East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-01-15

Hidden away in a farming commu-
nifty some five miles from Hudson
willie. Mich, lives Thomas Garfield,
the only brother of the martyred
president, says the Detroit Free Press.
Neither fame nor riches have been
his portion. but now, in the sunset of
n long life that has spelled only toll
for him, he is happy in the knowledge
that he was one of that army of hus-
bandmen who first titled the virgin
soil of the middle west.
While his distinguished brother was
climbing the ladder of fame he was
engaged in telling the forest and har-
Vesting crops to keep the family lar
der supplied.
The old gentleman is now SO years
of age and a sturdy oak in spite of his
disabilities. When but is years old he
met with a permanent injury from
overtaxing himself in lifting, and he
now walks with great difficulty, being
Obliged to use canes to support him
self
This does not keep him from work
ing. It only hampers him, for he still
finds his way to the fields to husk
corn and to see that matters are look
cd after property. He is a typical
farmer, his whole life being wrapped
up in the forest and the fields.
81 know that the farmer who knows
how to till his land intelligently is the
most independent man in the world
Mr.. Garfield came to Michigan
nearly 40 years ago, purchasing the
farm he now owns, and he has not
been off the place half a dozen times
since.
81 suppose you will think 1t funny,
but have never been in Washington"
said he. after James had been elect
ed president went to Mentor to visit
him for a~<Seek before he was inaug-
urated. While there he told me that
il was theNworst thing that could have
happened to him. He wanted to go to
the senate where he thought he could
accomplish more good, but the presi-
dency was forced on him."
In his simple. homely way, Mr.. Gar
field is immensely proud of his broth
er. and one of the most cherished pos
sessions IS a magnificent pastel photo
graph of the dead president
when started to come home" he
continued, James came to Cleveland
with me and put me on the train. His
last words to me were: Thomas,
have to say goodbye to you. You are
going back to your quiet Michigan
home, while am going where l shall
have increased anxieties and cares
The next time L saw James he was a
corpse
There is nothing of the man of the
world about Thomas Garfield. He be-
longs to the simple folk who live close
TO nature. OF his brothers political
career he knows little, but the homt
life of the family he does know, and
his gnarled and knotted hands te
more eloquenty than words could the
story of the privations and work hf
underwent in order that his talented
brother might lay the foundation fol
his future greatness.
II have always been a poor man,
he said, land never knew what 1t wal
not to have to work hard. That ha!
been my blessing, and l have no re
grets. for political ambition would no
tempt me If had to live my life Owe
again. once in Ohio I was made ;
school inspector, but that is all, fo
/ refused to be justice of the peace
The only interest ! ever took in poll
tics was to vote as thought right.
James was politician from tn
lime he was a little fellow. He was
natural orator and had the best mem
ory Of any man l ever saw. He coul'
listen to a discourse and repeat ii
and once we heard him working ou
a sum in algebra in his sleep. Whel
he got up in the morning he wrote
cut.
II only regret that I did not hav
the advantage Of an education. l wa
born near Newburg, o., and fathe
died when l was only 10 years Of ag'
] had sister two years older and
sister younger, and James was then
infant. Being the Oldest son, the har
work fell on me.
when ] was IL years old mothe
hired me out 10 split rails, and 70
years 1 worked from daylight unit
dark. getting two shillings a cord.
split more rails than Abe Lincoln eve
did, but that did not make me pre-
ident. It was only possible for me
20 10 school day or two at tim
hut I learned to read and write.
Il guess ] have cleared as muc
forest as any man in the country, ar
still have as much ambition as eve
but my old strength is falling m
Many is the time I carried James
my back to school when the sno
was too deep for him. I took care
him until he got through high scho
and then he got his life Insured, whi'
carried him through college.
my duty was TO stay at home al