Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-20
JAMES A. GARFIELD.
Sketch OF a Remarkable Life.

pied humble positions in life he was the worthy
heir of a line of men and women distinguished
for noble courage and high virtue. His
biegraphers trace his lineage back to one of
that picked company Of men, women and
children who came over in the ship
with Gov. Winthrop, to ne Massachusetts,
shores, and it is absolutely Certain that this an
cestor Edward Garfield, was one of the one
hundred and six prOprietOrs of WatertOwn, now
lovely suburb of Boston. for he is so recorded
in 1853. Whatever may be the connection be-
tween the ancient burgher of WatertOwn and
the little log cabin in the Ohio will
derness it is matter of undisputed history
that James A. Garfield was born i'm the latter
place. and it may be considered by some that it
was not particularly fortunate entrance into
the world. But his birth amid such surround
lnGS. the commencement OF his life in such q
lowly way adds tenfOld to the pride with which
Americans now point to James A. Garfield as a
specimen of well developed American manhood.
his father died when he was eighteen months
Old and left his four children to be reared by his
widow, Eliza Garfield. 1t is recorded that
James
BEGAN HIS SCHOOL LIFE
at the early age of three his widowed mother
having rendered corner of her small farm for
site for school house in order to have it
within easy distance. Wonderful stories are re-
lated OF young Garfeld's eagerness for books
and his amazing capacity for learning even be-
fore he entered his teens. When he was four
teen or fifteen he began to .'work out" first
earning - a month and board at boiling black
salts from the ashes of burned logs. When he
was sixteen he went to- Cleveland i'm search of
employment and accepted an offer to drive
horses for cousin who Was running
canal boat. His canal boat
experience, which has been so much exploited.
lasted three months and Melted him ?10
month and board. The one feature of this sim
guiar experience which was of special value to
him afterwards, his learning TO steer.
and something about the navigation of the
Ohio river an experience that served
him in the army when he saved
his command in Eastern Kentucky from
starving 10y plotting boat sent for supplies
when no professional on hand would undertake
the perilous duty. He stood at the wheel for
fOfty-iOur hours out OF forty-eight, and saved
his boat from being wrecked. When he re-
turned TO his command with a load of supplies
his men were eating their last crackers. The
immediate result of his canal experience was an
attack of fever. which laid him up for five months,
during which he patiently watched and
nUrsed by his noble mother. In the spring of
his eighteenth year James and his two cousins
entered
THE GEAUGA SEMINARY,
the boys renting a rOOm-with cOOk-stOve and
~ beds-in which they lived. There he met,
So, e modest, studous, reserved girl named
Lucretia Rudolph meeting which exerted an
dhtiuence over his whole future life. Between
terms James worked at haying or carpenter
lng, and at the end of the year he began to
teach a districi school 1t was while he was
teaching that winter that he fell under the in
fiuence of Disciples preacher and was bap-
tZed in the faith OF his mother. After spending
two more terms at Geauga. young Garfield set
out for Hiram Eclectic Institute. now known as
Hiram College, an institution then just being
started At Hiram he gave additional manifest
etlons OF his aptitude and capacity for learning.
AT HIRAM AND WILLIAMS
He entered Hiram IN no fall Of 1871 and in
June. 1854. had not only fitted himself to enter
college. but had completed two years of the
college course. as to be admitted in the
Junior class in Williams in full and good stand
Ing He mad not only paid his way as he went
and supported himself by teaching. but had
saved up about $3.50. On graduating from Will
Eains with high hOnors in 1856 with the highest
college popularity and with the unreSerVed
Confidence and admiration OF President Hopkins
and all the faculty. Garfield naturally returned
TO Hiram for the beginning of his life work as
trained and cultured man. He was married to
his former fellow pupil Lucretia Rudolph on
the 18th of November. 1853 having become pro-
fessor of Latin and Greel, two years before He
soon rose to be president of Hiram College.
STATE SENATOR AND SOLDIER.
He was elected in 1859, when % years off age,
b. the people of Summit and Portage counties,
a. State Senator. and in that capacity began his
long and honorable public service. At the break
inc out of the war. Garfield, who had long fore
seen the struggle that was coming, was ready
His military record covers only a little over
two years. but is full of achievements. He set
about. when there was a call for troops raising
recruits for the 42d Ohio volunteers and
was commissioned in August. 1861, as
lieutenant colonel, and soon promoted to
colonel On the 18th Of December 1861, he
took his well-drilled regiment to the front. So
1ayoraoiy impressed was Gen Buell. with the
genius OF the young colonel thar he placed him
In command OF an expedition against Humnlrey
Marshall, who had invaded eastern KentuckF.
an expedition which was signally successful.
He received a brigadier's commission stimuli
taneously with his fight with Hum
phrey. which resulted 80 glorcusly for
the MON forces His subsequent achievements
e5 a soldier were brilliant. He took part in the
second days fight at Shiloh. He was IN al, the
operations in front of Cornth: rebuilt AMI
guarded the bridges on the Memphis and
Charleston railroad. and did his share in erecting
Notifications Being ordered 20 Washington he
s'ryed on the Fitz John Porter court-,nartial
9nd on its adjournment in January, 1868 was sent
D, ROsecrans. who made him his ''chief of staff"
She crowning effort of his service in this re-
lDonsibie Office came with the battle of Chicka-
Eaoga. where he shared the hOnors of the day
VITA ''Old Pap Thomas and nobly won a major
ks1Ss-fs commission. After Chickamauga
Gen. Garfield was sent to Washington to
reconcile the differences between RoSecrans and
Stanton. ard in December. 1853, reluctantly re-
signed his commission TO perform the duties to
months before.
HIS CONGRESSIONAL CAREER.
Then began his career in the House of Repre-
se1tatiyes. which closed only with his elevation
f0the Chief Mdgistracy. he having been reelected
nine times. and finally chosen to represent his
STATE IN the Senate. lie entered Congress when
he was less than 81 years of age. The accep-
lance OF the seat in Congress cost him MANY
severe struggles between cOntending convic-
tons of duty He was advised by Gen Rose
cIans 10 enter Congress. When Gen Thomas
assumed command of the Army of the Cumber-
land. lie offered Gen. Garfield the command
OF an array corps, an invitation that made Gen
GarfeiGs impulse to 90 back to the army al
most irresistible. but President Lincoln having
personally urged him to remain in Congress he
yielded. To give a fair notion of the scope and
nature of Gen. Garfeld's work in the 3Sth as i'm
ali the succeeding Congresses would require
much mere space than can here be given and
the task. indeed. is one that belongs to the pa
tient. careful, dispassiOnate historian, who may
write without prejudice or favor when the present
political conditions have changed. The wonder
fui versatility. activity. industry and ability of
the man has made the work something almost
appalling 1t is impossible, within the limits of
even half dozen volumes. to reproduce with
fTxi1t ,al