The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-03

poor to pay for board as we'll as edu
cation. Garfield studied hard, and
progressed rapidly. He worked morn.
ings, evenings, aud 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 a fund "a
pay his tuition for the next term. In
1851 he left the academy and went tn
Hiram (Dhio) Eclectic Institute, wllel e
he continued to prosecute his studies.
In 1854, Mr.. Garfield, then man oi
%, concluded that be knew enOug,,
to pass examination for. admission to
college, and the only drawback in the
way now was tine money to pay for
his course. During his five years Of
studying and work, he had established
q fund for this purpose, but with all
his industry and economy he had not
beeA able to accumulate the neeessarY
sum by several 1lnD1lred dollars. His
life at the academy, however, had es-
tablishcll for him a 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-
surance policy, which the young man,
being healthy aud robust, found no
difficulty in securing. Pecuniary diff
ticulties 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, and in the
fall of 1854 lie was admitted to the
Junior Class Of that institution. Heed
less of the Sights which he constantly
received, he applied himself energetic
cally to his studies, and in 1856, two
years after his admission, he was
graduated, bearing off the Metaplsi-
cal honor of his class, which, is es-
teemed 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 20 years.
labor, a collegiate education, his
clothes, bis books, his diploma, and a
debt of $3.50. He had no time for
leisure. His business now was to find
some thing to de, and free himself
from debt. Before going to college,
he had joined the sect If the "Dis-
ciples," better known as "Cambell.
ites," from their founder, Alexander
Camhell. The .. Eclectic IDstitute,n
in Hiram, was the college of this sect,
and it was natural 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, hut 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, bat preached. According |
to the creed of the q Disciples" any |
person having the power, vas entitled |
to preach, and the president of the
college was expected to deliver ser
nevery Sunday as part bf his !
official duty. President Garfield
preached Will. great force, aad his fame
spread all through the Campbell
tie settlement. 1t was this fact that
gave rise to the story that he had
been a minister, a story which lie 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 Lu-
cretia Rudolph, the daughter of
farmer living near Hiram, whose ac-
luaintance he made while studying
1t the academy, where she was a pu-
pill. The marriage was one purely of
owe, and much Of the husbands pros
Derity in life has been due to the quiet
influence of the wife.
Mrs. Garfield is q quiet, thoughtful.
md refined woman, fond Of reading
md study, and of . warm heart. Two
years after his marriage the political
ife If Gen. Garfield began. His SER
mons had attracted attention to him,
md in 1859 he was brought forward
~ the anti slavery people Of Portage
md Summit Counties as their caDdi-
late for State Senator. He was elec-