Coming Soon – Q1 2025
James Abram Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was born in northeast Ohio on November 19, 1931. Determined to overcome his impoverished background, Garfield ran away from home and began working on canal boats at age 16. After falling in the water, he contracted malaria and was forced to return home to recuperate. During his recovery, he decided that education would be his pathway out of poverty.
Garfield attended Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later known as Hiram College) before graduating from Williams College in 1856. In order to earn enough money for his education, Garfield worked as a carpenter, janitor, and part-time teacher. He returned to Western Reserve Eclectic Institute as a professor of ancient languages, and in 1857 he was named its president.
Elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859, Garfield served one term while studying law in preparation for the bar exams. With no previous military experience, Garfield joined the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel in the 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. His success at the Battle of Middle Creek led to a promotion to Brigadier General. Within two years, Garfield was promoted to the rank of Major General.
While serving in the military, Garfield was elected to Congress as a Representative from Ohio. Serving nine consecutive terms in office, Garfield advocated for the abolition of slavery, stern reconstruction, and hard money economic policies.
At the 1880 Republican Convention, Garfield secured the nomination on the 36th ballot as a “dark horse” candidate. He defeated his Democratic opponent, General Winfield Scott Hancock, by a narrow margin to become the 20th President of the United States.
Much of Garfield’s time as president was spent assembling a cabinet while working with the different factions within Congress. Although his presidency was cut short after 200 days, Garfield asserted presidential authority over executive appointments, appointed a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, and fought against corruption in government.
Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858. They were married for almost 23 years and were parents to seven children.
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Fun Fact
Garfield could write in Greek with one hand and Latin in the other… at the same time.