The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-08
Garfield as q Canal Boy.

canal boat on the Ohio canal. lie 1t
was who gave the first employment to
'Jim" Garfield, as he was then known,
poor, bat bright and intelligent lad OF
10. A reporter called on Mr.. Myers a
few days ago, and the following con-
versation occurred concerning the boy
"Mr. Myers asked the reporter
will you be kind enough to state what
you know concerning young Garfield
while he was in your employment as a
driver of your boatF I.ljt
"He was driver for me on the Ohio
canal" replied Mr.. Myers. 81 have
watched his career ever since he left me,
and have felt very much interested in
him, and grati6ed to see what he has
achieved. The first time he ran for the
legislature Of Ohio he was in my dis
trict, and l voted tor him; after that l
moved East, and that is the only time l
voted for HIM. When he left me he
did not boat any more. II is a mis-
take about his ever being steers
man. He was not large enough for
steersman. When he was in my en-
ploy he was not more than Is years of
age. l remember well when he ap-
piled to me for a job on my boat He
was stout, healthy boy, and his frank,
open countenance impressed me so much
that l at once employed him. He was
always full of fun, ana exceedingly good
natured l never saw him mad. He
was with me about three months. He
was always very attentive to his bust
ness. He was also great boy to read
If he was not busy he was always read
ing, l scarcely ever saw him Idle. One
day, as we were coming up the canal, he
came to me and said that he would like
to get place where he could work and
attend school. l knew of a doctor by
the name OF Robinson, who lived near
me, and who was in need of boy to at
tend his horse and do chores about his
place l told Jim he had better so up
and try the doctor. and if he had not
got boy he had better get the place. |
disiked to part with him, but saw he
was too intelligent lad to be driving a
canal BOAT He went up and the doctor
'froze' to him at once. The doctor was
what you might call munster He
was a Campbelite, and very good man,
indeed During the fist Winter Jim
was with .he doctor he got converted,
and after he got converted they 'froze'
to him tighter than ever. When Spring
came, Jim wanted to get some work to
enable him to buy some clothes, and he
spoke to the doctor about it. The doc
tor told him that he must not leave
school; that he must 60 through now.
Jim said doctor, but, | haven't got
any money. The doctor told him that
was all right; that he would stand be-
hind him"
Soap ain, DO you remember anything
about him as he came to you, when you
first saw him? !"
GAN | remember is that he was q
very poor boy, and that | was very
favorably impressed with him. These
canal boys were generally shiftless lot
of fellows, and it was hard work to get
good boy. Our boats We're different
then from what they are now. We
used to have them fitted up nicely to
carry passengers as well as freight My
wife used to DO on the boat with me,
and she thought a good deal of jim
His mother was alive, but his father
was dead. His father had been far
mer, but he left his family so very poor
that they all had to put to it. Jim
had brother and two sisters The
sisters are married and are farmers
wives HIS brother WAS farmer, who
now lives in Michigan. When Jim
was converted he became a Campbellite,
and he is still of that persuasion, | be-
lieve. After completing his education
he preached some and also studied law.
He Was also admitted TO the bar, hut |
don't believe he ever practiced much.
He WIS elected to Congress in 1862,
bat lid not take his seat TIL 1884, be-
cause he ~as in the army. .N ana
9TH, great difficulty We had with the
| drivers on our boats" continued the
captain, '''s that they would lie, but if
you got anything from jim you could
always rely on j.. | never caught him
in lie while he was with me. He was
getting $40 month and his board, and
that was considered very big wages
He wa, born in Orange, Guy shoga
cuunty. Ohio and came to ma NM pny