CORRESPONDENCE OF GUY M. BRYAN AND
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES: ADDITIONAL LETTERS
edited by ROBERT C. COTNER and WATT P.
MARCHMAN*
A number of years ago Ernest William
Winkler, who was then
reference librarian and curator of
Texas books at the University of
Texas and an associate editor of the Southwestern
Historical
Quarterly, began the publication in that periodical of all
available
correspondence exchanged between the
Honorable Guy M. Bryan
of Texas and President Rutherford B.
Hayes of Ohio, classmates at
Kenyon College and lifelong friends.
The correspondence extended
from the post-Kenyon days in the 1840's
until a few months pre-
ceding the death of President Hayes in
January 1893. The letters
were published in installments
beginning with Volume XXV,
Number 2 (October 1921), and running
continuously through
Volume XXX, Number 1 (July 1926). An
excellent introduction
to the two men appeared with the first
of the series of letters.
Recently, about fifty-five additional
Bryan-Hayes letters, un-
published, including three written
during their college days, have
turned up in the Bryan Papers at the
University of Texas and in
the Hayes Papers at the Hayes Memorial
Library. Except for a few
whose contents are insignificant or
general and substantially covered
by other published letters, all appear
here for the first time.
Original letters are in the Hayes
Memorial Library, Fremont, Ohio,
unless accompanied by the symbol
"TxU," indicating location of
the original in the Guy M. Bryan Papers
at the University of Texas.
The editors wish to take this
opportunity to express their warm
appreciation to Mr. Winkler and to Miss
Winnie Alien, archivist
of the University of Texas, and to
Henry J. Caren, associate editor
of the Ohio State Archaeological and
Historical Quarterly, for their
patient and unfailingly generous
cooperation.
*Robert C. Cotner is professor of
history at the University of Texas. Watt P.
Marchman is director of the Hayes Memorial Library at
Fremont, Ohio.
349
350
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
BRYAN TO HAYES
[Kenyon College] Gambler Ohio Mch 28th,
[18]40 [1841]
My Dear Rud:--
First I must implore an excuse for my
poor miserable pen. I ask none
for myself, taking for granted that you
know I would write an legible
letter, had I a good pen to do it with,
but as Trow1 is away--away boiling
sugar in the sugar camp, of sweet
sugar Jane, my knife is dull & my head &
hands duller, so that inclination, as
well as necessity prompts me, to rest
satisfied with what fortune has allotted
me--a poor pen.
I have studied some, read
miscellaneously, & fished pretty considerably,
always catching sufficient number of
fish for a good meal.
I have nearly finished the "Analytical
outline" in Logic, & when I get
through with it, I think I will go no
further in its intricacies until next
session. I am anxious to study some history
as well as Logic this vacation.
Indeed I have mentally resolved to do
so, but how hard it is to fulfill these
resolves. It is easy for a mind formed
upon right principles, principles that
teach duty--a nice distinction between
right & wrong, to resolve upon a
right course, but very hard at the same time, to cure the
same mind, of
long indulged habits. And you know my
dear friend, that study, in its
"strict sense," I have but
seldom followed, except it was
occasionally in
reading, for in truth do I believe at
times, in reading history, & et cetera.
I have studied hard; but as a general
thing I have neglected this essential
requisite of a student. Human
resolutions partake of human constitution--
they are weak & need external aid
& support, the true wisdom is to find
out & apply the remedy in time. But
after long conflicts I have partly found
out my weaknesses & one of the most
prominent is hate of study. I say
I have found this out, but the remedy I
find is hard, very hard to apply,
even harder to apply than it was to be
discovered. Indeed everything appears
leagued against me & my good
resolves. Nature comes with her soporific
influences & keeps me in Morpheus'
embraces till 8 o c, or thereabouts,
nearly every morning, & after I have
risen the singing birds--budding
trees, & beautiful morn, with a
thousand associations all tend to carry
me back, to my own adopted land--the land
of the "Single Star" & balmy
clime,--to the home of my fond mother
& dear friends. Think not my
dear friend that this is the effusion of
a romantic spirit. For of a truth
Rud, I never witness a fine spring
morning, but that I am filled with all
1 Rowland Ebenezer Trowbridge
(1821-1881), of Birmingham, Michigan, was a
member of the class of 1841 at Kenyon.
He became a congressman from Michigan.
President Hayes appointed him
commissioner of Indian affairs in 1880.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 351
the emotions & ardent feelings,
consequent upon a long absence from
home, when the mind is carried back
irresistibly as it were, to the scenes
of other days, when every lineament of
the features of those you love, &
who are "far awa" are so
vividly painted in the imagination, that you
almost realize their presence. But the
picture soon vanishes, & I find I am
in the Gothic walls of Kenyon, "a
stranger in a strange land," between
whom & his "single star"
many others of the mighty constellation glitter.
Is it strange then, that feelings akin,
first to pleasure then to sadness thus
stealing o're me, should divert my
attention from study?
No! it is not strange, but it is wrong,
if not strange, for me thus to
permit my mind to dwell upon the past
& the future. Such thoughts, if
they do not stimulate me to acquire that,
which I have heretofore failed
in getting, it is my duty & should
be my endeavor to extinguish. Besides
what I have already enumerated, fishing,
eating too much &c &c &c all
keep me from study--study to too
great an extent.
My letter has not arrived, & I do
not know whether I shall leave the
Hill or not. I should like much, very
much to accept your kind invitation
& spend a few days with you. I would
do this more cheerfully than I ever
before accepted a similar invitation
since I have been here. I do not
exactly know why, but there is[,]
Hayes[,] something in your offhanded
& independent manner in doing
everything, which makes me often think
you were born under a southern sun (I
know not that you will thank me
for this remark). And this is the reason
why I would accept your in-
vitation more readily than those of
others of a similar kind for I was
(thank my destiny), born under a
southern sun & have felt & can appre-
ciate the openhanded welcome of southern
hospitality. Far be it from me[,]
Dear Rud[,] to assert that the
Northerners are not hospitable. The human
heart is equally, all over the world,
the "subject of much generous emotion"
but in different places it shows itself
in different ways, & the difference
in the form of hospitality between the
Northerners & Sth'r [Southerner]
arises from a difference in their
political conditions. The Sth'rs have their
servants always about them & in
sufficient numbers, hence their mode of
life is nearly always the same, & to
receive their friends forms a regular
part of their system. With the North'r,
from the absence of this large
power of domestic service, hospitality
becomes often difficult & formal. With
the S'r it is free from care, with the
Nth'r full of anxiety; with the Sth'r it
seems to flow warm directly from the
heart; with the Nth'r not unfrequently
from duty.
This is the distinction[,] my dear
friend[,] I have drawn; it may not
352
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
be correct. I have I think found it so
in many cases. And seldom have
I enjoyed myself when quartered upon
another. You may have witnessed
this feeling of mine in my first
intercourse with you. Happy most happy
am I to say that at least in one
instance & that one in yourself, have I
found Sth'n hospitality in K[enyon]
C[ollege]. I hope that I may, before
I graduate have an opportunity of spending
a few days with you & yours,
who [have a] regard [for] "Social
Obligations" & social hospitality.
Trow is well & spends all of his
time at the North section. He cannot
study on account of his eyes.
I am invited to the wedding of Miss Mary
Fay. But I do not think cir-
cumstances will permit me to attend.
Rud, excuse this badly written letter. I
am almost dying with ennui, or
I would have been more particular in my
composition. Write immediately
on receipt of this.
Yours affectionately
Guy M Bryan
Rutherford B Hayes
Columbus
Ohio
Care of Wm A Platt2
BRYAN TO HAYES
[Kenyon College] Gambier Ohio April 2nd
1840 [1841]
Dear Rud:-
I received your letter just 5 min since
(I must have a better pen than
this). Well, I have a little better pen
now--no! its agoing to fail me too--
try again--"Third time is a
charm" I have often heard. The third trial
in this case has made my pen a
"scintilla" better. You say my dear friend
that you used self denial, when you
wrote me. I assure you I do not use
self denial now, in writing you, but
have to contend with indolence, "that
curse of curses." But, I will tell
you of what I at present deny myself, &
then you can judge for yourself,
knowing, & at the same time keeping in
view, my great love of Texas. With your
letter, I got out of the post office,
two Texian [sic] papers, the
question with me (after reading your letter)
was, shall I read my papers first, or
write you, after a moments hesitation,
I determined on the latter. And here
"goes it," with a full pen & a fuller
sheet.
2 William Augustus Platt (1809-1882), of
Columbus, Ohio, was Hayes's brother-
in-law, having married Hayes's only
sister, Fanny Arabella, on September 2, 1839.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 353
I am rejoiced to hear that you are
enjoying yourself so well, but how
could I think otherwise, when "milk
& mush" are to be had. I fished
yesterday from morning, till night. At
first I was very unsuccessful, but
towards night fall, the fish commenced
biting, & by sun down I had about
30 very fine pan fish. I then marched up
to Old Sawyers [Sawer's "bakery"],
with Merriweather,3 (who
fished with me) & had a fine supper of jumbles
& eggs, and fish. This morning
contrary to my expectation, I got up to
breakfast, a little after the usual
time, very unusual for me. I spent this
morning (for it is now 2 oc P M) with
Killin4 at the Hall. He is truly
a noble fellow. I always feel benefitted
by a few hours intercourse with
him. He is so intelligent & feeling,
that one being with him cannot but
partake in some measure of the goodness
& beauties of his diversified mind.
He charges me o're & ore again, to
study my Logic well. Study it, said he,
even if in so doing, you have to neglect
some of your other duties. What
do you say about it?
I have not received that letter
& cannot therefore visit Columbus or
Delaware5 this vacation, but
even if I should receive it in time, I could not
come down from other & weightier
reasons. Trow is still at Douglass's.6
Arad has come home. I spoke to Trow some
days since, & advised him to
visit you, but he said he could not do
so. He is going out to some little
town 12 miles hence, to deliver a
temperance speech on next tuesday (today
is thursday). You ask me if I am jealous
of him. Oh no, I have no
reason, even if he were making
demonstrations in that quarter. My game
lies lower down the country.
"Ennui" was produced, in writing your letter.
I thought of the pleasure I could have
with you, & how I was debaring
myself of it. This made me draw
contrasts & I was quite melancholy by
the time I had finished your letter, or
if you cho[o]se to have it so, I was
dreadfully smitten with ennui. Taking
all things into consideration, I get
along here very well, but I could have
the "Blues" most horribly had I
not learned from you & my own common
sense the utter folly of such
feelings.
Who has Miss Fay married? I know his
name is Going, & lives in
Cin[cinnati] but this is all I do know
of him. Tell me something about him.
Let me know how matters & things stand
in Delaware. What is thought
3 R. H. Meriweather, of Cooksville,
Arundel County, Maryland, was a classmate.
4 Richard S. Killin, of Baltimore,
Maryland, was a member of the class of 1840.
5 Delaware, Ohio, was Hayes's home, but
he spent his vacations in Columbus after
his sister's marriage.
6 Major David Bates Douglass
(1790-1849), the first lay president of Kenyon.
Before his time the Episcopal Bishop of Ohio had been
ex-officio president.
354
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
(if anyone knows it) about Al's
engagement. Tell Lamb7 to send up the
money due for the cloths.
Please keep a watchful & friendly,
brotherly eye, for my sake, on
Stephen.8 I wrote him a few
days since. Make him write me.
The President & Old Sawyer is
playing hob with the mud & stones,
across the way,--in his garden I mean.
How much does the Baby9 weigh?
Present my best wishes to your mother[,]
sister & Mr. Platt.
Write me soon
Yours sincerely
Guy
Trow wrote you a few days since but did
not direct to the care of Wm A
Platt, on this account you may not have
recd.
This scrawl is little better than the
other, a "scintilla" of a difference.
I have to read my Texas papers yet so
excuse me for not writing more.
Guy
Rutherford B Hayes
Care of Wm A Platt Esqr
Columbus
Ohio
BRYAN TO HAYES
Delaware Mch 31st 1842
My Dear Rud
I received your kind letter &
"Xtra" last evening. I had heard of the
"Invasion"10 before but not of so many particulars. You Rud
have been to
me a friend, a true friend[,] one
on whose judgment I rely with the utmost
confidence & one who would give advice
with the intention only of sub-
serving my true interests. I
shall then[,] dear friend[,] put your judgment
to the test. You have seen the call maid
by Texas for aid. As her citizen
can I remain here[?] As a patriot would it not be dastardly to do so?
I am
7 Alvan B. Lamb, of Delaware, Ohio, was Hayes's first roommate at Kenyon.
8 Samuel Stephen Perry was Guy M.
Bryan's half brother. Perry was president of
the Phi Zeta club at Kenyon in 1844.
9 Sarah Sophia, the first child of
Hayes's sister, Fanny Hayes Platt, was born
October 5, 1840, and died June 15, 1841.
10 Mexico threatened to regain Texas. On
the sixth anniversary of the fall of the
Alamo, March 6, 1842, Colonel Carrasco
demanded the surrender of San Antonio to
General Vasquez. Texans lighted
powder-keg fuses and abandoned the town. Much
of the Guadalupe Valley was soon
deserted. Young Bryan could envision the panic
and flight of women and children just as
he had experienced them in the trying days
before San Jacinto. He did not know,
when he wrote, that the "re-conquest" had been
only an extensive raid and the Mexican
troops turned back to the Rio Grande. He
remained at Kenyon to complete his
course.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 355
anxious & willing to go. You have frequently heard from me a recital of
the events of 36. "Those scenes may
be reenacted." Who will protect my
mother and my Brothers families! My Brothers have
families. I have none.
They are in the army. I am
not. Ought I not to be there, & they with their
families? I have much more to say, but the mail leaves in [a] few
moments, & time will not permit. I
shall leave here (if you do not come
up before) on Saturday for Columbus to
see you & get your advice in
regard to the best course I can take. My
mind is pretty well made up to go
to Texas immediately. I shall wait 8 or 10 days longer for a letter which
may be more definite. If I do not get a
letter I shall go any how.
In regard to "the Spring" I am
now in no humour to write or have I
time to speak of it. "It does not appear to me
strange that I should come
here this vacation." However we may
talk on this matter at another time.
Present my respects to your mother,
Uncle & all of the family.
I remain your ever devoted friend
Guy
I will come down before Saturday if I
can get a conveyance.
Mr Rutherford B Hayes
Care of Wm A Platt
Columbus
Ohio
Certain letters of Bryan's beginning in
January 1843,11 edited by
Mr. Winkler, describe the conditions in
Texas at the time of General
Somervell's expedition to the Rio Grande
and the attack of Colonel
William Fisher's band on Mier, Mexico.
Some letters relate to the
War with Mexico, the slavery issue, and
the nature of the Union.
A member of congress from 1857 to 1859,
Bryan was active in
the congressional debates in 1858, as
the following letter indicates.
HAYES TO BRYAN
Cin[cinnati] May 21st 1858
Dear Guy
I saw George [W. Jones]12 today
and he tells me that you intend to go
11 Southwestern Historical Quarterly,
XXV (1921-22), 103-120. See also ibid.,
XXIII (1919-20), 112-140.
12 George W. Jones (died, 1884), of
Cincinnati, a Kenyon graduate, class of 1846.
See Southwestern Historical
Quarterly, XXV (1921-22), 198-221, passim.
356
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
home without coming to Cinci. I regret
this very much. I had counted
confidently on seeing you soon after
the adjournment of Congress. A
great deal of pleasant chat I am sure
we could have about your observations
made during the winter. I am pleased
with your course as an M. C. You
will not understand me to sanction your
general views, but [for] having
those views. You have acted with a good sense and good taste not
usually
exhibited, and conduct such as commands
respect. I am not sure but you
ought to have stood out with Gen'l
Quitman to maintain in the best manner
your position; but what you said
probably accomplished all that could be
done under the circumstances. Nothing
is gained on either side by com-
promises. I believe we agree on that.
Most people in these central States
now regard dissolution as an
impossibility and it is merely a struggle to
advance our respective views in the
Union--
We are living quietly and happily,
interested but not disturbed or anxious
in regard to the important affairs in
which you are acting. I read every-
thing in which your name is mentioned.
I yesterday heard Corwin "Tom"
argue a case in which the doctrines of
the "Free love School" were mixed
up. It was a glorious treat. He is as
smooth[,] eloquent and witty as ever.
What gifts he has! I am on the best of
terms with him and enjoy his talks
very much. Write me--
As ever
R B HayesTxU
Probably the last direct contact Bryan
and Hayes had with each
other prior to the outbreak of the
Civil War was the letter from
Hayes dated May 8, 1861, published in
the Southwestern Historical
Quarterly, XXV (1921-22), 285-288. The new letters take up their
friendship immediately after the war
and during the years of Re-
construction. During the war Bryan had
risen from private to
colonel in the Confederate army, while
Hayes became a brigadier
general in the Union army. The depth of
their friendship was re-
vealed in an entry in Hayes's diary,
dated at Camp Green Meadows,
West Virginia, July 18, 1862:
After drill[,] a fine concert of the
glee club of Company "A." As they
sang "that Good Old Word
Goodbye" I thought of the pleasant circle that
used to sing it on Gulf Pra[i]rie,
Brazoria Co[unty], Texas. And now
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 357
[the circle] so broken--And my
classmate and friend Guy M Bryan--
where is he? In the Rebel army! As
honorable and true as ever, but a
Rebel! What strange and sad things this
war produces--But he is true
and patriotic whatever he is--Success
to him personally.13
Not long after Appomattox, Bryan went
to Washington. While
there he wrote to Hayes. The following
letter indicates the date and
nature of Bryan's earlier letters,
which have not been found.
HAYES TO BRYAN
Cincinnati 30th Aug 1865
Dear Guy
Your letters were today recvd.
forwarded [to] me from Washington D C
thro Mr Ballinger14--I am so
glad to hear from you again. Uncle [Sardis
Birchard], [George W.] Jones, Long,
[Dr. James T.] Webb & others
often talk of you. I am ashamed that I
have not written to you since the
close of the War to say I was ready to
do what you wish. The truth is I
was not sure how you might feel--but it
is all right. I will make this a
personal matter & have no doubt it will all be as you wish. I fear there
may
be a good deal of delay--I hope not,
but I have no doubt of the final
success of your application. If Gov
H[amilton]15 does not forward the first
one, send one to me--both & all.
Don't say "fees" again or I shall be
angry- Your brothers, of course are
included in my good wishes in this
matter. I shall be surprised if we
fail--
I went in to the army at the beginning
of the War & have been quite
fortunate in my military Career--began
as Majr of 23d Ohio Inf & became
Brig Genl & I suppose have
been Brevetted Maj Genl--left the service a
few weeks ago when my men were mustered
out. I was in Virginia under
McLelland, Pope, & Sheridan--in
many battles[,] wounded badly once &
slightly often. During my absence I was
without worry on my part[.]
Elected a member of Congress from this
City & shall be in Washington
this winter as a member-- My family are
all well. We go to see Uncle
13 Diary (manuscript) of Rutherford B.
Hayes. Hayes Memorial Library. See also
C. R. Williams, ed., Diary and
Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes (5 vols., Columbus,
1922-26), II, 306.
14 William Pitt Ballinger (1825-1888),
of Galveston, Texas, an able lawyer, was
Mrs. Bryan's brother-in-law. The
Handbook of Texas (2 vols., Austin, 1952), I, 104.
15 Andrew Jackson Hamilton (1815-1875),
former congressman and staunch
Unionist, became provisional governor of Texas in July
1865.
358
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
Birchard tomorrow--my family will
remain until frost. I shall come home
in a few days.
Be patient--do not sacrifice your
property. All will be well with you
in a few weeks or months. Do not be
anxious, if there should be some
delay. My love to your wife. Tell me
about your children & Stephen &
your other brothers. I never saw a
Texan soldier that I didn't inquire of
you. But I learned next to nothing.
As ever your friend
R B HayesTxU
The year 1866 was an election year for
Hayes. In the fall he was
campaigning for reelection to congress,
and on October 1 wrote to
Bryan that he believed the people of
the North were "resolved to
adopt the Congressional plan of
reconstruction.... If we succeed
in the elections now pending don't be
deceived by Andy Johnson.
... He don't know the Northern
people."16 Bryan drafted a reply
within the month but did not send it.
The draft follows.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston Oct 1866
Dear Hayes
Your letter of 1st inst came
duly to hand--you write it in the midst of
political battle--on the eve of an
election in which you are personally
deeply interested. Now that the din of
strife at the polls is not so loud, &
the dust is clearing away, I hope, I
find you in a cooler mood & that you
will look at facts as they are, &
that your naturally just mind & patriotic
heart will enable you to see both sides
of the question. I feel that there is
justice[,] right & magnanimity in
the North, & that if it can only be reached
that a wise solution of our
difficulties may yet be obtained. You did not
enclose to me your speech as you
promised. I do not know your sentiments
otherwise than from your letters &
the general course of the party with
which you are acting. I have thought
& still believe you to be a Conservative
Republican & not a follower of Thad Stevens & Wendell Phillips.
I write to you not as a politician but
as an old friend--your companion,
classmate & friend in "life's
sunshiny hours" when our hearts beat in
unison, and now (more than twenty four
years since your valedictory to
16 Southwestern Historical Quarterly,
XXV (1921-22), 288-290.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 359
the class) which all storms of earth
have not divided--with the confidence
of the recollections of the old halls of
Kenyon & the sacredness of our
friendship I sit down as in days of
"Auld Lang Syne" & talk with you.--
heed my talk, it is the language of truth--&
of true friendship[.] But for
our affection & mutual confidence I
would not say one word on politics,
for I should feel as the Southern people
as a rule feel, indifferent--
their honor & manhood they wish to
preserve[;] as to the rest they are
indifferent[,] made so by unwise
treatment[,] military rule & their
helplessness.TxU
BRYAN TO HAYES
Hot Springs Arkansas
May 5th 1871.
Dear Hayes
I am here on account of my health--I
have my wife & oldest child, an
only son[,] with me. One of the results
of the war to me is rheumatism &
I am here for its cure. I may remain two
months--less or more as the
case may be--I then expect to visit
upper Miss: & Canada for a purer & more
rarified atmosphere. I would like to
visit you & yours. I would like for your
wife to know mine. I would like face to
face, with sincerity & frankness[, to]
get from you, the real views of those
who have been legislating for the
South; and I would like to tell you the truth
in regard to my own State.
If I can I will visit you & yours. I
would like with you & your wife, &
Uncle Birchard [to] visit our old Alma
Mater.
Write to me at this place care of
proprietors of Hot Springs Hotel.
This is a wonderful place & I expect
excells all other Springs in the U S
for its curative properties.
I have always cherished affection for
you, & although the people of my
State has had so much to contend with, I
have always cultivated the feeling
& opinion that you, & such as
you[,] did not know our condition &
treatment & were deceived by the
stories told for that purpose (deception).
I want to have a free, honest talk with
you above party, & prejudice,
with truth & country only in
view. Such a talk I have so long desired, &
to have it, I would make a trip to
Columbus. I have taken no part in
politics, attended no political meetings
of any kind or party, since the
surrender. My views & feelings then
are not warped by prejudice, pride of
consistency or self love. If I know
myself, I desire to look at & act in
conformity with true
statesmanship--meeting the requirements & circum-
stances that surround us, & environ
the Country. Shall we meet before
360
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
I return to Texas? Present the sincere
regards of my wife to yours, and
take the same from both of us for
yourself & children.
Truly yours
Guy M Bryan
Gov R B Hayes
Columbus
Ohio
BRYAN TO HAYES
Brookville, Alabama
July 19th 1871.
Dear Hayes--
I shall leave here on Monday next for
Canada & will give you a passing
call-- My wife & son will on the
same day I leave, go to Texas. My
wifes Aunt (Mrs Clay) will accompany me
to St Catherines (Canada).
When I return from Canada I may stop
longer with you.
I have directed my telegrams &
letters to be directed to your care. I
shall only stop for a day in consequence
of having my Aunt with me.
Sincere regards to your wife &
children
Your friend &c
Guy M Bryan
P.S. Glad to receive your letter in
reply to mine at Hot Springs.
HAYES TO BRYAN
STATE OF OHIO
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Columbus, 25th July 1871.
My Dear Guy:
I returned yesterday after two weeks
travelling with Uncle Birchard in
New England. Very glad there is a
prospect of meeting you soon. I write
this fearing you have passed here
without stopping, by reason of no reply
to your letter.
Dont fail to stop with us on your
return. Take a hack at the Depot to
my house direct. You will be heartily
welcomed by my wife, if I happen
to be absent, which is not likely. We
are all very well. Wife & boys all
temporarily absent.
Sincerely
R B Hayes
Hon Guy M Bryan
St Catherines, CanadaTxU
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 361
BRYAN TO HAYES
St Cat[h]erines, Ont.
July 31st 1871
Dear Rud,
I found here yours of 25th. I
thank you for its sentiments.
For your late affectionate consideration
& personal attentions, (every
one of which I noticed) which I credit to your heart, & remembrance of
other days, you have my fullest
appreciation--their odour will long live &
sweeten my friendship for you.
Present my tender regards to your wife
& children. I hope that they are
with you, should I be able to return by
Columbus I hope to meet with
them, & sit with them & you at
your board. May you & them never know
ought but peaceful happiness, protected
by good laws made by your own
race.
Please send any letters, &c for me
directed to your care to this place care
of Beverly Tucker,17 until I
direct otherwise.
I found Ballinger[,] sister & her
daughter here--Ballingers health has
improved, & is improving. I shall
stay here at least a week & perhaps longer.
I may as I leave here give your Uncle a
call. Cant say as yet.
Sincerely yours
Guy M Bryan
BRYAN TO SARDIS BIRCHARD
Eaton Rapids, Michigan
August 20th 187118
Mr Sardis Birchard,
My Dear Sir.
On my way here I paid Rud. a visit--A
charming one full of the old
Spirit & affection of other days on
both sides. He told me that you were
in New England or I should have given
you a call on my way to St.
Catharines Canada, (where I spent 10
days).
Now I write this to inform you that I
may leave this place in a week or
ten days & if agreeable to you will
make you a short visit. Let me know
17 Nathaniel Beverly Tucker (1820-1890), Confederate agent from Virginia
who
worked for an exchange of cotton for
bacon while on a Canadian mission in 1864.
He was a nephew of the famous law
teacher of the same name. Suspected of plotting
Lincoln's assassination, he did not
return to the United States until 1872.
18 Bryan visited Hayes at Columbus
before going to Michigan. See Southwestern
Historical Quarterly, XXVI (1922-23), 58-59.
362
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
your movements--when you will be at
home? And if not there when
I could call to see you?
I wish to return home in Sept, perhaps
the last of the month. I have
several places to visit before I turn
southward for Texas.
My wife & son left for Texas on 25
of last month. I parted with them
on [the] Miss. I have letters from them
at home[;] all are well-- I shall
enjoy a visit to you very much, &
would regret not seeing you before I
return.
Very Truly your friend &c
Guy M Bryan
P.S. Write me immediately on rcpt of
this, for though I may remain here
a week or more, yet I am liable to leave
in a few days, should I find the
waters not agreeing with me. Direct to
Eaton Rapids Mich, care of Frost
House. When I leave here I wish to go
directly to you, or I shall be too
far away to return to see you.
BRYAN TO HAYES
OLIVER HOUSE,
Toledo, O., August 31st 1871
Dear Rud.
I shall leave here in the morning for
Milwaukee Wis.; shall be back in
a few days. Please send my letters to
this place care of Lee & Brown. I
shall be very glad to hear from you on
my return. I am trying to make
an exchange of 6000 acres of land on
Oyster Creek, (below & adjoining
my brother Austin's place, where your
uncle killed the leopard cat,) for
unimproved property near to this city.
Mr Pomeroyl9 under the
direction of Frank Hurd will be my negociator.
You have an idea of the richness of the
soil, &c and if you can aid me you
would confer an obligation. I would like
to have here an interest, & we
could pull together--& what the
future would bring forth no one can now
tell. Brown20 is away and I
rely on Frank Hurd a gentleman.
Sincerely yours,
Guy
P.S. A canal connects Galveston Bay with
Brazos crossing Oyster Creek.
19 George Eltweed Pomeroy, Sr.
(1807-1886), of Toledo. For biographical sketch,
see John M. Killits, ed., Toledo and Lucas County,
Ohio, 1623-1923 (3 vols., Chicago,
1923), II, 37.
20 James M. Brown (1835-1909), of the Toledo law firm of Lee & Brown.
Bio-
graphical sketch in Harvey Scribner,
ed., Memoirs of Lucas County and the City of
Toledo (2 vols., Madison, Wis., 1910), I, 489-491.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 363
Steamboats navigate canal to Brazoria
& Columbia on Brazos river from
Galveston. lower line of my land is 3
miles from canal & Oyster Creek all
through the tract is navigable[,] having
as you will recollect from 12 to
15 ft water. This land is 50 miles by
water from Galveston.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Waukesha Wis:
[Between September 1 and 16, 1871]
Dear Rud.
I received your letter, (by the hands of
Col Neil21) with letters en-
closed. I thank you for the letters. I
do not understand your reference to
your eyes. Are you suffering, or when
did you suffer from your eyes? I
am ignorant if I ever knew.
I thank you kindly for your disposition
in regard to my proposed trade
in Toledo. I left my matters in the
hands of Hurd & Pomeroy. The latter[,]
a real Estate man to whom Hurd
introduced me--Brown was not at home,
but I left a letter for him, & he
has written to me & said that he would
assist me. Lt Gov [John C.] Lee his
partner called to see me on the
evening previous to my departure for
this place, he too had been absent
from the city. When I leave here I shall
go through Toledo to N York.
If you have nothing better to do, &
you could meet me there, I cannot
tell you how glad I would be to see you.
I want you to answer my letter
written from your Uncles.22
I enjoyed myself with your Uncle &
young folks very much. I did not
know myself how tender my regard for
your Uncle was until I saw him
again. We were together all the time,
& we did enjoy ourselves. I love
him as a dear old friend of my youth, as the father of my dearest friend
at College. He was unreserved & free
in his thoughts & feelings with me,
and when we parted I felt it was not for
the last time.
Sincere regards to your wife, & Rud,
Yours,
G. M. B.
Write immediately. Write immediately
& I will get the letter here. The
waters here are doing me good, I think
I[f] you will meet me I will
telegraph you when I leave here; &
await your coming.
21 John Baldwin Neil (1842-1902) was Governor Hayes's private secretary
between
1870 and 1872.
22 Bryan's letter dated Fremont, Ohio, August 29, 1871. Southwestern
Historical
Quarterly, XXVI (1922-23), 60-62.
364
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston Dec 19th 1874
Hon R B Hayes,
Dear Hayes
I received a letter [a] short time since
from Mr Platt, who wrote that
he thought he should come out this
winter on account of his health, &
to see Texas & perhaps make
investments[.] I replied to him at once. If
he comes out can't you come too? I am
very sorry that I am not keeping
house so that I could invite you to it,
but since the death of my wife, I
live with my children who are with their
Grandmother Mrs Jack & their
aunt Mrs Ballinger; in order to be with
them I have a room at Ballingers
& make that my home. I told Platt
frankly what I thought of the climate
of Galveston, & the coast. San
Antonio is a fine climate, & has greatly
improved since you were there, it has
now at least 15,000 people, & good
houses hotels &c. I think Galveston
will please both of you & it is a
growing place. My brother Austin whom I
met in Houston two days since
told me he had written you in regard to
the sale of his old place, where
he lived when you were in Texas. I know
of no better tract any where,
& he is now involved, & is
compelled to sell property to relieve himself,
& it can be bought at a bargain,
such a bargain that if I had the money I
would buy it myself & I greatly
regret that I cannot sell land elsewhere to
make the purchase. it is certainly one
of the finest tracts of land I ever
saw & there is navigation all
through it--connected by canal with Galveston
only about forty miles distant.
On the 12th of next month our
Legislature meets. I do not think we
will be in session long, as we will call
a constitutional convention. Rud
are we done with the Negro? Are you not
satisfied by this time he is not
fit to govern himself without the
government of the white man? Will the
Northern people force the negro
question, & social equality upon us with
the view to get the exciting question up
again for another canvass? Let us
have peace for God['s] sake, & dont
ruin the South for party purposes.
Mrs. Perry is now in Galveston, her
health has been growing worse since
Stephens death, but since she came here
her health has improved. She
thinks that she will be able to return
home in a week much improved.
My brother Austin lives in Washington
County not far from Col Gillespie's
place, & Joel23 lives at
his old place. he plants sugar, & has made a good
crop this year. Ed Austin lives in
Galveston, has done well & has a de-
23 William Joel Bryan (1815-1903) was another brother of Guy's.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 365
lightful family of children, oldest a
daughter & grown. his wife has been
dead about 18 months. He is a lawyer,
& has made money. My children
are well. Give my regards to your wife
& children.
As ever sincerely
Yours,
Guy M Bryan
P.S. Please send me a copy of the late
Constitution you voted on, for it
may be of use in making ours.
Bryan was pleased that the Republicans
nominated Hayes for the
office of president in 1876, but
candidly gave his reasons for sup-
porting Governor Tilden of New York,
the Democratic nominee.
The many letters that are known to
exist for the period from the
nomination of Hayes at Cincinnati in
June 1876 until the inaugu-
ration in March 1877 and Hayes's
invitation to Bryan to visit him
for consultation, are to be found in
the Southwestern Historical
Quarterly, XXVI (1922-23), 287-316, and XXVII (1923-24),
52-59.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston Mch 24th 1877
Dear Rud.
On my return from the country I find
yours of the 13th inst. Heartfelt
thanks for your very kind invitation,
prized by me as evidence of affection
& confidence. I will "think
of it." If I go, I may go through N Orleans,
to see myself the condition of
affairs there. I have no doubt but for the
newspapers one could be in the city & not know that there was
any other
than the Nichols government, unless he
went near Packard. My under-
standing is that Nichols & his
authority is recognized all over the state, &
the State government quietly
discharging its duty.
Will you please comply with the request
made on accompanying sheet.
[Sheet missing]
Sincerely Your Friend
Guy M Bryan
Bryan accepted Hayes's invitation to
come to Washington. He
stayed at the White House for about two
weeks during the latter
366 Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
part of April 1877 as guest and adviser
to the president, and was a
guest on a second visit in October
1878.
The governor of Texas, Richard Hubbard,
wrote a long "un-
official" letter to President
Hayes on April 7, 1877, recommending
that Bryan be appointed minister to
Mexico. Bryan knew of the
suggestion, for he wanted the office.
The president did appoint him
a member of the board of visitors to
the United States Military
Academy for 1879, but he did not
accept.24
BRYAN TO MRS. HAYES
Galveston Dec 29th 1879
My Dear Mrs Hayes,
Betty Ballinger my niece has written
her family of your kindness to
her--I thank you for this. I appreciate
fully your friendship, & the friend-
ship of Mr Hayes as evidenced to me
since you have been in the Executive
Mansion.
In this last instance you do me as well
as my niece a favor. Betty is a
cultured noble woman, worthy of the
notice of yourself & my friend the
President. It would be very gratifying
to me should she return the friend
of both of you.
I hope that the changes on the
political Chip-board may bring forward
Mr Hayes for the Presidency--I do not
believe the Country could do better
than re-elect him. His administration
in the main, has gained him the con-
fidence of many good men in the South.
He certainly has much stronger
claims on the people of the Southern
States than Genl Grant. I say this
here to you, because of the Extra
Session & its consequences, so that both
of you may know that they have not
altered my appreciation of & con-
fidence in him. Many things have
recurred on both sides that he & I
deprecate, & would have averted if
we could. I know his sense of justice
& correct feelings, and I believe I
understand & appreciate his position.
It would afford me great pleasure to
support him for the Presidency.
My little Hally has never forgotten the
pleasure of her visit to you,
& often speaks of Fanny &
Scott.25
With Sincere regards I am respectfully
Yours &c
Guy M Bryan
24 See
Southwestern Historical Quarterly, XXVII (1923-24), 63-64, 327-328, and
XXVIII (1924-25), 75-77.
25 Fanny
and Scott Hayes were children of President and Mrs. Hayes, in their
early teens.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 367
BRYAN TO HAYES
Private
Galveston Nov 4th 1880
Dear Rud.
I went to Va. with Hally in [the] month
of Sept. & returned here a few
days since. I spent six weeks with my
daughter Laura (who will be
seventeen in February) leaving Hally at
school with her, so that I have
now only my little boy Guy with me.
Willie is in Brazoria Co. I leave
tomorrow to meet him and confer as to
our future. I must try to make
a home in the country, preparatory to
getting my children together as I
cannot afford to live any longer in this
city.
I positively refused to let my name go
before the county convention,
and I am now out of politics. I will be
in Jan. next sixty years old & have
to commence life anew for the benefit of
my children. In politics I want
peace, which I had hoped you would have
brought us. You did a great
deal in that direction, but you were not
sustained by either Section 'as you
deserved. I did my part[;] would I could
have done more. This brings me
to filling the vacancy caused by the
recent death of Judge [Thomas H.]
Duval of the Western Judicial District.
If you will not go out of your
party appoint E M Pease[;] he is the
best one you can select. If you will
go out of the party several good names
could be selected. Men like [John]
Hancock, [C.S.] West & others. It
has been intimated to me that Pease
would take the place if it was offered
to him; his home is in Austin--(it
is also the residence of Hancock and
West). Had you returned earlier
from your Western trip I would have
visited you. I am glad you made it,
for while it must have been full of
interest to you & Mrs. Hayes, it was
gratifying to the people of the Pacific
that the President & wife were
among them.
Grant I suppose is destined by Conkling
& Co. for the next presidential
Candidate. You know long ago I had fixed
upon you as successor of
Garfield. No one can tell now what
course events will take, but if you
will pursue a liberal course with
Southern men & make the most of your
opportunities this winter by cultivating
them, there is no telling what may
happen in regard to yourself. If the
Democrats could not succeed with such
a man as Genl. Hancock I dont know with
whom they could succeed in
future under their present organization.
The old Whig party might be
revived; under that name men from the
North & South might rally and
act together without wounding
sensibilities of any one, & thereby form
a National party. I throw out these suggestions for your reflection. My
368
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
post office will be here until I inform
you otherwise. I would like to hear
from you.
Present my sincere regards to Mrs. Hayes
& other members of your
family.
As ever yours,
Guy M Bryan
P.S. I have some tracts of land that I
must sell. If you have any friends
who want to invest in Texas lands,
fertile soil & good titles refer them
to me if you please. No better
investments could be made if parties will
wait a while, for their advance in prices.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Galveston May 8th/81
Dear Rud.
I have yours-- I am glad to know that
you take so kindly to home &
old ways. After all Rud these are our
best ways, & bring most happiness.
There is that within us that wish
change, & desire the excitement of society
such as is found in position & with
power--but after all, when we think
of six feet of dirt is all that we want
here in the end, how much better
it is for the true philosopher & good
citizen to make home, sweet home
dearer[,] lovlier [sic] & better
than all other places. I trust that your wife
will be as content to show the good
taste, good feeling & good sense at
her private home that she manifested in
the home of the U S--the White
House. Fanny, your rose-bud & pet[,]
Hally writes me corresponds with
her. I hope they may be the friends
their fathers have been from their
early youth. I have just received by
this mail information that Hally is
the first case of measles in
school, taken 4th inst. she is doing well &
Laura is separated from her. Laura has
never had measles. I fear the
after sickness or effects of measles. I
am anxious & troubled about my
daughters--so far away, but I have no
doubt that they will be cared for.
Laura has never had the measles. I
expect when you hear from me again
I shall be somewhere in Va---- Yet I am
compelled to remain away on
account of business, but my sensitive
& affectionate nature is put under
a great strain to submit to what duty
requires of me. And as soon as I
can I think it not improbable I may be
on my way to Hollins Institute--
where my darlings are. I will then
perhaps get some cheap place in the
mountains & take them there with me.
I saw the death of old Trow announced.
Poor old Trow, he is one of
the few of our old set that I felt like
I could always grasp the hand with
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 369
the confidence & affection of old. I
wish I could have looked into his
eyes & face again before he bade
adieu to the sun & flowers of earth.
Peace be to his soul. You ask me to
visit you. I would like to do so but
Rud I cant do now what I want to do, my
means are so limited. You
cannot realize this & how cramped I
have been. Before the war I was
wealthy[;] now I am poor, & have to
study economy.
I am glad your neighbor thinks so well
of Texas & her people, of
course what he says is true but
how many of our Congressmen from the
North & others on high places preach differently. They speak of
the
"solid-South," when their
course solidifies us, & always will solidify us
until they let us alone, then on
practical material questions we will divide.
I am very glad you met with this
gentleman & got the truth from one you
would believe. I think you have always
taken what I have said with a
discount--especially after the few first
months of your administration.
It is so difficult to get at the facts,
& so difficult for Northern men to
value & understand the character of
men who approach them (at the
North) as Republicans & friends of
the Negro. If Southern men do attempt
to state the truth they are
prejudiced--so I am glad you have seen one of
your own citizens who is willing to see
& judge without prejudice. With
sincere regards to Mrs Hayes & love
to Fanny & Scott I am
As ever Your friend
Guy M Bryan
P.S. I have been away & have been
suffering with sore eyes, or your
letter would have been answered sooner.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Hollins Inst.
Botetourt Springs, Va.
August 20th, 81
Dear Rud.
I thank you for yours of the 13th
inst.
I wish much to visit you, but the
private reasons I have heretofore given
you for not having visited you before
you left Washington still embarrass
me. I am glad to know that the
President's course will be as you represent.
I have desired & do earnestly desire
his recovery, & however much we
deplore his condition, yet I hope much
benefit to the country from his
affliction & sufferings[,] as to his
administration of affairs[,] should he re-
cover, (which I now very much doubt.)
I am glad you refer to the course
pursued towards my nephew. My in-
370
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
formation from Washington is that he was
removed by the interposition of
Gov. [E. J.] Davis, [J. C.] DeGress
& other Republicans from Texas at
Washington, because, he was not a
Republican. He is poor, & the only one of
the family of Stephen F. Austin, (the
founder & father of Texas,--whose
last words were on 27th Dec. 1836,
"Texas is annexed I know it. Archer
told me so; he saw it in the
papers."), who held an appointment under U. S.
Gov't. The people of Brenham of all
classes signed a recommendation to the
Post Office Dept. that he was most
acceptable to them, & that his office was
well conducted. If reported by special
agent it was done because he was
not a Republican. I know the Senators of Texas are his friends, &
that
Post Master General [James] promised
Senator [Richard] Coke that he
would not disturb him until he consulted
him. Senator Coke saw him
especially on this subject before he
left Washington for Texas. I wrote the
President on the subject & requested
that action on his case should be
delayed until he could see the Senators.
I say this much because you refer
to it, as you do in your letter. After
speaking of Garfield, you say "on
the other question I feel great hope."
I do not know what you refer to.
I thank you sincerely for your kind
invitation to me & mine to visit you,
but I fear that I shall not be able to
accept it. Write me to this place again.
My sincere regards to your wife. Hally
sends same & to Fanny.
Your friend
Guy M Bryan
P.S. I saw account of death of Geo.
Jones, Jr. I wrote his father at once.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Bryan Place, Wharton County Nov 8th/83
Dear Rud,
Many thanks for your kind letters to
serve Betty. I received & enclosed
them to her father & I got a letter
from him to-day expressing his thanks
to you &c.
I hope you are mistaken about the party
view that will be taken in regard
to appointment of Judge, as I trust you
will be in regard to the blunders of
Democratic leaders. I admit however that
these blunders have been made,
& of late years too great a tendency
that way.
A change of Party rule would I have no
doubt be of benefit to the
Country[.] I think a change is needed to
purify your party & to test mine.
Prosperity does not bring out the best
qualities of man, adversity tries,
elevates & enobles. I think the real
& important difference between the two
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 371
parties is in the form of government
each advocates. Yours centralizing,
mine home or State rule, recognising
& maintaining all the powers of the
general government. I think the
teachings of Democratic principles lead
to the perpetuation of our
constitutional government, Republican to chang-
ing that government to a stronger one
than now provided for by the
Federal Constitution & to the
curtailment of powers of local or state
government. here, is the real
& important differences. All other differences
are of the hour & live & die
with it. Present my regards to your wife &
children.
As ever yours
Guy M Bryan
BRYAN TO HAYES
Bay Lake Galveston Co
Nov 1st 1884
Dear Rud,
I was gratified to receive yours after
the visit of Miss Betty & Guy.
I was delighted that you & Mrs
Hayes were pleased with my pet boy, I think
him a little gentleman[.] I have
(as I wrote you) done my best on him.
He has been my companion for years,-- He
is truthful, honorable & trust-
worthy in everything to the extent of
his experience & information. He
was staying with my brother Austin last
winter going to a private school
near. When I was there before he left my
brother said to me--"I never
saw such a boy as Guy. no matter how
much he desired to do anything
if he thought his father did not wish
him to do it, no persuasion or
temptation could induce him to do
it.--he is devoted to his father." He
writes me that you & Mrs Hayes have
invited him to spend the Christmas
with you. I have written him to do
so. I want Scott & him to know each
other.
In a few days it will be decided who
will be President. I see that you
support Blaine, I suppose on the ground
that he is the nominee of your
Party. Reform we need--Purification
is necessary for the health of the body
politic. I believe in the Jeffersonian
construction of the Constitution, & with
me this is Democracy--all else are side issues living & dying with the
day.
I wish to preserve the form of
government bequested to us by our fore-
fathers. If this is not a desirable one
after trail, & progress of events,
lets change it in the way provided by
the Constitution, & not by silent
stealing from the States, & people
of the States powers, & conferring them
on the Departments of the general
Government.
372
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
I am of course for Cleveland.26 He
was in my mind when I wrote you
shortly after his election as Gov. that
the next nominee of the Democratic
Party would be a young & new man.
You may recollect the letter.
Give my love to Mrs Hayes & your
children, especially to Fanny.
As ever Your friend
Guy M Bryan
P.S. My health is bad & has been
since last winter. I am suffering
with Catarrh & contemplate leaving
for medical aid. My P O is Shoal
Point, Galveston Co.
BRYAN TO HAYES
Durazno Brazoria Co Texas
June 29th 1889
My dear Rud.
I have read [of] the death of your
beloved wife, & my friend. I have
passed through the same great sorrow,
& I can, & do feel for & with you.
I knew her well & loved her much.
You know she called me brother,
always recognising the ties between you
& me and those that bound us as
sister, brother. No more will I see her
& enjoy her bright loving smile &
winning ways. She is gone from us but
not forever.
I know you too well to say anything of
how to bear your loss. Of
course you will do this rightly. I wish
I were with you for awhile. My
identification with you--your
Mother, sister, uncle & Mr Platt[;] my
presence at this moment of your great
loss would I think be comforting.
They have all gone--you and I are still
here--while here lets do our
part in all things well.
God grant you peace & comfort from
what remains to you.
I write this at my brother Joels residence,
the old place you once knew
so well. In a few days I will return to
Galveston. My P. 0. is Galveston,
when not there my letters are forwarded.
My brothers Joel & Austin (who
are both with me) send their heartfelt
sympathies. About two weeks since
my brother Austin lost his wife; he is
in fit mind to feel with you.
Your devoted friend
Guy M Bryan
Love to all your children. Hally is in
Virginia. I hope she will write
Fanny.
26 Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), of New York, became the first president from
the Democratic party since Andrew Johnson.
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 373
HAYES TO BRYAN
Spiegel Grove
Fremont, O.
15 Dec. 1890
My Dear Guy:
The approach of the holidays, the close
of the year, and of the anni-
versary of the weddings of Birchard,27
and of his father and mother, recalls
old times and scenes and friends! I am
hungry to hear from you, if only
a word. Also of your young folks--your
brothers Joel and Austin and
their families.
My boys, my daughter, and the two
grandsons are all well, doing well.
I am not sure whether I sent you the In
Memoriam of Lucy by her school,
or the one by the Missionary Society of
which she was President. I find a
melancholy pleasure, very great
Satisfaction indeed, in meditation and read-
ing about her. Time is burying the
'anguish, and the good and happiness
connected with her are growing in my
thoughts and recollections. I keep
myself busy with things that seem for
the welfare of those around me.
God bless you.
Ever Ever Sincerely
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hon Guy M BryanTxU
HAYES TO BRYAN
THE JOHN F. SLATER FUND
Office of the President28
Fremont, Ohio, 16 April 1891
My Dear Guy:
I am very glad to get your letter, and
to find that you, your family and
your brothers are in health. I
congratulate you on the family event. Be sure
to urge Laura and Mr Parker to visit us
en route to Washington. Toledo
and Chicago are on the way to
everywhere, and from either place on the
Lake Shore RR they can stop over here
going East. There are two Divisions
of the Lake Shore RR. One passes nearer
the Lake--the Northern, and the
27 Birchard Austin Hayes
(1853-1926) was President Hayes's first son.
28 As ex-president, Hayes was active in
veterans affairs, prison reforms, and edu-
cational matters. He was particularly
interested in encouraging education in the South.
He served as president of the John F.
Slater Fund from its organization in 1882 until
his death, and was a trustee of the
Peabody Fund, 1877-93.
374
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
other--the Southern passes through
this Town. Let the young people
arrange to stay some time here. I send
you, with pleasure the desired
letter of introduction to Mrs Gray. I am
not well acquainted with her.
Her younger sister is the favorite among
the daughters of the Judge,
our friend.
The ten years since I left W[ashington]
has modified the public feeling
towards me and my administration. I am
well received, where once there
was decided hostility. The Democratic
City Council of Boston by a unani-
mous vote invited me to deliver the
address on Gen. Sherman. This in part
was due to our well known intimacy, but
it shows also a kinder feeling
towards me. I send you a talk made
before a fine and enthusiastic audience
in Cleveland Monday evening. The truth
is I must keep busy at Something
that engrosses my thoughts or I should
get morbid. I keep a docket of
engagements and it is always well
filled. Education-Soldier meetings--
Prison Reform and old Settlers--pioneer
gatherings--local history, and the
like, are my topics. My table is piled
high with invitations after a brief
absence. To say no becomes a necessity.
Something too much of this. My
regards to your brothers when you meet
them.
The only change in my household, I hope
is temporary. My third boy,
Rutherford, is a good business man,
cashier of a savings bank. The Grippe
and confinement have been too much for
him. He has dropped work for
his health sake, and gone to Columbus,
Chillicothe, Lexington, &c &c. He
will keep out for some time, possibly
all Summer, or longer.
Yes, yes, we will not drop our relations
of more than fifty years growth!
God bless You and yours!
As Ever
Sincerely
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hon Guy M. Bryan
&c &c
P.S. I send also a Soldier speech made
last week at Toledo.
H.
Please present my kindest regards to Mrs
Ballinger and the young ladies.
It is a great gratification to hear that
Mrs. B. is fully restored to health.
As Ever
R. B. H.Txu
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 375
HAYES TO BRYAN
Spiegel Grove
26 (Sunday) June 189229
My Dear Guy:
I returned last night weary Enough. Had
attended three Colleges the
Commencement week. But the 50th year out
of Kenyon was the star! No
other of our class-mates present. Six of
the nine are living, an unusual
proportion. All room-mates and all bosom
cronies except you have gone to
the other side! I send you a newspaper
notice of the affair. My principal
paragraph was given to you, with heartful
words feebly telling your worth
and character. I am sorry they were not
reported. What other friendship
has been so long lived? All well. With
old time feelings, as ever,
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hon Guy M. Bryan TxU
HAYES TO BRYAN
Spiegel Grove
27 Nov. 1892
My Dear Guy:--
I have had my chil.[dren] & gr.
chil. at home for Thanksgiving. A
fine lot of young people they are. It
naturally reminded me of you &
yours. Ever since I met your delightful
daughter, Mrs P. of W. I have
had it in mind to write you a letter of
congratulation. But New York and
Chicago, and other urgent things have
postponed it. We met on the
cars thronged with the G.A.R. people
leaving Washington, and had a
most interesting--to me at least--time
posting up about you, your children
and all the rest of your relations in
Texas. Two or three weeks afterwards
at Chicago my dau. Fanny and I were at
the Chicago affair, and for all
practical purposes were the guests of
Col Abner Taylor30 & his wife. We
were at the Grand Pacific Hotel but in
charge of Col Taylor, who proved
a most capital guardian and friend
through the crushing time of the
Columbian Opening. He and his wife told
us a great deal about Texas--
29 The last letter published by E. W.
Winkler was that of Hayes to Bryan, dated
April 10, 1892. Southwestern
Historical Quarterly, XXX (1926-27), 73-74.
30 Abner Taylor (1829-1903), of
Chicago, formerly of Ohio, was one of the asso-
ciates of John V. and Charles B.
Farwell, who formed a Chicago syndicate to build
the capitol building at Austin in
exchange for three million acres, which became
the XIT Ranch. For Taylor's difficulties
with the Texas attorney general, see Robert C.
Cotner, "Attorney General Hogg and
the Acceptance of the State Capitol: A Re-
appraisal," in West Texas
Historical Association Year Book, XXV (1949), 50-74.
376
Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly
particularly about Velasco and the new
hopes that are coming to your old
neighborhood. They sound well posted
about you & your brothers. I trust
all that is now anticipated looking to
the prosperity of that part of Texas
will be fully realized.
You are naturally gratified by the great
victory of your Party in the
late election. I regard Mr. Cleveland
with much favor, and entertain no
fears of serious calamities, except as
they follow of necessity upon radical
change of policy. Free Trade, whether
wise or otherwise as a general and
original policy would no doubt
precipitate panic & distress if rashly pushed,
and a return to State banks would be a
stupid folly; but with a firm and
steady head, such as Mr. C. carries, I
look for moderation and con-
servative conduct.
My visit to Washington was the first
(except for a few hours taken up
with the Garfield funeral) since I left
it almost twelve years ago. Some
things were painful. Lucy was not with
me! Part of my duty was to place
a Monument over my favorite commander,
Gen. [George] Crook. But
many things were most gratifying. I was
overwhelmed with attentions,
often in quarters not anticipated. Of
course, I knew it meant nothing im-
portant in many respects, but it was
altogether of a kind and extent that
touched me.
It is with satisfaction that I enclose
an account of the burial of a Con-
federate soldier by the Post of the
Grand Army to which I belong, & by the
Veterans Sons of which my youngest son
was captain before he left to live
in Cincinnati. (I was absent from home
and personally I had nothing to
do with it.) But it is a refreshing incident.--With
old time love. As Ever
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hon Guy M. Bryan.TxU
HAYES TO BRYAN
Spiegel Grove
16 Dec 1892
My Dear Guy:--
I have just written to the Governor of
Texas31 in reply to a letter from
him that I hope to be able in
February to visit Texas, with Dr Curry32
31 James Stephen Hogg (1851-1906).
Governor Hogg hoped to interest the trustees
of the Slater and Peabody funds in
aiding education in Texas.
32 Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry (1825-1903),
of Alabama, had been agent of the
Peabody Fund since 1881. In 1890 Hayes
secured him as agent also of the Slater Fund.
For biographical studies of Curry, see Dictionary
of American Biography, IV, 605-606,
and Jessie Pearl Rice, J. L. M.
Curry, Southerner, Statesman and Educator (New York,
1949).
Bryan-Hayes Correspondence 377
in the interest of the Education Funds,
which are in part under our charge.
Of course going to Texas means seeing
you again. No tour of my life has
left sweeter recollections in my memory
than the visit with Uncle Birchard
forty four years ago! It is recalled
with sadness too. Lucy had not then
entered into my life, although even then
her radiant smile and glorious
eyes were often floating before me! I
may fail to realize my wishes, but
I do hope to clasp hands with you, and
that before the Spring comes again.
As Ever
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hon. Guy M. Bryan TxU
BRYAN TO HAYES
Quintana Dec 23rd 1892
Dear Rud
I hope that you will get this on
Christmas day with your children around
you. To you & them I send greetings;
they come from your life long
friend with a heart full of love &
memories of the past. Next 12th Jan I
will be 72 years of age (older than
you). How long my old friend it has
been since we were boys together! I read
with satisfaction & delight your
letter from Chicago & your recent
one that you may visit Texas in Feb.
Let me know of your movements & I
will try & meet you.
As ever your friend
Guy M Bryan
Here the known correspondence ends.
President Hayes died at
Spiegel Grove, January 17, 1893, before
his planned trip to Texas.
For some the "Road to Reunion"
was difficult and long, but these
Kenyon College men began the journey
together soon after
Appomattox. They made reunion easier for
their friends and com-
rades in arms on both sides.
Guy M. Bryan's death occurred at Austin,
Texas, on June 3, 1901.