Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-16
Our Standard Bearer.
HIS HOME LIFE.

HIS HOME LIFE.
Gen. Garfield is the possessor of two
homes, and his family migrates twice n
year. Some ten years ago, 1ndlng how
unsatisfactory life was in hotels and board |
ing houses, he bought a lot of ground on
the corner of Thirteenth and l streets, in
Washington, and with money borrowed of
a friend built plain, substantial three
story house. A wing was extended after
ward to make room for the fast growing
library. The money was repaid in time,
and was probably saved in great part from
what would otherwise have gone 10 land
lords. The children grew up in pleasant
home surroundings, and the house became
the center of much simple and cordial
hospitality. Five or six years ago the
little cottage at Hiram was sold, and for a
time the only residence the Garfelds had
in his district was a 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 Men
tor, same county, lying on both sides ofthe
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern rail-
road. Here his family spend all the time
when he is free from his duties in Wash
ington. The original farm house was a
low, old-fashioned story-and. a-half build
ing, and its limited accommodations were
supplemented by numerous outbuildings,
one of which Gen. Garfield uses for Office
and library purposes. Last spring he had
the house enlarged and remodeled, so
that it now has handsome modern look.
The farm contains about 100 acres of ex-
cellent land in a high state of cultivation,
and the congressman finds recreation, OF
which he never tires, in directing the field
work and making improvements in the
buildings, fences and orchards. Cleveland
is only 20 miles away; there is Il post office
and railway station within half a mile, land
the pretty country town of Painsville is
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.
Visitors who come unannounced often
find the general working in the bayfield,
with his boys, with his broad, genial, face
sheltered from the sun under big chip
hat and his trousers tucked in pair Of
cowhide boots. He is thorough country
man by instinct. The smell of the good
brown earth, the lowing of cattle, the per-
fume Of the new cut grass, and all the
sights and sounds of farm life are dear to
him from early associations.
Gen. Garfield has five children living,
and has lost two, who died in infancy.
The two older boys, Harry and James. are
now at school in New Hampshire. Mary
or Molly, as everybody calls her, is a
handsome. rosy.cheeked girl of about y
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, energetic
old lady, with q clear head and a strong
will, 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.
Gen. Garfed's property may amount
to $4,000. 1t consists exclusively of his
farm in Ohio and his house in Washington,
and every dollar of it has been earned by
his own exertOns. He has saved n little
every year from his salary, and this. will
an occasional legal fee, has made up tho
bulk of his estate. When he entered con
gress he owned little house in Hiram
worth, perhaps, 5000. His hospitable
habits have intefered somewhat with his
economies. 1t rarely happens that the
family are week by themselves in Wash
ington or in Mentor. Guests are always
welcome, and are made to feel at home by|
being taken into the daily life of the fam.
lily. The long table usually reaches from
one end Of the dining room to the other,
and there is q chair and plate for any
chance caller. General Garlield's district
lies on 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 a year ago
With the exception Of the coal and iron
regions in the extreme southern part, the
district is purely rural one and is inhab
tied by population of pure New England
ancestry. 1t is claimed that there is less
illiteracy in proportion to the population
than any other district in the United
States. In person Gen. 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 touched
with gray, large, light blue eyes, promi
nent nose and full cheeks.
HIS APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER.
lie dresses plainly, is fond of broad,
brimed SLOUGH hats and stout boots. eats
heartily, cares nothing for luxurious liv.
ing, is u 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
companionahle and a remarkably enter.
tanning talker. His mind is u vast
storehouse of facts, "reminiscences anu
anecdotes. He is not what is called 4
practical politician. He knows little Of
the machinery of caucuscs and conven.
tions, or of the methods of conducting
close campaigns. His constituents have
nine times nominated him without any
effort on his part, and have elected hin
by majorities ranging from 5000 to II 900
AS politician in the larger and better
sense of shaping the policy of grea
party, however, he has few equals. Tc
| M man IL tho rapphlioop ,,,r.u mon,