Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-10-25

much like him. We have but one other |
child, daughter, and she, too, is married, !
and we live here alone"
II was child between 10 and II when |
father died. said the old gentleman, and |
James was baby of Is months. Mother |
was often urged to find places for her chill
dran among neigh boring friends. but she
always refused and sat in our humble
home spinning and weaving for such pao
pie ss would give Der employment, while
set out working with all my might among
The neighbors to contribute what 8 child
could for the family support. l used. to
earn tweaty five cents a cord for chopping
fifteen foot wood, and from my slender
earnings paid nine shillings bushel for
| meal. which l packed two miles and half
| ffom the mill, and this largely formed our
| diet.
Wasn't it mile and half?" asked
| Mrs Garfield.
NO" replied her husband, with keen
remembrance of his poverty. which had
outlasted his brothers prOmidence, " it was
two miles and a half And that winter
mother wove a large piece of cloth for the
children and paid for the dyes to color it.
| james was seven years younger than the
next Oldest child. and was teaching school
when we were married I we'll remember
carrying him on my back to the school
house when he was child. His mi d
1
if say it myself James was a good and
smart man."
what truth" asked the reporter, F." is
there in the sorry about James hiring out
as driver for canal boat
Why" replied MIR. G flames never
was regularly employed in the business.
He hired to his cousin, Amos Letcher, I'M
til something better turned up, and drove
one round trip, and was preparing to start
on the second, when he fell sick and quit
the business He was then Is or 16 years
old
"When did you first hear of the assas-
sinstion of the President?"
son the evening of the day it occurred
at 8 p. N. a neighbor came from Grand
with him for me. A dispatch signed by
} Mr.. Judd was brought to the house from
the nearest railway SITS ton later in the
evening, and every day afterwards until
Harry Garfield returned to Williams Col
lege he sent me q dispatch which was
brought over from jacksonville or Grant.
; vile by friends. After Harry went back
to college heard nothing rect from the
President until the dispatch came from Ell
boron announcing his death and signed by
Mr.. J. Stanley Brown"
Why did you not go to Washington tc
visit The President during his illness p
asked the reporter.
The old gentleman hesitsted, snd the re-
porter kindly sugg sted that perhaps the
great expense incident to the trip hindered
| him
Yes" said Mr.. Garfield, "thst was it
and besides l had bsen told that nobody
= would be admired to see him"
Did you attend the funeral at Cleve
land 2"
Yes. sir. was gone from home three
4 days. and when l reached Clevelsnd wa
o directed to 90 to the house of Mrs Colone
Q Sheldon, where mother and sister were.
81 read, said Mrs. Garfield. "tha
!. Mother Garfield had said that James wa
b her only son. This must be a. mista 4 g. 70
Q Mother Garfield was not the kind of wo
n man to disoWn her own children. She ha
It too good heart for that"
@ 81 What do you think will be the ullimst
|. result of the death of James upon hi
Al mothers health ?"
1t II think" said Mr.. Garfield. THAT sh
Of will yet experience q relapse, for she g
y go much wrapped up in james. can neve
e. FORGE" added he, the last time met hin
90 1t was st Mentor last New Years, wbe
l. he held the family meeting. N, none
in could buy Of me the remern brance of GU
IS parting. He took me kindly by the hand an
c. said You are going back to your peace
,e full home while l must encounter troubl
g. and anxiety increasing"
l. The reporter shook hands with the p res
ID idents brother and his wife, and Mr.. Gal
field said in conclusion: :" You may te
Of your people that you have seen the humb
le farmer" to which Mrs Garfield added
ht request that the report of the interve
m might be sent TO them at jamestown
Of Ottawa County. We live on section IL.
IA she said.
tx A glance around the place showed fe
r. improvements. An srbor hung wit
g. grapevines led down to the gate, and
is corn crib and one other small dWelin
y was visible but there was no SIGN of bar
le or able or shelter for a possible unsee
Ii horse or COW.
as "How often do you go up to Gran
Rapids?" asked tbs reporter, turnin
70 about.
r, "Only once year" said Mr. Garfield
r land we go up then to buy our clothiD,
I'd What grain we raise is hauled to ne 81
It. boring villages, generally by my 50
l James"