The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-06-24

It was during his work here that he
met his future wife, beautiful, black
eyed little girl of Circleville Hel
name was Eliza Bellew. She was a
brunette Of middle size, Of slender
willowy form, very active, and weigh
ing not over ninety pounds. She
must have been about eighteen years
Of age when Senator Gartield's father
met her, and it was only shortly after
that he married her. Eliza Bellew
was no ordinary girl. 1t is to her that
James A. Garfield owes much of his
present greatness. She encouraged
him and worked for him, and she still
lives to almost worship the result of
her work. She has always been ener-
getic. She now, though over eighty
years of age, can move around as lively
as a girl of eighteen: Her mind is as
bright as ever, and can read and write
without glasses. She lives with her
son James, and | saw her when was
last in Washington, stepping about in
as unconcerned and sprightly man
ner as any of her grandchildren. She
is very pious and conscientious, and
has been so ever since can remember
She belongs to the Disciples Church,
and it was through her that James
was educated, and preached for some
time as minister of that church.
Shortly after her marriage, Abraham
Garfield bought forty acres Of un-
cleared land in Orange township, Cuya-
hoga county, and the two settled
there, building a common log cabin.
Here Thomas Garfield was born, James
elder brother, who afterwards went to
Kent county, Michigan, where he
owns farm of eighty acres. His two
sisters, Mehitable and Mary, were born
before this. They are now married,
are the wives Of respectable farmers
living near Solon, Cuyahoga county.
James was born in this cabin. He
was the youngest child, and it was
only eighteen months after his birth
that his father died. I remember the
circumstance as we'll as if it were hap
pening now. My uncle Abraham was
clearing a patch of twenty acres of
forest for planting. He overworked
himself, and this brought on the sick
ness which caused his death. An af-
fecting incident, occurring before the
burial, comes back to me forcibly.
The body of my uncle was laid out on
a bench made by placing boards upon
chairs. The family were all around
weeping and sorrowing over the dead,
for everybody loved Abraham Gar
field. At this time little Jimmy added
to our grief by creeping up to the
body, reaching at it and crying out
papa | shall never forget the scene.
I carried the baby in my arms to the
funeral next day."
"You say you went to school with
him?'
Eyes, we went to school together
first in an old log school-house in Or
ange township. Young Garfield then
studied inthe three Rs, reading, riting
and rithmetic, you know, and he stood
at the head of his classes.
''Is there any truth in the story of
his having worked on the canal?"
'It is as true as Gospel. 1t was at
the time he was sixteen. He went on
the canalwith my brother Amos, who
was captain of boat, and he took
Jim along as bowman. The duty of
bowman is similar to that Of a pilot.
He guides the boats through the locks,
and stops them in all places where it
is necessary. Jim Garfield was bold
bowman, and was ready to fight at the
drop of a hat for the rights of his
boat. He was, however, very carefully
to know whether he was right. In
canal boating there is tacitly under
stood rule by which boats have the
precedence in going through locks.
The boat that is nearest the lock is
to the first entrance. My
brother tells me Garfield used to al
ways ask him if their boat had the
right of way. If the Captain said yes,
he would reply, We'll, if we have the
right we will take it, if we have to
fight for it. If he said no, he would
respond, We'll, if we haven't the
right we don't want it, My brother
said he would often fight, and gener-
ally came off victorious. At one time
a rival boatman was especially un-
contending that his boat
should go through before Garfeld's.
Garfield objected. His rival persisted,
and the two jumped ON the tow-path
and fought it out, Garfield being the
victor
''Jim Garfield as boy" Mr.. Letch-
er went on, was always a student,
and while on the canal he always car
ried a book with him. My brother
noticed this, and one day he said to
him:
"Well, Jimmy, if you are so anx-
ious to learn, why don't you go to
school?"
Young Garfield replied that he had
no money.
MY brother told him to go to his
mother and tell her, and that she
would manage to send him in some
way. -=..
flames doubted this, but he con-
cluded to try; so wrapping up his
clothes in a handkerchief he went.
His mother did manage to send him to
school. He went first to the Twinsburg
Academy, near Orange, a very good
one indeed; thence he entered Hiram
College, and from there went to Will
liams, where he graduated. He after
ward preached some time as Disciple
minister, and was at one time Presi-
dent of Hiram College. His record as
a general and politician is known to
What are Garfeld's circum-
stances %
mot the best, by any means. He
is only we'll to do, that is all. Two
years ago he told me he was worth not