Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-11

storms Of political agitation. He Was r.
nominated in 1864. without opposition. OUT IN
1866 Mr.. Hutchins. whom he had supplanted,
made an effort to defeat him. Hutchins can
vassed the district thoroughly, but the con-
veutiop nominated Garfield by reclamation
He has had no opposition since in his own
marty. In 1872, the liberals and democrats
united to beat him. but his majority was lar
ger than ever. In 1874. the greenoackefs
and democrats combined and put mp poPu-
lar soldier against him, but this made no I'M
preston on the result
In the Fortiath Congress. Gen. Garneld
was chairman of the committee on Military
Affairs. In the Forty-first he was given the
| Craftsmanship of Banking and Currency, winch
| he liked much better. because 1t was IN the
line of his financial studies. His next pro-
motion was TO the craftsmanship OF the ap-
preparations committee, which he held until
the democrats came into power in the House
in 1873.
When James G Blaine went to the Senate,
in 1877 the mantle of republican leadership
in the House WAS by common consent placed
upon Garfield, and he has worn 1t ever since.
In January last, General Garfield was elected
to the Senate TO the seat which VIII be vaca-
ted by Alien c. Thurman on the 4th Of
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vote of the republican caucus. an honor
never before given to any man OF any party
in the State of Ohio.
Tn person General Garfield is six feet high.
broad shouldered and strongly built. tie has
an unusually large head, that seems to be
three-fourths forehead, light brown hair and
beard large. light blue eyes, prominent
nose and full cheeks. He dresses plainly, is
fond of broad-brimmed SLOUGH hats and stout
boots: eats heartily, cares nothing fos luxu-
rious living; is thoroughly temperate IN all
respects, save in that of brain work: and Is
deyot to his wife and children. and very
fond of his country home. Among men he
is genial, approachable. cOmpanionable, and
a remarkably entertaining talker
GARFIELp's HOME.
Garfield's home life is of plain, purely re-
publican kind. He possesses two homes,
one in Ohio and one in Washington. Some
ten wears ago, finding how unsatisfactory life
was in hotels and boarding houses, he bought
a lot of ground on the corner of Thirteenth
and streets, in Washington, and with money
borrowed of friend built a plain, substan-
tial three-story house. A wing was extended
afterward to make room for the fast growing
library. The money was repaid in time, and
was probably saved in great part from what
children grew up in pleasant home surround.
ings, and the house became centre Of
simple and cordial hospitality. Five or six
wears ago the little cottage at Hiram was
sold, and for time the only residence the
Garfields had in that district was summer
house he built on Little Mountain, bold
elevation in Lake county which commands
view Of thirty miles of rich farming country
stretched along the shore of Lake Erie.
Three years ago he bought farm in Mentor.
in the same county, lying on both sides Of
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern rail-
road Here his family spend all the time
when he is free from his duties in Washing
ton. The farmhouse is a low. old-fashiOned
story and -a-half building, but its limited ac-
commodations have been supplemented by
numerous buildings, one of which Gen.
Garfield uses for Office and library pur-
poses.
The farm contains one hundred and twenty
acres of excellent land, in high state of cul-
tivation, and the Congressman finds recrea-
ton of which he never tires, in directing the
field work and making improvements in the
buildings, fences and orchards. Cleveland is
only twenty-five miles away; there is post
office and railway station within half mile
and the pretty country town of gainesville is
but five miles distant One of the pleasures
of summer life on the Garfield farm is a
drive of two miles through the woods to the
lake shore and bath in the breakers.
| General Garfield has five children living,
and has lost two, who died in infancy. The
two oldest boys, Harry and James, are now at
school in New Hampshire. Mary, or Molly,
as everybody calls her, is handsome, rosy
checked girl of about II. The two younger
boys are named Irwin and Abram. The
Generals mother is still living and has long
been member of his family. She is an in
telligent energetic old lady, with strong
will, who keeps well posted in the news of
the day and is very proud Of her sons ca
reer; though more liberal of criticism than
of praise.
| General Garields district lies in the ex-
IRENE northeastern corner of Ohio, and now
embraces the counties of Ashtabula, Trum-
bull. Geagua, Lake and Mahoning. His old
home county of Portage was detached from
it year ago. With the exception of the
coal and iron regions in the extreme southern
part, the district is purely a rural one, and is
inhabited by population of pure New Eng
land ancestry. 1t is claimed that there is
less illiteracy IN proportion to the population
| thanan other district in the United States.
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