Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09

cut grass, and all the sights and sounds
of farm life are dear to him from early
associations.
General Garfield has five children
living, and has lost two, who died in
infancy. The two older boys, Harvey
and James, are now at school in New
Hampshire. Mary, or Molly, as every
body calls her, is a handsome. rosy
checked girl of about twelve 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 intelligent, ener-
getic old lady, with a clear head and a
strong viii, who keeps well posted in
the news of the day, and is very proud
OF her sons career, though more liberal
OF criticism than of praise.
THE EARNINGS OF AN ACTIVE LIFE.
General Garfeld's property NAV
amount to $4,000. 1t consists excl1-
s1Yely of his farm in Ohio, and his
house IN Washington, and every dollar
of 1t has been earned by his own exer-
lions. He has wed little every year
from bis salary, and this, with an occa-
slonal legal fee. has made up the bulk
OF his estate. When he entered Con-
gress he owned little house in Hiram.
worth perhaps $500. His hospitable
habits have interfered somewhat with
his economies. 1t rarely happens that
the family are week by themselves in
Washington or in Mentor. Guests are
always welcome, and are made to feel
at home by being taken into the daily
life of the family. The long table usu-
ally reaches from one end of the din
ing room to the other, and there is a
chair and a plate for every chance
caller. General Garfeld's district is in
the extreme northeastern corner of
Ohio, and now embraces the counties
of Ashtabula, Trumbull, Geuga, 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 south
ern part, the district is purely a rural
one, and is inhabited by a population
of pure New England ancestry. It is
claimed that there is less illiteracy in
proportion to the population than in
any other district in the United States.
In person General Garfield is six feet
high, broad-shouldered and strongly
built. He has an unusually large head,
that seems to be three-fourths forehead
light brown hair and beard, now touch
ed with gray; large, light blue eyes,
prominent nose and full cheeks.
HIS APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER.
He dresses plainly, is fond of broad
brlmmed SLOUGH hats and stout boots.
eats heartily, cares nothing for luxuri-
GUS living, is a great reader of good
books on all subjects, is thoroughly
temperate In all respects save in that of
brain-work, and is devoted to his wife
and children. Among men he is genial,
approachable, companionable and a
remarkably entertaining talker. His
mind is vast storehouse of facts. rem
lnlscences and anecdotes.
He is not what is called a practical
politician. He knows little of the
of caucuses and conventions.
or OF the methods of conducting close
campaigns. His constituents have
nine times nominated him without anv
effort on his part, and have elected him
by maJorlties ranging from 5000 to
AS a politician in the larger
and better sense of shaping the policy
OF great party, however, he has few
equals. 10 no man is the Republican
party more indebted for it's successes
IN recent years than to James A. Gar
field.