New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-20
HIS ROYHOOn

Tho childhood OF James A. Garfield was passed in NJ
most complete isolation from social Influences save oa
which proceeded from the home Of mother and that
OF his uncle BoyntOn The farms OF the Garfeds AND
Bo9htons were partially separated from the settled
coutr! around by large tract of forest side and
deep rocky rsyne on another. For many years after
Abram Garfield and his hslfbrother Boynton built their
ioS cabins the nearest house miles distant
and when the country became well settled the m ced
character OF the surface around their farms kept
oos az distance too great for the children OF the two
families to find associates among them save at the dis
tflct school The district schoolhouse stood upon a
corner of the Garfield farm and it was there when
nearly four years old, that James conued hrs Noah
WebsteTs Spelling Book" and learned his alb abs"
James was put to farm work as soon "a he wae big
enough TO be OF any use The family very Door and
the mother often worked in the fields with the bovs sb
spun the yarn and wOve the cloth for the chfdren,s
clothes and her sewed the neighbors knit
ihss cooked the simple meals for the household i'm the
big fireplace over which hung iron crane for te not,
hooks helped plant and hoe the gather the hav
crop and even assisted the boy to clear and fence
iahd - IN the midst Of this toilsome . life the
brave little woman found time to nst into the minds OF
her children the religious moral maxms of her New
England ancestry Every day read four CHAPTERS Of
the Bibea practice she keeps ND to this time and ba
never Interrupted for single day save when living mon
sick bed The children lived in an atmospbere of r
nsious thought and discussion. Uncle Boynton who
was second father to the Garfield family aavored OH
MS talk with Bible quotations. He carried Testament
III ms pocket wherever he won't and wOuld sit nm b
PSnShbeam at tae end Of furr0w take it ont ana
read chapter 1t was time OF religious ferrrpt IN
northern ONO New sects filed the air with their doc
trnai cries The Disciples founded by thu preach
ing OF Alexander Campbell an eloouent and d.vo,, 80,
OF Scotch Descent who ranged over Kentucky Ohio
virginia ana fennsylvania, from his home q, Bethany
IN the " Pan Handle" had made great progress, They
essailed all creeds made by men and declared IN.
Dipie 10 De the only rule of life Attacking All the oIdo,
denominations, they were vigorously attacked in t,rn
'aness mind was filed at early day with the contra
versies this now sect excited. The guests at M
house were mostly travelling preachers and the talk o
.e when not about the crops and tarlp
iabors, was usually religious topics
Al the district school James was known nc u n,b,,r
boy. He fonnd that the larger bovs were di.s
70 insult and abuse little follow who ba6
no rather or big brother 10 protect him ana 10
resented such imposition with all the force of sensitv
oatnre backed by hot temper. great physical conr
age and strength unusual for his age His big brohr
ihomas had finished his schooling and was much arav
from home, working by the day month 10 earn money
Tor tne support ~ the family Many stories are told I'm
Orange of the pluck shown by the fut,,r. er1
IN MS encounters with the rough country lads in d.s.n
OF MS boysh rights and honor They say be MAYER e
gan nght and never cherished malice but when en-
tased py tauns or nsus would attack boys of twice
ms size with the fry and tenacty OF a BULLDOG few
years after the death OF his father the house was
IN curious fashion The log school honse was ahan
uohea Tor new frame building and the old structure
ooshs ~ iosnas Garfield for tribe, and ne and
WIN ths hep OF the BoyntOn boys pulled IT. down
ana put IL op agas site few steps in tha rear ~ m.
Sarneid dwelling. Thus the family had tyso roo,s "a
WEI" 'oefaoy comfortable as far household accon
nooaiiohs were concerned In these two log bustnoa
10y eo nhh James was fourteen when the boys sut
s'an nau'e s"ase for their mother. II was paintea
e anu haa three Rooms below aud under the roof