The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-02
LIVES OF THE CANDIDAT rs,
CEN. J. a. GARFIELD
The Choice Of the Chicago
Convention.
His Early Struggles with Poverty
Canal Boatmau, School Teacher,
and State Seuator-uis ser.
vice Oh the Battle Field
His Congressional
Record.

Gel. James A. Garfield was born II Orange,
Cuyohoga county, Ono, about II miles from
Cleveland. Nov. 10, 1881 His parents were both
Of New England extraction. His father, Abra
ham Garfield, was born in Otsego county, \. Y,
but his family had lived in Massachusetts, for
generations. HIS mothers maiden name was
Eliza Ballou, and she was niece OF the Rev.
Hosea Ballou, noted Unlversalist clergyman
OF New Hampshire, in which State she was born.
James was the youngest Of four sons, and his
father died in 1888, leaving his children depend
ent solely on their mother. Mrs. Garfield was
a woman CT remarkable business qualities, and
It is from her that James inherited his perse-
verlng nature. With the aid OF her three older
boys she managed to support herself and the
family on the little farm left by her husband,
and Jan es, from his earliest years, was obliged
to aid to tie extent OF his ability in the work
about his home. But he liked work, and it was
said OF him when boy that there was " not a
lazy hair in his head He was a poor boy, and
saw no means Of making living but By manu-
a. labor, and he applied himself to learn the
trade OF carpenter. During the summer time
AG tO4lGu Sdllg anu idtG VI us luOlueI
and the winter days he passed at his carpenters
bench. There WAS village school in Orange,
where the citizens met on winter evenings to
read and discuss the books which they possess
ed, and this young Garfield attended picking up
such information as he could in the capacity OF
a listener. No observer OF this thoughtful boy q,
listening TO the reading Of newspaper at the
age OF l6, could by any possibility have fore
seen IN him the future leader of great nation
a. party.
Ready money was commodity OF which the
Young farmer and carpenter saw but little, and
as the ambition to secure an education, which
had been growing on him as his mind was
opened TO the events OF the world in the village
" school, could only be realized by means OF
money, he naturally cast about him for some
vocation which would bring him that Article
The Ohio canal passed within a short distance
Of the Garfield farm, and James discovered that
the canal men were paid in cash, and made bet
ter wages than he could realize by farming and
carpentering. In bis seventeenth year he de-
termned 10 be canal man, and secured posi-
ton as driver OF one OF the boats His ca re and
attention to his business attracted the attention
the more digniied post OF holding the tiler OF
the boat.
He continued In this business, saving what
little OF his earnings he could, for about a year
and a.half, until the fall OF 1S4S, when he de-
termined to advance step, and ship as a sailor
on the lakes. at this time, however, an attack
of fever and ague prevented his executing his
plans, and drove him back to bis mothers house
an invalid. The sickness proved the turning
point IN his life, and as a result of it, James A.
Garfield, instead Of burying himself in the fore
castle OF ship, became one OF the leading men
IN the American Republic
He remained Frustrated in his mothers house
for three months, and during that time made
the acquaintance OF Samuel ID. Bate, who was
teaching the district school that winter. Bates
so fred the ambition of young Garfield, which
had almost died away under the influence OF his
canal boat associates, that he determined 10
forsake his idea OF becoming sailor, and make
an attempt to secure an education He was &C
compsned to the Chester Academy by cousin
hou ulb duu
the three took with them frying pans and dish
es, as they were too poor to pay for board as
well as education. Garfield studied hard, and
progressed rapidly. He worked mornings, even
ings and Saturdays in the carpenter shops of
Chester and thus managed TO earn his living
while prosecuting his studies When the sum-
mer vacation came he worked steadily, and thus
created fund to pay his tuition for The next
term. La 1851 he left the academy and went to
the Hiram (Ohio) Eclectic Institute, where he
continued to prosecute bis studies.
In 1854, Mr.. Garfield, then a man OF % years,
concluded that he knew enough to pass exam
nation for admission to college, and the only
drawback in the way now was the money to pay
for his course. During his five years of study
and work, lie had established fund for this
purpose, but with all bis industry aud economy