LAKE COUNTY OHIO - BIO: JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD (pub 1888) ********** *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Submitter: Tina Hursh Email: ribbit@clubnet.isl.net Date: 25 July 2002 *********************************************************************** From the The Ohio Biographies Project http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/mnpg.html a part of The U.S. Biographies Project http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray/usbios/usbiog.html Transcribed by Deb. "Historical Collections of Ohio, Vol 2" by Henry Howe. (pub 1888) Lake County Page 45-47 JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD, twentieth president of the United States, was born in Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1831, and died in Elberon, N. J., Sept. 19, 1881. His father, Abram Garfield, was a native of New York and of English Puritan ancestry. His mother, Eliza Ballou, was born in New Hampshire and was of Hugenot descent. In 1830 Abram Garfield removed to the "Western Reserve," to found a home for himself and family in the then "wilderness." Shortly after settling here he died of a sudden attack of fever, and left his wife with four small children. With grand courage and fortitude, the self-sacrificing mother fought against poverty and privation, impressing upon her four children a high standard of moral and intellectual worth. At three years of age James Garfield commenced his education in a log hut. From this time on he attended such schools as the district afforded, working at manual labor betimes at home and on the farms of neighbors. He seized with avidity upon all books that came within his reach, and early developed a habit of voluminous reading that remained with him through life. The Bible and American history were especially familiar to him. One book of sea tales, which he read while a boy, filled him with an intense desire for the sea, and at sixteen years of age he tried to ship as a sailor on a Lake Erie schooner at Cleveland, but failing in this, he drove for a canal boat for some months, from the coal mines of Governor Tod at Brier Hill to Cleveland. At this time Governor Tod, having occasion to visit the boat one Sunday, found all the hands playing cards, except young Garfield, who was seated in the forward part of the boat studying United States history. An anecdote of one of his canal boat experiences shows that at this time he was, as in after life, of strong physique, courageous, manly and generous. He had offended one of the canal boatmen, a great hulking fellow, who started to thrash him. Dave rushed upon him, with his head down, like an enraged bull. As he came on, Garfield sprang to one side, and dealt him a powerful blow just back of and under the left ear. Dave went to the bottom of the boat, with his head between two beams, and his now heated foe went after him, seized him by the throat, and lifted the same clenched hand for another buffet. "Pound the d----d fool to death, Jim," called the appreciative captain. "If he haint no more sense than to git mad at an accident, he orto die." And as the youth hesitated, "Why don't you strike? D--n me, if I'll interfere." He could not. The man was down, helpless, in his power. Dave expressed regret at his rage. Garfield gave him his hand, and they were better friends than ever. In the winter of 1849-50 he attended Geauga Seminary at Chester, Ohio, practicing the trade of carpenter during vacations, helping at harvesting, teaching school, and doing whatever came to hand to pay for his schooling. At Chester he first met Miss Lucretia Rudolph, a school teacher, who became his wife, Nov. 11, 1858, at which time he was President of Hiram College. Of this marriage four sons and one daughter were living in 1887. His early training was strongly religious, his mother being a staunch Campbellite, and while at Chester he was baptized and received into that denomination. In 1851 he entered Hiram College; three years later entered Williams College, from which he graduated in 1856 with the highest honors of his class. He then returned to Ohio as a teacher of Latin and Greek at Hiram College and a year later was made its president. While acting in the capacity of a very successful educator, he entered his name as a student-at-law in the office of Williamson and Riddle, of Cleveland, Ohio, although studying in Hiram, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. A year later, without solicitation on his part, he was elected to the Ohio Senate. In this new field his industry and versatility were conspicuous. He made investigations and reports on geology, education, finance and parliamentary law; and although at this time it was not believed that the South would take up arms, he was somewhat apprehensive, and gave especial study to the militia system of the State. The war came, and in August, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. We give a chronological record of Garfield's career; to give anything like a full sketch would exceed the limitations and scope of our work. His life, however, is such a remarkable example of what may be accomplished by honest, persistent endeavor, by those of the most humble origin and surroundings, that it should be studied in its details by every child in the land: 1831. Nov.19, born at Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. 1848. Drives for a canal boat. 1849-50. Attends Geauga Seminary, where he meets Miss Lucretia Rudolph, his future wife. Is baptized and received into the Disciples Church. 1851. Enters Hiram College as a student. 1854. Enters Williams College. 1856. Graduates from Williams College with the highest honors of his class. Returns to Ohio, to teach Greek and Latin in Hiram College. 1857. Is made president of Hiram College. Preacher in the Disciples Church. 1858. Nov. 11, is united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Rudolph, at Hudson, Ohio. 1859. Admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Columbus. Elected to the Ohio Senate. 1861. In August commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the Forty-second Ohio Volunteers. In December reports to Gen. Buell, in Louisville, Ky. 1862. Out-generals Gen. Marshall and, reinforced by Generals Granger and Sheldon. Defeats Marshall at Middle Creek, Ky., January 10. In recognition this service is commissioned brigadier-general. April 7, takes part in the second day's fight at Shiloh. Engaged in all the operations in front of Corinth. In June rebuilds bridges on Memphis and Charleston Railroad. July 30, returns to Hiram from ill health. Sept 25, on court-martial duty at Washington, and, on Nov. 25, assigned to the case of Gen. Fitz-John Porter. 1864 In Feb. returns to duty in the Army of the Cumberland, and made chief of staff under Gen. Rosecrans. At the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19, Gar- field volunteered to take the news of the defeat on the right to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, who held the left of the line. It was a bold ride, under con- stant fire; but he reached Thomas and gave the information that saved the Army of the Cumberland. For this was made major-general. Dec. 3, re- signs from the army to take seat in Congress, to which he had been elected Fifteen months previously. 1864 Jan. 14, delivers first speech in Con- gress. Placed on Committee on Mili- tary Affairs. 1865 Jan. 13, discusses constitutional amend- ment to abolish slavery. Changed from Committee on Military Affairs to Ways and Means Committee. April 15, delivers from the balcony of the New York Custom House, to mob frenzied by the news of President Lincoln's death, the following speech: "Fellow-citizens: Clouds and darkness are around him; his pavilion is dark waters and thick clouds; justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne; mercy and truth shall go before his face! Fellow-citizens: God reigns, and the Government at Washington Lives!" 1866. In March made his first speech on Public debt, foreshadowing resumption of specie payments. 1867. Made Chairman of Committee on Mil- atary Affairs. 1869-71. Chairman of new committee of Forty-first Congress on Banking and Currency. 1871-75. Forty-second and Forty-third Con- gresses, Chairman of Committee on Appropriations. 1875. Member of Ways and Means Com- Mittee. (House Democratic, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses. 1876. Chosen member of Presidential Elec- Toral Commission. 1880. January 13, elected to United States Senate. April 23, delivers last speech in House of Representatives. June 8, nominated for the presidency. Nov. 2 elected President. 1881. March 23, nominates William H. Robertson to be Collector of the Port of New York. May 5, with- draws all New York nominations. May16, Senators Conkling and Platt resign. May 18, Collector Robertson confirmed. July 2, shot by Guiteau. Sept. 6, taken to Elberton, N. J. Sept. 19, died of blood-poisoning from pistol-shot wound. Sept. 21, remains carried to Washington. Sept. 22 and 23, remains lie in state in rotunda of Capitol. 1882. Sept. 26, remains placed in Lake View Cemetery at Cleveland, Ohio. "Garfield's tragic death," writes a biographer, "assures to him the attentions of history. It will credit him with a great services rendered in various fields, and with a character formed by a singular union of the best qualities, industry, perserverance, truthfulness, honesty, courage; all acting as faithful servants to a lofty and unselfish ambition. Without genius, which can rarely do more than produce extraordinary results in one direction, his powers were so many and well trained that he produced excellent results in many. If history shall call Garfield great, it will be because the development of these powers was so complete and harmonious." The speeches of Garfield are almost a compendium of the political history of The stirring era between 1864 and 1880. Said ex-President Hayes: "Beyond almost any man I have known, he had the faculty of gathering information from all sources and then imparting it to an audience in instructive and attractive oratory."