Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-24
GARFIELD IS CANAL Rov.

Jonathan Myers, the captain of the
Ohio canal boat Gen Garfield worked
on, a quarter of century ago. was
discovered at Jersey City, the other
day, by reporter of tie New York
Times. Opening his heart to his
visitor, he gave the following reminis-
cences of the new famous GARFIELD,
as he knew him on the canal, boy of
thirteen
MIR. Myers" asked the reporter.
"will you be kind enough to state what
you know concerning young Garfield
while he was in your employment as
a driver Of your boat? 20
''Hc was a driver for me on the
Ohio Canal" replied Mr.. Myers Il
have watched his career ever since he
left me, and have felt very much in-
terested in him, and gratifed to see
what he has achieved. The first time
he ran for the Legislature of Ohio he
was in my district, and | voted for
him; after that | moved East, and
that is the only time [ ever voted for
him. When he left me he did not
boat any more. 1t is a mistake about
his ever having been a steersman.
When be was in my employ he was
not more than ID years of age. l
remember well when he applied to me
for a job on my boat. He was stout
healthy boy, and his frank, open
countenance impressed me so much
that I at once employed him. He
was always full of fun. and exceeding
ly good natured I never saw him
mad lie was with me about three
months. He was always very atten-
tive to his business He was also a
great boy to read. If he was not
busy he was always reading. I scarce
ly ever saw him idle. One day, as We
were going up the canal he came to me
and said that he would like to get a
place where he could work and attend
school. I knew of doctor by the
name Of Robinson, who lived near ne.
and who was in need of boy to at
tend his horse and do chores about his
place. | told Jim he had better go
up and try the doctor, and If he had
not got boy he had better get the
place. [ dislikcd to part with him,
but [ saw he was to intelligent lad
to be driving a canal boat. He went
up and the doctor froze to him at once.
The doctor was what you might call a
minister. He was a Champbellitc,
and a very good man, indeed. During
the first winter jim was with the
doctor he cot converted. and after he
got converted they 'frozc' to him
tighter than ever. When Spring
came Jim wanted to get some work
to enable him to buy some clothes, and
he spoke to the doctor about it. The
doctor told him that he must not leave
school; that he must go through now
Jim said: Doctor, but [ haven't got
any money The doctor told him that
was all right; that he would stand
behind him
Captain, DO you remember any
thing about him as he came to you
when you first saw him %
Gail I remember is that he was a
very poor boy, and that [ was very
favorably impressed with him. These
canal boys were generally shiftless
lot of fellows. and it was hard work
to get good boy. Our boats were
different then from what they are now
We used to have them fitted up nicely
to carry passengers as we'll as freight
Ny wife used to be on the boat with
me, and she thought good deal Of
Jim His mother was alive but his
father was dead. His father had been
farmer, but he left his family SC
very poor that they all had to put to
it, Jim had brother and two
sisters The sisters are married, and
are farmers wives His brother was
farmer, who now lives in Michigan
When Jim was converted he became
Campbellite, and he is still of that
persuasion, [ believe. After complet-
ing his education he preached some
and also studied law. He was also
admitted to the bar, but [ don't
believe he ever practISed much. lie
was elected to Congress IN 1862, but
did not take his seat until 1864, be-
cause he was in the army.
1.-The great difficulty we had with
the drivers on our boats" continued
the Captain, "was that they would lie,
but if you got anything from jim
you could always rely or it [ never
caught him in lie while he was with
me. He was getting $40 a month and
his board, and that was considered
very big wages. He was born in
Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio.
--S-zl-