Garfield

Garfield, James Abeam (1821-1881), President of the United States of America, was born in Ohio, his father being of an old Puritan family.and his mother of Huguenot descent, His father died, and his mother was left in poor circumstances. The boy worked on farms and the Erie canal-boats in summer, and went to school and afterwards to College in winter. He became, in 1857, President of Hiram College, and in 1859 was elected to the Slate Senate; and when the War of Secession broke out had command of the 42nd Ohio Volunteers. In 1862 as brigadier-general he won the battle of Middle Creek, and in 1863 was made major-general. He sat in Congress till 1889, in which year he became a United States senator and Republican candidate for the Presidency, and was elected. His efforts in the direction of Civil Service reform gave offence to many, and on the 2nd of July he was shot by a half-lunatic office seeker. He died September 19.