial museum and library at the family estate, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio, to preserve President Rutherford B. Hayes's papers, books, and artifacts for public access. In 1897, he and his siblings proposed the project to the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society (OSAHS), offering an initial $25,000 fund, though construction delays persisted until state funding of $50,000 was secured in 1911. Hayes donated 20 acres of Spiegel Grove land to the state in 1909–1910 for use as a park, with groundbreaking for the fireproof library occurring in September 1912 and dedication on May 30, 1916, marking it as the nation's first presidential library. Hayes personally financed key expansions and maintenance, contributing $6,200 in 1912 for initial work and $50,000 in 1916 for the Hayes Annex, constructed from 1920 to 1922 and dedicated on October 4, 1922, coinciding with his father's centennial birthdate. His total investments exceeded $500,000, including $250,000 in cash and securities plus equivalent value in and property, alongside three trust funds dedicated to library books, Hayes home upkeep, and Spiegel Grove grounds maintenance. To safeguard the site amid OSAHS neglect—such as roof leaks and inadequate heating—Hayes advocated for a night watchman in 1926, enforced deed reversion clauses requiring standards, and founded the independent that year for better oversight. He also relocated his parents' remains to in April 1915 and secured original gates for the grounds in the 1920s. Beyond the , Hayes collaborated with his sister Mary on in Sandusky , donating funds and land to found Memorial Hospital and the Mary Miller Hayes School of Nursing Home. He further supported preservation by establishing Memorial Parkway as a living tribute to Fremont's war dead, ensuring public commemoration of local . These initiatives reflected Hayes's commitment to historical stewardship and community welfare, leveraging his business-acquired wealth without reliance on partisan or institutional biases prevalent in contemporaneous academic narratives.

Death and Enduring Impact

Webb Hayes died on July 26, 1934, in , at the age of 78. He was interred alongside his parents at , the family estate in , which he had preserved as a public memorial. Hayes' most significant enduring contribution lies in his establishment of the Presidential Library and Museums at , recognized as the first in the United States. Following his father's death in 1893, Hayes spearheaded the effort to convert the estate into a public institution, securing state funding for a fireproof library building completed in 1916 and deeding the property, collections, and homestead to in 1919 under terms ensuring its perpetual operation as an educational and historical site. This initiative preserved over 10,000 volumes, artifacts, and documents from the Hayes presidency, fostering ongoing scholarship on Reconstruction-era policies, , and 19th-century American life. He also created Memorial Parkway in Fremont, a tree-lined boulevard dedicated in as a perpetual to local veterans, embodying his emphasis on civic remembrance and . Planted with symbolizing resilience and honor, the remains a public green space integrated into Fremont's urban landscape, reflecting Hayes' post-military focus on honoring sacrifice through tangible, living monuments. Through these projects, Hayes extended his family's legacy while advancing models of historical preservation and that influenced subsequent presidential libraries and veteran memorials nationwide. His actions ensured that Spiegel Grove's 25-acre grounds, mansion, and archives continue to attract researchers and visitors, safeguarding primary sources against loss and promoting unvarnished examination of his father's tenure.

References

  1. https://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/webb-cook-hayes/
  2. https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/webb-c-hayes
  3. https://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/hayes-children/
  4. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/lucy-hayes
  5. https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2015/08/lucy-and-rutherford-b-hayes.html
  6. https://millercenter.org/president/hayes/life-before-the-presidency
  7. https://www.rbhayes.org/research/hayes-historical-journal-rutherford-b.-hayes-family/
  8. https://www.rbhayes.org/collection-items/rutherford-b.-hayes-collections/hayes-webb-c./
  9. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=bgsu1494367843442774&disposition=inline
  10. https://www.spanamwar.com/1stohiocavroster.htm
  11. https://www.nationalwarmemorialregistry.org/memorials/colonel-webb-c-hayes-memorial/
  12. https://history.army.mil/Research/Reference-Topics/African-Americans-in-the-US-Army/Buffalo-Soldiers-at-San-Juan-Hill/After-Action-Report-2d-Brigade-Cavalry-Division/
  13. https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/api/collection/p16998coll15/id/126909/download
  14. https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/citations8.html
  15. https://www.army.mil/article/6134/the_insurrectos_attack
  16. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-3098/
  17. https://www.geni.com/people/Colonel-James-Hayes/6000000003306828990
  18. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8501/james_webb_cook-hayes
  19. https://www.rbhayes.org/research/hayes-historical-journal-creation-of-the-nation-s-first-presidential-library-and-museum/
  20. https://www.rbhayes.org/photographs/webb-c.-hayes-i-photograph-collection/
  21. https://www.rbhayes.org/estate/spiegel-grove/
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