The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-06-23

and during that time made the ac-
quaintance of Samuel ID. Bates. who
was teaching the district school that
winter Bates had been attending
the "Geauga Seminary in an adj
joining county, and this conversa-
ton SO fired the ambition of young
Garfield, which had almost died
away under the influence of his ca
nal-boat associates, that he deter
mined to forsake the idea of becom-
ing sailor, and make an attempt to
secure an education. He had man
aged, with the aid of some friends,
to learn to read, and could do sim
pie sums in arithmetic, and with
this knowledge as a basis he started,
in March, 1S49, for Chester, where
the academy was situated. He was
accompanied by cousin and anoth-
er young man from his village, and
the three took with them irving
pans and dishes, as they were too
poor to pay for board as well as ed
ucation. They rented a room in an
old, unpainted frame building, near
the academy, and began to work.
Garfield studied hard, and progress
ed rapidly. His heart was in his
work, and he distanced many COM
petitors who had enjoyed far better
advantages than himself He work
ed mornings, evenings and Satur-
days in the carpenters shops of
Chester, and thus managed to earn
his living while prosecuting his stu
dies. When the summer vacation
came, he worked steadily, and thus
created a fund to pay his tuition
for the next term. At the end of
this he had gained sufficient knowl-
edge to warrant him in teaching a
district school, and thus by teaching
in summer, and working hard even
ings, he not only managed to pay
the expenses of his own education
at the academy, but to lay by a fund
to pay for a collegiate course, upon
which he was determined to enter.
In 1851 he left the academy and
went to the Hiram Eclectic Insti-
tute, whence he continued to prose
cute his studies.
In 1884, Mr.. Garfield then a man
of % years, concluded that he knew
enough to pass examination for adj
mission TO college, and the only draw
back in his way now was the money
to pay for his course. During his
five years of study and work, he had
established a fund for this purpose,
but he had not been able to accu-
mulate the necessary sum by several
hundred dollars. His life at the
academy, however, had established
for him a reputation for honesty
and persistency of purpose, which
now stood him in good stead. A
gentleman agreed to advance him
the money, taking as security q life
insurance policy, which the young
man being healthy and robust,'
found no difficulty in securing.
Pecmiary difficulties being thus
disposed of, he was ready to start,
and, after canvassing the merits of
several colleges, he settled upon
Williams, at Williamstown, and in
the fall of 1854 he was admitted to
the Junior class Of that institution.
He was now thrust into the society
Of polished young students, who
looked somewhat contemptuously
on the rough Western farmer and
carpenter who had dropped among
them. His experience in social
point of view was far from pleasant,
and he was made the subject of
many rude remarks and much ruder
treatment. He had come to VIII
Hams, however, for a purpose, and
that purpose he kept steadily in
view. Needless of the sights which
he constantly received, he applied
himself energetically to his studies,
and in 1856, two years after his adj
mission, he was graduated, bearing off
the Metaphysical honor of his class,
which is esteemed at Williams as
among the highest within the gift of
the institution to the graduating
members. This was ample recon-
pense for all the Sights which he
had endured while struggling for the
high prize.
Garfield was now - years of age,
and had as the result of 20 years Ia
Dor, n collegiate education, his
clothes, his books. his diploma, and
a debt of $3.50. He had no time for
leisure. His business was to find
something to do, and free himself
from debt. Before going to college,
he had joined the sect of the ''Disci-
ples,n better known as Campbell
lites," from their founder Alexander
Campbell. This sect had a numer-
Gus membership in Ohio, and all the
Garfield family were connected with
it. The Eclectic Institute" in Hi
ram was the college of this sect, and
it was natural that Mr. Garfield
should turn his eyes to the strug-
Cling little college which he had left
as a pupil but two years before. He
returned to Hiram, where he was
made Professor of Latin and Greek
in the institute. Plain living and
high thinking was the order of the
day at the institute. The teachers
were poor, the pupils were poor,
and the college was poor, but there
was a great deal of hard, faithful
study done, and many ambitious
plans formed Prof Garfield, after
the first year, was made President
of the institution, and in this capac-
ity he not only taught and lectured,
but preached. According to the
creed of the Disciples" any person
having the power was entitled to
preach, and the President of the col
lege was expected to deliver a ser
mon every Sunday as part of his Of
fetal duty. President Garfield
preached with great force, and his
fame spread all through the Camp
bellite settlement. 1t was this fact
that gave rise to the story that he
had been minister, a story which
he has taken occasion to deny pub
licly on several occasions. With all
this work on his hands, President
Garfield continued to study law, the
,,,ofaco;an which ho had marEed