River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-29
COLD IN DEATH.

ceiling tones, Monday night at fifteen
after eleven o'clock, from the
ocean retreat of the presidents suffer
ng family. Sad, indeed, is the duty OF
he chronicler of nations loss. In
lime when it is waiting in deep solicit
Bude upon the doubtful balance of life
and death, our nation is stricken with
The heaviest of blows upon .ts very
heart. Although not unexpected, il
falls with all the force of sudden
shock, and all the effect of a wound
upon the tenderest affection. His loss
causes the heart of the nation to culver.
This is not the time to speak of him
at length that belongs to him. In this
hour of mourning, and under the
shock of intense grief, it may be said
that his death is a nations calamity,
and is lamented by every true citizen.
James Abraham Garfield was born
in the township of Orange, Cuyahoga
county, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1881. He was
the youngest of four children, and his
father died when he was but two years
old His father, Abraham Garfield,
was farmer in rather poor circum-
but was highly respected in
the neighborhood for his industry and
integrity. His wife, the mother of
James, was considered a woman of
more than ordinary talent, and devoted
all the time she could take from her
daily toll to reading history and litera-
ture. The other three children have
never become at all prominent. The
Oldest is farmer in Michigan, and
the two sisters are wives Of farmers in
Ohio. For the first sixteen years of
the life OF James he worked on the lit
tie farm left by his father, and went to
school when it was possible for his
mother to send him. He was an apt
scholar and had a great desire TO get an
education, consequently he made good
progress. AT the age of sixteen he
went from home to work, first at chop
ping cordwood and later at harvesting
and other farm work until he had
earned a little money. With this he
went to Cleveland, only nineteen miles
away, to obtain employment on lake
vessel. Failing to obtain such posi-
ton he sought and obtained place on
the Ohio canal. tits not easy to under
stand why this canal boat portion ofGar-
fields life should have been singled out
as especially bright by the friends of
his cause when a candidate for presi-
dent, as there does not seem to be any
thing iii it that would distinguish him
from the other canal hands, and it was
but a short time before he was COM
PEELED to return home sick of ague,
from which he would not have recoy-
cred except with that care which only
a mother can give. On his recovery
from the ague he was sent to school by
his mother, and the love of an education
took the place of his desire for being a
sailor. In 1S49, when Is years old, Gar
field entered Geauga academy, teach
ing school in the winter, and working
at the carpenters trade in the sum-
mer, to assist himself financially.
In 1854 ne entered the Junior class at
Williams college and two years later
graduated with an honor. He soon
obtained professorship in Hiram col
lege, Ohio, and afterwards became
president of the college. In 1858 he
married Lucretia Rudolph, the daugh-
ter of a farmer near by, with whom he
had became acquainted while at Geau-
ga academy. She proved to be real
helpmeet and Garfield and his earnest
friends ascribe much of his success in
later life to the devotion and good
Judgment of his wife. In 1859, he was
elected to the Ohio state senate. Here
begun the political life of James A.
Garfield. 1t is generally supposed that
he was once a clergyman; this however,
is mistake. While at Hiram college
he sometimes preached, but was never
an ordained minister. In the Ohio
State Senate, Garfield soon became
prominent He was ready talker and
led the republican minority against the
adoption of the constitutional amend
ments proposed by Congress forbidding
states from legislating upon the subject
of slavery.
Garfield Is described as large, we'll
fed, y-faced, brown-bearded man,
200 pounds, with broad shout
ders, large nose, light blue eyes, and
high forehead, with little tendency to
being bald He dresses anu acts in q
man er showing that he was born and
bred farmer. 1t is related of him
that he always sought to make friends,
and during his long service in congress,
was doubtless one of the most popular
men in that body among his colleagues.
AT the end OF two years in the state
senate Garfield notified Gov. Deniston
that he desired to enter the military
service. He was first sent by the gov
ernor to New York for arms for Ohio
troops, and in August, 1861 he was
commissioned Lieut.. Colonel of the
forty-second regiment of Ohio volun-
teers. The regiment was sent into
and reported to Gen. Buell.
Garfield was assigned to the
command of the seventh brigade, con.
sisting Of four regiments ofinfantry ana
eight companies OF cavalry, which
force was to operate against the rebel
General Humphrey Marshall.
This command, after Sc
ries Of skirmishes and great deal of
engaged the enemy in battle
at Prestonburg, January 7th, 1862;
in victory for the union
forces, which left the union arms in
possession of the whole Of Kentucky.
The rebel loss is given at $50, while
that of the union forces was only 80.
This battle gave Gen. Garfield a promo
ton, and his commission as brigadier
general of volunteers dates from the
battle of Prestonburg. Gen. Garfield
continued in the army of the west, and
took part in the battle Of Chicka-
manga, and for his conduct in that
battle was made a major general Of
lie was at that time a can
didate for congress, having been nomi-
mated by the republicans of the 18th
Ohio district. At the election he was
elected and on the 9TH Of December
1868, he left the army and entered
He was placed on the COM
mittee on military affairs. For seven
teen years he remained in congress,
having been nine times elected by the
people Of his congressional district.
His congressional life was one OF prom
inence after a short time and for sew
eral of the last years he was the leader
of his party in the house. On the 14th
Of January, 1886, Gen. Garfield was
elected to the United States senate by
the legislature Of the state of Ohio TO
succeed Allen q Thurman. On the
evening of that dar he addressed a
meeting of welcome at Columbus,
Ohio. This speech abounds in fine pas-
sages. and so fully illustrat Is many fea-
lures Of Garfield's character that it is
published herewith. 1t is as follows:
FELLow GlT1zExs. ! should be a great deal