He retired to Spiegel Grove in Frémont, Ohio, and pursued many charitable and humanitarian causes. He served as president of the National Prison Association and advocated for greater emphasis on rehabilitation. He presided over the Slater Education Fund for Freemen, which awarded many scholarships to African Americans, including W. E. B. DuBois. He served on the board of trustees of the Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Western Reserve University. He also worked with the Peabody Education Fund.