Scott Russell Hayes

Scott Russell Hayes

[1871-1923] was the youngest surviving son of President Rutherford B. and Lucy Webb Hayes. He was born February 8, 1871, in Columbus, Ohio, while his father was serving as Ohio's governor. His education began in the White House, where he received instruction alongside childhood friends of the family. Upon his parents’ return to Fremont, Ohio, he attended the Fremont schools, Green Springs Academy of the Western Reserve University, and the Scott Manual Training School of Toledo before enrolling at Cornell University in the class of 1890.

Scott began his business career at the First National Bank of Fremont, but a short time later he became an employee of the Thompson-Houston Electric Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1892, when the General Electric Company (formerly Thompson-Houston Electric Company) was formed, Scott Hayes was placed in charge of the Cleveland, Ohio, office and remained in that position until the latter part of 1894. During 1895 and 1896, he was in the electrical supply business with the firm of Hayes & Arthur in Cleveland. In 1897, he was appointed agent for the Scott Spring Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and a year later went to Chicago as a company representative. When the Railway Steel Springs Company was organized in 1902, he was transferred to the New York office as assistant sales agent, subsequently serving as general sales agent and vice president. He resigned from the latter position in March 1914 to become assistant to the president of the New York Air Brake Company and later became vice president of that company.

Scott was married on September 9, 1912 to Maude Wright Anderson of Los Angeles, California. Scott purchased an estate overlooking Croton Dam. It became one of the most beautiful and notable country places in Westchester County, New York. In memory of and in distinction from his childhood home at Spiegel Grove, Fremont, Ohio, he named his own estate Spiegel Farm. The couple had no children. Scott and Maude Hayes visited Spiegel Grove for numerous celebrations, including on October 4, 1920, when they escorted President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding there .

In 1919, accompanied by his wife, Scott Hayes began what was to be an extensive business trip through Central and South America. However, they were shipwrecked and forced to abandon the vessel off the coast of Peru. Just before the ship sank, the women passengers were placed in a metal tanker, with a single Peruvian in charge, followed by the male passengers in a second tanker. In a subsequent storm, the metal tankers were picked up by a vessel carrying wild animals. During the storm, tigers, boa constrictors and other animals broke loose aboard the rescue ship. Later, the passengers were rescued a second time and safely landed in Peru. Following his return, Scott Hayes suffered a physical breakdown. He died May 6, 1923, from the effects of a brain tumor. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Fremont, Ohio. Following his death, his widow spent several years traveling and living in Europe.

From the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

From the Fremont Daily Messenger Obituary, May 7, 1923 by Lucy E. Keeler:

"The news of Scott Hayes's sudden death fills all who knew him with grief. He was all that is fine; of

splendid presence and winning face: a man of the world in the best sense of that phrase, with that

something which successful men of large affairs and influence acquire; gifted with great charm of

manner, warm-hearted, generous, courteous, tactful: a man with countless friends. As his brother Col. Scott Russell HAYES and Maude Blanchard ANDERSON were married on 9 Sep 1912 in New York,

New York Co., NY. Maude Blanchard ANDERSON (daughter of BLANCHARD and Alice Therese)

was born on 7 Jul 1873 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. She lived in Fontainbleau in 1924. She died on 19

Nov 1966 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA. From a letter from Paulette Viellard of Sonoma, CA

in Nov. 1975:

Maude Anderson was born Maude Blanchard. Her father died when Maude was very little. Mrs. Alice

Therese Blanchard remarried, a Mr. Anderson, giving Maude his name. Maude married Mr. Wright, a

widower (?), and then married Mr. Hayes. Maude was a leading lady in many plays and played in

theaters in many large cities in the US, Canada and Mexico. Her stage name was Beryl Hope. There was

no obituary published at her death (her desire). WGA