Hayes was born on October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio. At birth, Rutherford was thin and sickly. His father had died in July of 1822, two and a half months before Rutherford's birth. As a result of this, his mother, Sophia Hayes, tended to be very protective of "Ruddy" as he was called during his early childhood. When Rutherford was ready to attend college his uncle Sardis sent him to Kenyon College and later to Harvard Law School.
After five years of law practice in Lower Sandusky, Ohio he moved to Cincinnati. Hayes gained considerable prominence in Cincinnati from several criminal cases. In 1856 he helped found the Ohio Republican party and in 1858, beginning his public life, he was elected city solicitor. Also in Cincinnati, Hayes met Lucy Webb who would later become his wife. .
When the Civil War broke out, Hayes felt that it was his duty to serve. He served four years with the 23rd Ohio Volunteers. Soon after entering the war, Hayes was promoted to Colonel of the 23rd Ohio. Towards the end of his life, Hayes would view this as his proudest achievement. During the course of the war a couple of interesting things happened to Hayes. He was shot five times and was elected to the House of Representatives. Hayes refused to take his seat in the House until the war was over.
Being elected to the House was the beginning of Hayes" political career. He would only serve one term in the House, but later ran for governor of Ohio. As governor, Hayes pressed passionately for various reforms, especially in the mental hospitals, prisons, poor-relief bureaus, and the state's school system. He played an important role in establishing the land-grant agricultural college that became Ohio State University. Rejecting a third nomination for governor in 1871, Hayes apparently retired permanently from politics to live the life of a farmer in Fremont, Ohio. However, he accepted the nomination in1875 and this victory made him a national figure.