Early Career
Hayes began his law practice in lower Sandusky, Ohio. However, he did not have much luck there and moved to Cincinnati in 1849. From that point on, his law career began to flourish — in fact, in 1858 Hayes was chosen to be the Cincinnati city solicitor. He served in that position until he joined the fight in the Civil War.
Civil War
Hayes's family was known for their long history of military service. In fact, both of his grandfathers fought in the American Revolution. When the Civil War began, he could not simply stand by and watch; in 1861, he joined the military to fight in the war. He began as a major in the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded four times, including a serious injury in 1862 at the Battle of South Mountain, but continued to serve until the end of the war. Hayes eventually rose to the rank of major general of volunteers.
In 1864, Hayes was elected to be a U.S. representative even though he was still in the military. He did not take his seat until the end of the war. Once the war ended, he took his seat and quickly won again for a second term. He served as a U.S. representative from 1865 until 1867.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS…
Excerpt from Hayes's diary concerning the Civil War: “[T]his was a just and necessary war and that it demanded the whole power of the country; that I would prefer to go into it if I knew I was to die or be killed in the course of it, than to live through and after it without taking any part in it.”
Governor of Ohio
In 1867, Hayes was elected to be the governor of Ohio. He served as governor until 1872 and then was reelected as governor in 1876. As governor, he proved to be especially honest and created civil service and other reforms in the state. He left the office in 1877 to become president of the United States.
