Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-07-21
Brief Sketch Of the Life Of Presi-
dent Garfield.

dent Garfield.
Gen Garfcld's birth in Ohio and his political
cnreer have strongly identified his family with
that State. lie came, however, Of New England
ancestry. In 1876 one Edward Garfield emf
grated from the ncighborhood of Chester and
settled in Watcrtown, Mass. 1t is said that OH
his way over to this country he married q
German girl and this dash Of German blood in
The family may account for James a. Garfield s
strong tastes for tho German language and
literature. The entire family remained in Wa
tertown until l7GG, when part Of il itrcmoved TO
Weston, Mass. Abraham Garfield took part in
the battle Of Concord and his brother, Solomon
Garfield was also revolutionary soldier. The
former and one John iIoar, tho great grand
father Of tSenator Geo. F. floar. Chairman of
The Convention which nominated james a. Gar.
field for President signed their names in 1875
to document stating that the British troops
fired without provocation the first vollcy at Con.
cord. AZ the close of the Revolution Solomon
Garfield, who, like his ancestors, was farmer
purchased q small farm near Worcester, Otsego
county, New York. His son Thomas married
Ascnath Hall, half sister Of Samuel Russell,
at one time clerk Of the county, ana from this
union was born in December, l790, Abraham
Garfield, the father of the late President.
Abram married Eliza Ballou, n connection of
Hosea Ballou, one Of the founders of the Uni
versalism in America. Not long after their mar
rage the couple removed 10 tho township of
orange, Cuyahoga county, in Northeastern
Ohio. Almost all Of this part Of The Stale was
nj that time still covered with dense forests and
the Gnrficds were obliged to clenr the land for
their farming They built log cabin twenty
feet ny thirty, and in this cabin James Abram
Garfield was born on the 10Th Of November
1881.
lIc was the youngest of four children, and
soon after his birth his father, Abram Garfield
died. leaving his mother with q hard prospect
III litc Sho is woman Of strong character
and Of wonderful energy. When james was
quite young he was Of service to the struggling
inmiiy and by the time he was twelve years old
helped considerably toward its comfort aud
support. The Garfield household endured tho
trials OF severe poverty and tho early days 0:
the future President were passed in such priva.
tohs rs have fallen to the lot Of few famous
men.
al sixteen he was q raw country boy, full of
'vigor and already remarkably well educated for
his opportunities. lie had q boysh idea Of
gong TO sea, but was dissuaded from doing SO
BY his mother. lie was then serving as a com.
mon canal hand.
When he was eighteen he was enabled 10 nt-
tend school by the industry and privations of his
mother
lie taught scho,l aud saved $500 with which
he stnced to Williams College in 1854. Finish
ing brilliant course there, he entered Hiram
College MS Professor of Ancient Languages
Ills hrst appearance in politics was in 1857
when he made several stump speeches in State
campaign In 1859 he was elected TO the State
Senate MS strong anti slavery man. lie at
tnined great influence in the Legislature and
was considered one of the rea,licst speakers and
strongest debaters in the body.
When the war began he entered into it with
great enthusiasm. lie was appointed by Gov
Dennison Lieutenant Colonel Of the Forty,
second Ohio Regiment, but was made Colonel us
soon as the regiment was organized lie rose
to tho rank of Bryndier General anl was made
chief of staff Of the army of the Cumberland
AZ Chickamauga he rendered distinguished
service, and this was the last active war duty lie
performed. Soon afterwards he was promote cd
10 tho rank of Major General of volunteers.
In 1868 he resigned his commission To- accept an
election TO the Thirty Eighth Congress from
what is now the Nineteenth Ohio District lie
served successfully in every Congress until he
was elected 10 the Presidency. In 1877 he wns
n member Of the Electoral Commission. Be-
fore his nomination at Chicago he was elected
10 succeed Jode6 Thurman in The United States
Senate, but Oh the day Tint lie would have taken
his seat in that body hc was inauguratc cd prcsi-
dent of the United States with tho gtandcst
ceremonies ever known on such m occasion.
Tie Congressional career of the President is
fresh in the minds Of the country. He was one
of the most prominent figures that has appeared
IN Washington since the war. After Mr.. Bininc
went TO The Senate he was The acknowledged
leader OF the Republican party in the House.
II was his eminent service in this field, rs we'll
as his great popularity in the doubtful State Of
Ohio, which caused the anti Grant fuct;ons to
unite on him at Chicago. In the canvass he
developed fine powers Of political leadership
and created great enthusiasm throughout tho
South and West.
or his administration little need be said, rs it
has been so brief and its every important fact is
so we'll known.
Garfield when 27 years old married Miss
Lucrctia Rudolph daughter of Maryland
farmer, whom he had met when both were
students ct Hiram College. lie is q devoted
member Of The Christian or Campbclitc Church
and has frequently appeared lay preacher
in its pulpits Ono singular incident Of IFS
life is that willis spending q vacation in North
Poynai, Vi, he aught q wiring class in a
school where Chester 4. At,hur hnd been prin-
cipnl year before. The President was u man
Of fine physique and just in the prime Of his
power. Personally he was very attractive and
was notable for. the simplicity Of his manners,
which the honors Of the White lIousc seem to
have left entirely una ifcc led