The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-10

tAbo ana uisH0si 40 tuCy AtlC tbG
poor to pay for board as we'll as edu.
cation. Garfield studied hard, and
progressed rapidly. He worked morn.
ings, evenings, and Saturdays in the
carpenters shop Of Chester, aud thus
managed to earn his living while
prosecuting his studies. When the
summer vacation came, he worked
steadily, and thus created fund tu
pay his tuition for the next term. IL
1851 he left the academy and went to
Hiram Dhio) Eclectic Institute, whel G
he continued to prosecute his studies.
In 1854, Mr.. Garfield, then man OF
%, concluded that he knew enough.
to pass examination for admission to
college, and the only drawback iu the
way now was the money to pay for
his course. During his five years of
studying and work he had established
a fund for tlris purpose, but with all
his industry and economy he had not
been able to accumulate the necessary
sum byaseEeral shAalred4 d .all,ss.4-aHis
life at the academy, however, had es-
tablishcd for him reputation for
honesty and persistency of purpose,
which now stood him in good stead.
a gentleman agreed to advance him
the money taking as security life in-
suraDce policy, which the young man,
being healthy and robust, found no
difficulty in securing. Pecuniary diff
ficulties being thus disposed of, he
was ready to start, and, after canvass
ing the merits Of several colleges, he
settled upon Williams, at Williams
town, in Massachusetts, aud in the
fall of 1854 he was admitted to the
Junior Glass of that institution. Heed
less of the Sights which he constantly
received, lie applied himself energeti-
cally to his studies, and in 1856, two
years after his admission, he was
graduated, bearing off the Metapllsi-
cal honor of his class, which is es-
teelned at Williams as among the
highest within the gift of the institu-
tion to the graduating members.
Garfield was now 25 years of age,
and had, as the result of his 90 years.
labor, a collegiate education, his
clothes, his books, his diploma, and a
debt of $3.50. He had no time for
leisure. His business now was to find
some thing to do, and free himself
from debt. Before going to college,
he had joined the sect Of the "Dis-
ciples," better known as :'Cambell-
ites," from their founder, Alexander
Cambell. The g. Eclectic Institute" :"
in Hiram, was the college of this sect,
and it wassnatural that Mr.. Garfield
should turn his eyes to the struggling
little college which he left as a pupil
but two years before. He returned
to Hiram, where he was made Pro-
fessor Of Latin and Greek in the in
stitute. Plain living and high think
ing was the order of the day at the
institute. The teachers were poor,
the pupils were poor, and the college
was poor, but there was great deal
of hard, faithful study done, and many
ambitious plans formed. Prof. Gar
field, after the first year, was made
president of the institution, and in
this capacity he not only taught and
lectured, but preached. According
to the creed of the Disciples" any
person having tie power, vas entitled
to preach, and the president of the
college was expected to deliver ser.
mon every Sunday as a part of his
official duty. President Garfield
preached witl, great force, AID his fame
spread all through the Campbell
ite settlement. 1t was this fact that
gave rise to the story that he had
been a minister, story which he has
taken occasion to deny publicly on
several occasions.
In 1857, while Professor of Latin
and Greek at the Eclectic Institute,
Mr.. Garfield was married to Miss Luz
cretia Rudolph, the daughter of
farmer living near Hiram, whose ac-
quaintance he made while studying
at the academy, where she was IA pu-
pill. The marriage was one purely of
love, and much Of the husbands pros
perity in life has been due to the quiet
influence of the wife.
Mrs. Garfield is quiet, thoughtful,
aud refined woman, fond of reading
and study, and of warm heart. Two
years after his marriage the political
life of Gen. Garfield began. His ser
mons had attracted attention to him,
and in 1889 he was brought forward
BY the anti slavery people of Portage
and Summit Counties as their candi-
date for State Senator. He was elec-