Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889

Variant names

Hide Profile

Lucy Ware Webb Hayes served as First Lady of the United States as the wife of the 19th President, Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881). Nicknamed affectionately both “Mother Lucy” and “Lemonade Lucy”, she was well known for caring for wounded infantrymen in her husband’s command during the Civil War and for her staunch support of the temperance movement, respectively.

She came to the White House well loved by many. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio, daughter of Maria Cook and Dr. James Webb, she lost her father at age two. She was just entering her teens when Mrs. Webb took her sons to the town of Delaware to enroll in the new Ohio Wesleyan University, but she began studying with its excellent instructors. She graduated from the Wesleyan Female College in Cincinnati at 18, unusually well educated for a young lady of her day.

“Rud” Hayes at 27 had set up a law practice in Cincinnati, and he began paying calls at the Webb home. References to Lucy appeared in his diary: “Her low sweet voice is very winning … a heart as true as steel…. Intellect she has too…. By George! I am in love with her!” Married in 1852, they lived in Cincinnati until the Civil War, and he soon came to share her deeply religious opposition to slavery. Visits to relatives and vacation journeys broke the routine of a happy domestic life in a growing family. Over twenty years Lucy bore eight children, of whom five grew up.

She won the affectionate name of “Mother Lucy” from men of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry who served under her husband’s command in the war. They remembered her visits to camp–to minister to the wounded, cheer the homesick, and comfort the dying. Hayes’ distinguished combat record earned him election to Congress, and three postwar terms as governor of Ohio. She not only joined him in Washington for its winter social season, she also accompanied him on visits to state reform schools, prisons, and asylums. As the popular first lady of her state, she gained experience in what a woman of her time aptly called “semi-public life.”

Thus she entered the White House with confidence gained from her long and happy married life, her knowledge of political circles, her intelligence and culture, and her cheerful spirit. She enjoyed informal parties, and spared no effort to make official entertaining attractive. Though she was a temperance advocate and liquor was banned at the mansion during this administration, she was a very popular hostess. She took criticism of her views in good humor (the famous nickname “Lemonade Lucy” apparently came into use only after she had left the mansion). She became one of the best-loved women to preside over the White House, where the Hayeses celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1877, and an admirer hailed her as representing “the new woman era.”

The Hayes term ended in 1881, and the family home was now “Spiegel Grove,” an estate at Fremont, Ohio. There husband and wife spent eight active, contented years together until her death in 1889. She was buried in Fremont, mourned by her family and hosts of friends.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893. Rutherford B. Hayes letter acknowledging messages of sympathy, 1889 July 2. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Woman's Christian Working Association (Presbyterian Church, Ottowa, Ill.). Autograph album, 1880-1881. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Keeler, Lucy Elliot. Papers, 1885-1930. University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn McCrary, George Washington, 1835-1890. George W. McCrary collection, 1824-1936. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Slocum, Elias Willard, b. 1841. E. W. Slocum Civil War diary, 1861 Aug.-1863 Dec. 05. University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Perry, Hally Ballinger Bryan, 1868-1955. Hally Bryan Perry collection, 1835-1946. San Jacinto Museum of History
creatorOf Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889. Photograph collection, 1847-1889. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Marshall, Augustus,. Howells family photographs, ca. 1850-1925. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Autograph File, H Houghton Library
creatorOf SIGNATURES OF PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA from George Washington to Dwight David Eisenhower; 1776-aft. 1952. British Library
referencedIn Portrait file: Guide. Houghton Library
referencedIn Hayes, Webb Cook, 1856-1834. Papers, 1856-1934. University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Scott, George Tressler. Letter, 1953, November 19, to Henry Merritt Wriston. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Hayes, Birchard Austin, 1853-1926. Papers, 1860-1930 (bulk 1896-1930). University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Shurtleff, Roswell Morse, 1838-1915. Signed testimonial : New York, 1881. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Hayes, Frances, 1867-1950. Fanny Hayes collection, 1872-1951 (bulk 1900-1951). University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Rourk, Christopher. [Lucy Webb Hayes] [graphic]. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Laura Schiller's Files, 1993 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn McCrary, George Washington, 1835-1890. George Washington McCrary collection, 1824-1936. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Grant, George, 1810-1841. Grant-Dickinson-Butman papers, 1833-1875. University of Oslo Medical Library
creatorOf John Charles Frémont papers, 1862-1889. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn McCrary, George Washington, 1835-1890. George W. McCrary collection, 1824-1936. University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Shurtleff, Roswell Morse, 1838-1915. Signed testimonial : New York, 1881. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893. Card: Spiegel Grove, Fremont, O[hio], to J[ohn] C[orson] Smith, Chicago, [Ill.], 1889 July. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center (Fremont, Ohio). Hayes Presidential Center stereoscopic collection, 1850-1930. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn PH 2015, Brown, Zina Young Card 1888-1974. Zina Y. Card Brown family photographs circa 1860s-1930s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893. Rutherford Birchard Hayes papers, 1856-1893. Library of Congress
referencedIn Autograph to Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, and letters., 1881; 1871-1875 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889. Photograph collection, 1847-1889. University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Hayes, Birchard Austin, 1853-1926. Papers, 1860-1930 (bulk 1896-1930). Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Hally Bryan Perry collection MC038. 49964818., 1835-1946 Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
referencedIn Hayes, Webb Cook, 1856-1934. Papers, 1856-1935. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Keeler, Lucy Elliot. Papers, 1885-1930. Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Hayes, Frances, 1867-1950. Fanny Hayes collection, 1872-1951 (bulk 1900-1951). Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
creatorOf Clifford, Nathan, 1803-1881. Nathan Clifford scrapbook, ca. 1869-1882. Maine Historical Society Library
creatorOf Cook, Matthew Scott, 1803-1882. Papers, 1807-1887 / Matthew Scott Cook. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Delaware OH US
Fremont OH US
Cincinnati OH US
District of Columbia DC US
Columbus OH US
Chillicothe OH US
Subject
Indians of North America
Indian students
Presidents' spouses
Occupation
Essayist
Presidents' spouses
Activity

Person

Birth 1831-08-28

Death 1889-06-25

Female

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65r5kkh

Ark ID: w65r5kkh

SNAC ID: 84538679