New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-09
THE CANDIDATES.
JAMES A. GARFIELD.

Cleveland. He comes Of plain New-England cOun-
try stock His father, Abraham Garfield, was
farmer in very moderate circumstances, who died
in 1888, leaving family of four children, OF whom
James was the youngest. His mother. woman OF
unusual strength Of character, is still living. by
her exertions she managed to keep the family to-
Rether until the boys were old enough to earn their
own living. The land III Orange is poor and the
little Garfield farm afforded only scanty subSist-
ence to the family. James got few months of dis
trict school tuition Winters, and the rest of the
wear worked upon the farm or helped i'll carpen-
ter,s shop He had an absorbing ambition to get Il
good education which at early age gave his char
acter its bent, and shaped his future course
in life. The Ohio and Erie Canal ran not far from
his mothers house and, finding that the men EN-
ploycd upon it got better wages than he could earn
at the carpenters bench, he hired out as driver
when he was seventeen years DID, and soon rose to
the position of boatman. Hard work and exposure
brought on fever in the Fall of 1913, which lasted
three mouths and put end to a scheme for ship
ping as a sailor on the lakes.
In the Spring OF 1S49. the bows mother gave HIM
q few dollars which she had saved for the purpose
by pnching economy, and told him lie could now
realize his ambition of learning something more
than the district school could teach. He went to
Geaupa Academy. an obscure institution in coun-
try village not far from Orange, and beng too poor
to pay the 81 80 q week which was the prlce asked
for board, he took few cooking utensils ana
stock of provisions and hiring room IN an OLD I'M
painted farm house, boarded himself. From the
day he left home for the Academy he never
had a dollar which he did not earn. He soon found
employment with the carpenters of the village ana
by working mornings and evenings and Saturdays
he earned enough to payhis way. The Summer va
cation enabled him to save something toward TIC
Fall term and in the ensuing Winter lie taught
district school. Thus he kept on for several years.
teaching in the Winter. working at the bench III
Summers and attending the Academy during the
Fall and Spring terms. He was tail. muscular,
fair-haired country lad in those days, locking
good deal like a German in spite Of his pure Yankee
blood Healthy in mind and body. genial IN tenn
permanent, good wrestler and ball player as well as
n good student, he was a great favorite with his
comrades and teachers.
AT COLLEGE.
When he was twenty-three years old. he felt that
he had got all the education out of the country
academy which it was capable of giving and re-
solved to go to college. He was confident that he
could enter the Junior class, and so have only two
wears to complete the college course, and he cacu-
lated that he had saved by his teaching and car
penter' work abOut half enough money to pay his
expenses. How TO get the rest of the sum needed
was a problem. klnd-hear,ed gentleman, many
closest friends, loaned him the amount So scru-
pulous was the young man about the payment of
the debt that he got his lie insured and placed the
policy in his creditors hands &" If | live" he
sad d" shall pay you, and If die YOU will su Her
no loss" The debt was repaid soon after he gradu-
ated. He went to Williams College in the Fall #
1854, and, as lie had anticipated, passed the eX-
animation for the Junior class. Two years later he
graduated, and bore Off the metaphysical honor.
HIS classmates remember well bis prodg1OuS in
dustry as student, his physical activity IN the
college games. and his cordial, hearty, social ways.
While at the Geauga Academy Garfield Joined the
Disciples Church, new sect which had spread
with remarkable rapidity in Ohio under the in
fuence of the preaching of Alexander Campbell.
1t has often been said that Garfield was al one time
a minister. This is not true. The story had
foundation. however, In the fact that he used to
speak in the churches of the denomination. The
Disciples at that time had noregular paid ministry.
They supported travelling elders, hut The congrcga
tons had 10 pastors, and were usually addressed
by some one among the members who had n natural
talent Tor pulpit OratOry. GarielGs purpose was to
be lawyer, and he had not swerycd from il at the
time he used to talk OF religion and future life to
the little congregations i'll the Disciples meeting
houses in Northern. Ohio.
COLLEGE PRESIDENT.
In the County of Portage, not far from where
Garfield lived, the Disciples had struggling co..
lege. called Hiram Eclectic Institute, which under
took to furnish education and religious training at
the lowest possible price. 1t was natural that the
young, talented Disciple, who had inst been gradu-
ated with distinction in Eastern college, should
be attracted to this school, He became professor Of
Latin and Greek. and the next year, when he was
only twenty-six years DID, lie was made president Of
the institute. There probably never was Younger
college president. He carried into his new position
the remarkable energy and vigOr and good sense
which are the main springs of his character. He
soon doubled the attendance at the school, raised ITS
standard of scholarship. rengthened It's faculty,
and inspired everybody connected withit with some
thing OF his own zeal and enthusiasm. At the same
time he studied law and was an OmnIvorous reader
of general literature.
His place in life seemed now won, aud he married
the object of his youthful lOve-Lucretja Rudolph,
q farmers daughter. who had heen his fellow stu
dent at the academy. Miss Rudolph was refined.
intelligent aiectionate girl, who shared his thirst
for knowledge and his ambition for culture, and
had at the same time, the domestic tastes and tai
ents which fitted her equally to preside over the
home of the poor college professor and that of the
famous statesman. Much of Garhelds subsequent
success in life may be attributed to his fortunate
marriage. His wife has grown with his growth, and
has been during all his career the appreciativc
panion of his studies, the loving mother of his chill
dren the graceful hospitable hostess of his friends
and guests, and the wise and faithful helpmeet in
the trials yicissitudes and successes OF his busy
life.
LEGISLATURE AND ARMY.
In 1859 Garfield was elected to the Senate OF
Ohio from the Counties of Portage and Summit
He had taken part in the political campaigns OF
1857 and 1853, and had become pretty well kuOwnas
q vigorous logical stump orator. He did not think a
few weeks in the Winter at Columbus would break
in seriously upon Ills college work, to which he was
devoted 1t is probable, however, that lie already
felt the promptngs of political ambition, which he
did not even acknowledge to himself. His most
intimate friend in the Senate was d. d. Cox VINO