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James Webb Cook Hayes | |
|---|---|
 Hayes in 1920 | |
| Private Secretary to the President | |
| In office March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 | |
| President | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Ulysses S. Grant Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Stanley-Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Webb Cook Hayes (1856-03-20)March 20, 1856 Cincinnati, Ohio, US |
| Died | July 26, 1934(1934-07-26) (aged 78) Marion, Ohio, US |
| Resting place | Spiegel Grove State Memorial Fremont, Ohio |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | Ohio National Guard United States Army |
| Years of service | 1898–1918 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | 1st Ohio Cavalry Fifth Army Corps 31st Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Spanish–American War San Juan Hill Boxer Rebellion Russo-Japanese War World War I |
James Webb Cook Hayes (March 20, 1856 – July 26, 1934) was an American businessman and soldier. He co-founded a forerunner ofUnion Carbide,[1][2] served in three wars, and received theMedal of Honor.
James Webb Cook Hayes was the second son of PresidentRutherford B. Hayes andLucy Webb Hayes.
With his father serving in theAmerican Civil War from the time James was five years old, he spent six months every winter at his father'sencampment, which was usuallyCamp White,West Virginia. He became very close with the commander of the unit, GeneralGeorge Crook, who later became hisgodfather. 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 theRocky Mountains for a hunt of big game.
Hayes attendedCornell University from 1873 to 1875 and was a member ofDelta Kappa Epsilon. He left Cornell to work as his father's secretary when his father was the governor ofOhio. When his father was elected president, he again served as his father'ssecretary.
In 1881, Hayes moved to Cleveland to work as the treasurer of the Whipple Manufacturing Company. In 1887, he, with three others, founded theNational Carbon Company, which is now known asUnion Carbide. Hayes stayed with this company for many years as the vice president.
He was the principal proponent for founding theRutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, the firstpresidential library. It was established in 1916 at Spiegel Grove.
Hayes died on July 26, 1934, in Marion, Ohio, and was buried with his parents atSpiegel Grove, the family estate inFremont, Ohio.
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 theSpanish–American War, he was appointed amajor in the First Ohio Cavalry. He fought inSantiago de Cuba Campaign, during which he was wounded during the crossing of theSan Juan River and theassault on San Juan Hill, and later in the invasion ofPuerto Rico.
Following this, he was promoted tolieutenant colonel, reassigned to the 31st United States Volunteer Infantry, and sent to thePhilippines. Just hours after landing there, he led a rescue party to free captured men atVigan Island. He received theMedal of Honor for this action. He went on to participate in theChina Relief Expedition during theBoxer Rebellion and as an observer in theRusso-Japanese War.
DuringWorld War I, Hayes was promoted tocolonel and first served as a special agent for theState Department inFrance 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 theMilitary 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 theMilitary 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 beingTheodore 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.
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.
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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 | ||||||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
