Messages and Papers of the Presidents, Vol. VIII.: James A. Garfield | Page 2

both in the
Old and in the New World. His father moved to Ohio in 1830 and
settled in what was then known as the "Wilderness," now as the

"Western Reserve," which was occupied by Connecticut people. He
died at the age of 33, leaving a widow and four small children, of
whom James was the youngest. Mrs. Garfield brought up her family
unaided, and impressed upon them a high standard of moral and
intellectual worth. James attended school in a log hut at the age of 3
years, learned to read, and began that habit of omnivorous reading
which ended only with his life. At 10 years of age was accustomed to
manual labor, helping out his mother's meager income by work at home
or on the farms of the neighbors. Attended the district school in the
winter months, made good progress, and was conspicuous for his
assiduity. At the age of 14 had a fair knowledge of arithmetic and
grammar, and was particularly apt in the facts of American history. His
imagination was especially kindled by tales of the sea, and he so far
yielded to his love of adventure that in 1848 he went to Cleveland and
proposed to ship as a sailor on board a lake schooner. Seeing that this
life was not the romance he had conceived, he turned promptly from
the lake; but loath to return home without adventure and without
money, he drove some months for a boat on the Ohio Canal, when he
was promoted from the towpath to the boat. Attended the Geauga
Seminary at Chester, Ohio, during the winter of 1849-50. In the
vacations learned and practiced the trade of a carpenter, helped at
harvest, taught--did anything and everything to earn money to pay for
his schooling. After the first term he asked and needed no aid from
home; he had reached the point where he could support himself. Was
converted under the instructions of a Christian preacher, was baptized
and received into that denomination. As soon as he finished his studies
in Chester entered (1851) the Hiram Eclectic Institute (now Hiram
College), at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, the principal educational
institution of his church. He was not very quick of acquisition, but his
perseverance was indomitable and he soon had an excellent knowledge
of Latin and a fair acquaintance with algebra, natural philosophy, and
botany. His superiority was easily recognized in the prayer meetings
and debating societies of the college, where he was assiduous and
conspicuous. Living here was inexpensive, and he readily made his
expenses by teaching in the English departments, and also gave
instruction in the ancient languages. Entered Williams College in the
autumn of 1854, and graduated with the highest honors in the class of

1856. Returned to Ohio and resumed his place as a teacher of Latin and
Greek at Hiram Institute, and the next year, being then only 26 years of
age, was made its president. The regulations and practices of his church,
known as the Christian Church, or Church of the Disciples, permitted
him to preach, and he used the permission. He also pursued the study of
law, entering his name in 1858 as a student in a law office in Cleveland,
but studying in Hiram. Cast his first vote in 1856 for John C. Fremont,
the first Republican candidate for the Presidency. Married Lucretia
Rudolph November 11, 1858. In 1859 was chosen to represent the
counties of Summit and Portage in the Ohio senate. In August, 1861,
Governor William Dennison commissioned him lieutenant-colonel in
the Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteers. Was promoted to the
command of this regiment. In December, 1861, reported to General
Buell in Louisville, Ky. Was given a brigade and assigned the difficult
task of driving the Confederate general Humphrey Marshall from
eastern Kentucky. General Garfield triumphed over the Confederate
forces at the battle of Middle Creek, January 10, 1862, and in
recognition of his services was made a brigadier-general by President
Lincoln. During the campaign of the Big Sandy, while Garfield was
engaged in breaking up some scattered Confederate encampments, his
supplies gave out and he was threatened with starvation. Going himself
to the Ohio River, he seized a steamer, loaded it with provisions, and
on the refusal of any pilot to undertake the perilous voyage, because of
a freshet that had swelled the river, he stood at the helm for forty-eight
hours and piloted the craft through the dangerous channel. In order to
surprise Marshall, then intrenched in Cumberland Gap, Garfield
marched his soldiers 100 miles in four days through a blinding
snowstorm. Returning to Louisville, he found that General Buell was
away; overtook him at Columbia, Tenn., and was assigned to the
command of the Twentieth Brigade. Reached Shiloh in time to take
part in the second day's fight.