The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-07-14
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.
How He sussains Ills Injuries Their
Eject Upon His Famify-What
Tilden and Bayard Say OF the
Attempted Assassination
More About the
Assassin. Rag

James Abram Garfield was born on the
18th of November, 1881, at Orange,
Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He was the
youngest Of four children, and SOON after
his birth his father, Abram Garfield.
died, leaving his mother with a hard
prospect in life. She is a woman of
strong character and Of wonderful energy.
When James was quite young he was of
service to the struggling family, and by
the time he WAS twelve years old helped
considerably toward ;is comfort end cup
port. The Garfield household endured
the trirls of severe poverty, and the early
days of the future President we're passed
in such privations as have iiIlen TO the
lot of few famous men. 1T sixteen he
was raw country boy, full of vigor. and
already remarkably we'll educated for his
opportunities. He had boyish idea of
going TO sea, but was dissuaded from do.
ing SO by his mother. He wap shen serv-
ing as a common canal hand.
When he WAS eighteen he was enabled
to attend school by the industry and pri.
vations Of his mother.
He taught school and saved $500 with
which he started to Williams College in
1854. Finishing brilliant course there,
he entered Hirrm College as Professor of
Ancient Languages.
His first appearance in politics was in
1857, when he made several stump
speeches in State campaign. III 1859
he was elected to the State Senate as q
strong apti-slavery man. He attained
great influence in the Legislature, and
was considered one of the readiest speak
ers and strongest debaters in the body.
When the war began he entered into it
with great enthusiasm. He was ap.
pointed by Governor Dennison Lieuten.
ant Colonel of the Forty-second Ohio
Regiment, but was made Colonel as soon
us the regiment was organized. He rose
to the rank of Brigadier General, and
was made chief Of staff of the army Of
the Cumberland. At Chickamauga he
rendered distinguished service, and THE
was the last active war duty he per-
formed. Soon afterwards he was pro.
NOTED to the rank Of Major. General of
volunteers. In 1868 he resigned his
commission to accept an election to the
Thirty Eighth Congress from what is
now the Nineteenth Ohio District. He
Berved successfully in every Congress
until he was elected to the Presidency.
In 1877 he was member of the Eecto-
raj Commission. Before his nomination
at Chicago he was elected to succeed
Judge Thurman in the United States
Senate, but on the day that he would
have taken his seat in that body hs WIS
inaugurated President of the United
States with the grandest ceremonies ever
known on such an occasion.
Ino congressional career Of the Presi-
dent is fresh in the mind of the country.
He was one of the most prominent fig
ures that has appeared in Washington
since the war. After Dir. Blaine went to
the Senate he was the acknowledged
leader of the Republican party in the
House. 1t was his eminent service in
this field, as we'll as his great popularity
in the doubtful State of Ohio, which
caused the anti-Grant factions to unite
on him at Chicago. In the canvass he
developed fine powers Of political leader
ship, and created great enthusiasm
throughout the South aud West
or his administration little need be
said, as it has been so brief and its every
important fact is so we'll known.
Garfield when 27 years old married
Miss Lucretia Rudolph, daughter of a
Maryland farmer, whom he had met
when both were students at Hiram Col.
lege. He is dexoted member of the
Christian or Campbellite Church, aud mas
frequently appeared AZ a lay preacher in
its pulpits. Que singular incident ef his
life is that while spending vacation in
North Poynal, VT, he taught q writing
class in school where Chester A. Arthur
had been principal a year before. The
President was u man OF tine physique
and just in the prime of his power. Per-
sonally he was very attractive, and was
notable for the simplicity Of his manners,
which the honors or the White House
seem to have left entirely unaffected.