[87]

Private life and return to politics[edit]
Hayes's home, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio
As Hayes prepared to leave office, several delegations of reform-minded Republicans urged him to run for United States Senate against the incumbent Republican, John Sherman.[87] Hayes declined, preferring to preserve party unity and retire to private life.[87] He especially looked forward to spending time with his children, two of whom (daughter Fanny and son Scott) had been born in the past five years.[88][b] Initially, Hayes tried to promote railway extensions to his hometown, Fremont. He also managed some real estate he had acquired in Duluth, Minnesota.[90] Not entirely removed from politics, Hayes held out some hope of a cabinet appointment, but was disappointed to receive only an appointment as assistant U.S. treasurer at Cincinnati, which he turned down.[91] He agreed to be nominated for his old House seat in 1872 but was not disappointed when he lost the election to Henry B. Banning, a fellow Kenyon College alumnus.[92]
In 1873, Lucy gave birth to another son, Manning Force Hayes.[93][c] That same year, the Panic of 1873 hurt business prospects across the nation, including Hayes's. 