The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-06-20
GARFIELD AS 4 CANAL BOY.
"Reminiscences of Old Captain Myers
Who First Gave Hin, work.

Mr.. Jonathan Myers, whose ONCE Is AT NO.
l52 Monticello avenue Jersey city, thirty-odd years
apo was the captain OF canal boat on the ohio canal
lie II was who gave the first employment To Jim "
GARFIELD as he was then Known, poor m. mt very
porter called Mr. Myers few days ago. and the FOL
lowing conversation occurred concerning the boy;
"Ar. Myers, ~ asked the reporter, ''will You he
kind enough to state what You know concerning young
Garfield while he was in your employment as driver
Of your boatY'
'.iIo was a driver for me the Ohio canal, ~ re-
piled Mr.. Myers. ~ have watched his career ever
since he left and have felt very much Interested
in Him, and gIatiie to see what lie has achieved.
The first time he ran for the Legislature of Ohio e
was In my district. and voted for him; after that
moved East aud that s The only time ever voted for
him. When he left me he did not boat any more.
II Is mistake about his ever having een scelsnan.
lie was not large enough for stecrsnlan. When he
was IN my employ he was not more than thirteen
years Of age. ! remember well when he applied To
me for job ON my boat. He was slont, healthy
$" much that at once employed him. lie was al
ways full Of fun, and exceedingly good d-natnred
| never saw him mad. He was with me about three
months. lie was always very attentive TO his busl-
ness lie was also great boy to read II he was not
busy he was alwaysreahng. ! scarcely ever saw him
| idle one day, as we were going np the canal, he
came to me and said that he would like get place
where he could work and attend school; Knew oi
doctor by the name of Robinson, VINO llved near me,
and who was In need of boy attend his horse ana
| do chores abont his place. told Jim he mad bet
ter 4 up and Try the doctor, and II he had not got
boy he lad better get the pladc. l dsllked To part
with him, but saw he was too Intelligent lad To he
| driving u canal boat. Iiew mp, and the doctor
1
| might call u minister. lie was u Campheltc, and
| a very good man, Indeed, During the hrst winter
'JIm was with the doctor he got converted, ani
after he got converted they frnle Ia him tighter
| than ever. When spring came Jim wanted Ia get
some wOru to enable him buy some clothes and he
| spoke To the doctor about IT, The doctor told him
that he must leave SCHOOL that he mus 30 ihTongh
now 'Jim said doctor, hut haven't got ans
money. The doctor told Him thai wasall right; that
| he would stand behind him
''Iaptain, do you remember anything hhnNl hlm as
| he came tO you when you first saw him ~
"AI 1 remember is that he was n very poor hoy,
aud that was very favOrably Impressed with him.
These canal boys generally shiiiless lot Of fell
| lows and II was hard work Ia get good hoy. our
boats We're different then from what they ara NOW
We used Ia have them hited mp nicely to carry pas
sengors AS well freight. Ny wife used To he o the
boat with me- and size thought good deal Of Jim.
His mother was alive, bat his father was dead Ills
father had been farmer hut he lett his family So
very poor that they all had 10 put 10 IT. Jim
/ had brother aud Two sisters. The sisters are mar
| rled aud are farmers wives. HIS brother was a
| farmer, who now lives In Michigan. When Jim y
was converted he became 'ampbele, ana he Is sun
OF that peIsuasiUn believe. After completing ms
education he preached and also studied law. lie
was also admitted 10 the bar hut don't believe he
ever practced much. lie was elected 20 Congress IN
1862 hut did take his seat until 1864, because hC
| was IN the Army.
| ".rhe great dimculty we had with the drivers on
onr boats continued the Captain ''was lhal tiey
would lie but II You got anything from Jim you
could always rely on IL. never caught MN IN lie
| while he was with me. lie was getting $40 mont
| and his board, and that was considered very big
| wages lie was born In orange, Cuyahoga county 7,
| Ohio. ''-N. T. TtHc8.