The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-30

HIS EARLY LIFE.

IN the township Of Orange, Cuyahoga county,
Ohio, about fifteen miles from Cleveland. His
father, Abraham Garfield, came from New
York, but, like his mother was of New England
stock. James was the youngest OF four chill
dren- The father died in 1888, leaving his
family dependent upon small farm and the
exertions of the mother. There was nothing
about the elder Garfield to distinguish
him from the other plodding farm
ers of the rather sterile township OF Orange.
No one could discern any qualities in him,
which. transmitted to the next generation,
might help to make statesman, unless it was
industry; but his wife, who is still living at an
advanced age, was always fond of reading when
she could got leisure from her hard household
duties, and was a thoroughly capable woman
Of strong WILL stern principles, and more
than average force of character. OF the chill
dren no one beside James made the slight
est mark in the world. The older brother
is farmer in Michigan, and the two
sisters are farmers wives. James had a
hard time of it as boy. He toiled hard on
the farm early and late in summer, and
worked at the carpenters bench in winter.
The best of it was that he liked work. He had
an absorbing ambition TO get an education, and
u
manual labor. Ready money was hard to get
in those days The Ohio canal ran not far
from where he lived, and, finding that the
boatmen got their pay in cash and earned bet
ter wages than he could make at farming or
carpentry, he hired out as a driver on
the towpath and soon got up to
the dignity of holding the helm Of
boat. Then he determined to ship as
sailor on the lakes, but an attack of fever and
ague interfered with bis plans. He was i'll
three months, and when he recovered he de-
cided to go 10 a school called Geauga Academy
in an adjoining county. His mother had
saved a small sum of money, which she gave
him, together with few cooking utensils and
stock of provisions. He hired small room
and cooked his own food to make his
expenses as light as as, possible. He
calling on his mother for any more assistance.
BY working at the carpenters bench mornings
and evenings and vacation times and teaching
country schools during the winter, he managed
to attend the academy during the spring and
fail terms and to save q little money toward go
ing to college. He had excellent health, a ro-
bust frame, and a capital memory, and the at
tempt to combine mental and physical work,
which has broken down many farmer boys am
bilious TO get an education, did not hurt him.
GARFIELD AT COLLEGE.
When he was % years OF age he concluded he
had got about all there was to be had in the
he had saved about half enough money to get
through college, provided he could begin, AZ
he hoped, with the Junior year. He got life
insurance policy, and assigned 1t to a gentle
man as security for q loan to make up the
amount he lacked. In the fall of 1854 he en-
tered the Junior class of Williams College,
Massachusetts, and graduated in 1856 with
the metaphysical honors of his class. A
daguerreOtype Of him, taken about this time,
represents rather awkward youth, with a
shock of light hair standing straight up from
big forehead and frank thoughtful face. of a
very marked German type
Before he went 10 college Garfield had con-
nected himself with the Disciples, a sect having
a numerous membership i'll Eastern ana
Southern OHIO, West Virginia and Kentucky,
where its founder, Alexander Campbell, had
Travelled and preached. The principal pecul-
iaritles of the denomination are their re-
fusal to formulate their beliefs into
creed, the Independence OF each congregation,
the hospitality and fraternal feeling of the
members, and the lack of a regular ministry.
When Garfield returned TO Ohio 1t was natural
that he should soon gravitate to the struggling
little college of the young sect at Hiram, Port-
age county, near his boynood's home. He be-
came Professor of Latin and Greek, and threw
himself with the energy and industry which
were leading traits of lis character INTO the
work OF bul dig up the institution. Before he
had been two years III his profesSorshlp he was
appointed President Of the college.
The Young President taught, lectured and
preached, and all tie time studied a. diligently
as any acoiyte in the temple OF knowledge.
He irLque nifty spoke on Sundays III the church
es of tue towns Ia the vicinity to create an in
terest ia the college. Among the Disciples any
one q preach VINO has n mind to, no ordIna-
ton being required. From these Sunday dis
cushions came the story that Garfield at one
time was minister. He never considered him.
selt rs such, and never had any intention of
finding career i'll the pulpit. His ambition,
Il he had auv outside Of the school, lay in the
direction OF law and politics.
uIs MARRIAGE
During his prufcssOrShlp Garfield married
Miss Lucret rudolph, daughter Of a farmer
III the neignborhoOd, whose acquaintance be
had made while at the academy, where she was
also pupil She was quiet, thoughtful girl,
of singulaTly sweet and refined disposition
fond of study and reading possessing
a warm heart and mind with the
capacity OF steady growth. The marriage
was love affair on both sides, and has been a
thoroughly happy one. Much Of Gen. Gar
lieias suos, qdenC sticce-n III life may tie
triputed To Inc never ailIng sympathy and IN
tellectual compromising OF his wife and the
stimulus Of loving home circle. The young
couple bought neat IL tie cottage fronting on
the college campus, and began their welded
life poor and in debt. but with brave hearts.
In 1859 the college President was elected to
the State Senate from the counties OF Portage
and Summit. He did not resign has Presidency.
because he looked upon a few months in the
Legislature as an episode not likely TO change
the course of his life But the war came TO
alter his plans. During the winter OF
1861 he was active in the passage OF
measures for arming the State militia,
and his eloquonce and energy made him
conspicuous leader of the Union party.
Early in the summer of 1861 he WAS elected
Colonel of an infantry regiment (the Forty
second) raised in Northern Ohio, many of the
soldiers Of which had been students at Hiram.
He took the field in Eastern Kentucky, was soon
put in command Of a brigade, and by making
one Of the hardest marches ever made by rs
cruits, SURPRISED and routed the rebel forces,
under Humphrey Marshall, at Piketon.
From Eastern Kentucky Gen. Garfield was
transferred to Louisville, and from that place
fastened TO join the army Of Gen. Buell., which
he reached with his brigade in time TO partici-
pate in the second days fighting at Pittsburgh
Landing. He took part in the siege of Corinth
and in the operations along the Memphis and
Charleston railroad. In January, 1863, he
was appointed Chief OF STAFF of tNe
Army OF the Cumberland and bore a prom
.nent share In all the campaigns in Mid
die Tennessee in the spring and summer
of chat year. His last conspicuous mill
tary service was at the battle of Chickamauga.