The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-22
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
The Distinguished Bead --HHfS
Life zazad Career.

2DHIflISz X3DEtl4IaAi NFaI3lEti WAS EljUlI U
Tenber 10Th, 1881, in the town Of Orange
Cuyahoga county, Ohio. His father, Wl1t
came from New York, was Of New Eng
land stock. James was the youngest ot
four children, who were left fatherless
when he was but two years of age. Mrs
Garfield was woman Of remarkable busI-
ness qualities, and, with the aid OF llel
three older boys, she managed 10 snpporl
herself and the family on the little farm
left by her husband. james from his
earliest years was obliged to aid to the ex-
tent Of his ability in the general work
about his home Ia the summer, while dtl-
ring the winter he worked at a caIpen-
ter's bench, using such opportunities fo1
study as he could command. In his sew
year, wishing TO earn larger WA
ges, he determined to become !; canal-man
and securctl Il position as driver Of one OF
6lle= boats on tho Ohio Canal. Ills care
md attention tO5llis humble business at
traeted the attention Of his superiors, and
he was soon promoted to the more digni-
fed post Of holding the tillerof the boat.
He continued in this business, saving what
IittIeof his earnings he could, for about
eighteen months, when he entered the
Geauga Seminary. Ills mother had some
small savings, which she gave him, togeth-
or with Il few cooking utensils and stock
of provisions. He hired a small room and
cooked his own food, to make expenses as
light as possible. BY working at the car
penter's bench mornings and evenings and
At vacation times, aud teaching country
scholars III winter, he managed to 60
through the academy, and saved some
funds with which to make his way through
college. re entered Williams College in
1854, and graduated IN 1856, bearing off
the metaphysical honor Of his class, which
Is esteemed at Williams a3 among the
highest within the gift of the Institution to
the graduating members.
Before going TO college, he had joined
The aectzof the Disciples, better known
Is "Campbeilites, from their founder,
Campbell. This sect had a nll-
nerous membership in Ohio, and all The
Garfield family were connected. with it,
The Eclectic Institute, ii Hiram, Nas
the collegesof this sect, and here Mr.. Gar
field became professor Of Latin and Greek
During his profnssorsllip he married Miss
Lueretia Rudolph. Two years later his
political life began. Ills sermons had at.
Eracted attention TO hlm, aud in 1859 h6
was brought forward BY the anti-slaVerl
people Of Portage and Summit Counties a<
their candidate for State Senator. He was
elected By a large majority, and, young as
he was, he at once took high rank in the
on the subjects, Of legislation, ane
effective and powerful in debate. He
seemed always prepared to speak, and al
ways spoke fIuently and we'll. When the
secession Of the Southern States began
Nj. Garficlds S course was manly and out.
spoken, and he was among the foremost tC
the right Of the National Gov
to coerce. seeded States. Early
in the stlfnmer=of 1861, he was appointed
Colonel Of the Forty Second Ohio Volun-
Eeers, and took tile field iii Eastern Ken
tucky, and was soon placed i'll command
If d brigade, and, by making one Of the
hardest marches ever made by recruits
and routed the rebei5forees under
Marshall, at Piketon lie tool
part Ill all the operations Of the army il
the Southwest, his last conspicuous mill.
Ea1y service being atthe battle Of Chica,
mauga. For his services there he was
made 4 Major General. Itsis.said that he
wrote all the orders given to the army thal
lay and submitted them alto Genera
save one. The one lie did no
write was the fatal ordel to General Wood
which was so Worded as MOTTO correctly
convey the meaning Of the commanding
general, which causetl=tTe destruction OF
the right wing. OF the army.
The Congressional District III WIieT
Garfield lived was one long made falnou!
by Joshua r. Giddings. While Garffelt
was III the field in 1862 he was nominated
for Congress in that district. lie acceptet
he nomination, believing that the wa
would end before he entered Congress, bu
continued his military service until 1868
cary Affairs, where, By Iissactivity, indus
.fy, and familiarity with the wants CT TIA
al=nly, he did as signal service as he=eon#t
.l;lve done il the field. Soon he bee M
Known a. a powerful speaker, remarkabi.s
Teatly, and always etIecfiye III debate, Will
ii the committees he proved himself an in
valuable worker. His party renon Lated
him BY acelalnatfon On the .eApIrseti0H5o
his term, and on his return 10 the HOlast
be was given q leading place on its leadlns
eonlmittee-on Ways and Means. Her
he rose to great Influence. He studied th
whole range OF financial questions witt
the assiduity Of bis college days, 50 that /,
was looked upon as one Of the ;bIest Of on
national finaneiers: Hestood By bis part,
and his party stood BY him, re-eleetfi1g hin
to the II'hilfy-ninth, .Fortieth
Forty-fifst, Torty-seeold, l7orty-fhfrd
FORTY fourth. i Foity-T' i, and FortY-sixtl
Congresses. During these several term
he had served as the Chairman Of the Com
|nfttee On. l[i il italy. 1 fairs, of the Commit
tee on Banking and Currency, and Of ii
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