Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-22
COLD IN DEATH.

SNA4hOOA1SOL1LCllC " StS SAAShN4 III DI4SSl-
ing tones, last night, at fifteen minutes
after eleven o'clock, from the ocean re-
treat of the presidents suffering fami-
ly. Sad, indeed, is the duty of the
chronicler of a nations loss. In time
when it is waiting in deep soicitude
upon the doubtful balance of life
and death, our nation is stricken
with the heaviest of blows upon its
very heart. Although not unexpected,
it falls with all the force of a sudden
shock and all the effect of wound
upon the tenderest affection. His loss
causes the heart of the nation to quiver.
This is not the time to speak of him at
length that belongs to him. In this
hour of mourning, and under the shock
of intense grief it may be said that his
death is nations calamity and is la
mented by every true citizen.
James Abraham Garfield was born in
the township of Orange, Cuyahoga
county, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1881. He was
the youngest of four children, and his
father died when he was but two years
old. His father, Abraham Garfield
was farmer in rather poor circum-
stances, but was highly respected in
the neighborhood for his industry and
integrity. His wife, the mother of
James, was considered a woman of
more than ordinary talent, and devoted
all the time she could take from her
daily toll to reading history and litera-
ture. The other three children have
never become at all prominent. The
Oldest is farmer in Michigan, and
the two sisters are wives of farmers in
Ohio. For the first sixteen years of
the life of James he worked on the lit
tie farm left by his father, and went to
school when it was possible for his
mother to send him. He was an apt
scholar and had great desire to get an
education, consequently he made good
progress. At the age of sixteen he
went from home to work, first at chop
ping cordWoOd and later at harvesting
and other farm work until he had
earned a little money. With this he
went to Cleveland, only nineteen miles
away, to obtain employment on lake
vessel. Failing to obtain such a posi-
ton he sought and obtained place on
the Ohio canal. tits not easy to under
stand why this canal boat portion of Gar
fields life should have been singled out
as especially bright by the friends of
his cause when a candidate for presi-
dent, as there does not seem to be any
thing in it that would distinguish him
from the other canal hands, and it was
but short time before he was COM
PEELED to return home sick of ague,
from which he would not have recov-
cred except with that care which only
a mother can give. On his recovery
from the ague he was sent to school by
his mother, and the love of an education
took the place of his desire for being a
sailor. In 1849, when 18 years old, Gar
field entered Geauga academy, teaching
school in the winter, and working
at the carpenters trade in the
summer. to assist himself financially.
In 1854 he entered the JUROR class at
Williams college and two years later
graduated with an honor. He soon
obtained a professorship in Hiram col
lege, Ohio, and afterwards became
president of the college. In 1858 he
Lucretia Rudolph, the daugh-
ter of farmer near by, with whom he
had became acquainted while at Geau-
ga academy. She proved to be real
helpmeet and Garfield and his earnest
friends ascribe much Of his success in
latter life to the devotion and good
judgment of his wife. In 1859. he was
elected to the Ohio state senate. Here
he begun the political life on James A.
Garfield. 1t is generally supposed that
he was once clergyman; this however,
is a mistake. While at Hiram college
he sometimes preached, but was
never an ordained minister. In the
Ohio State Senate, Garfield soon be-
came prominent. He was a ready
talker and led the republican minority
against the adoption of the constitu-
tional amendments proposed by Con-
gress forbidding states from legislating
upon the subject of slavery.
Garfield is described as large, we'll
fed, rudy-faced, brown bearded man,
weighing 220 pounds, with broad shoul-
ders, large nose, light blue eyes, and
high forehead, with little tendency to
being bald. He dresses and acts in a
showing that he was born and
bred a farmer. It is related of him
that he always sought to make friends,
and during his long service in congress,
was doubtless one of the most popular
men in that body among his colleagues.
At the end of two years in the state
senate Garfield notified Gov. Deniston
that he desired to enter the military
service. He was first sent by the gov
ernor to New York for arms for Ohio