A biography of James A. Garfield

Front matter

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CHAPTER I. The Gakfield and Ballou* Families

Opportunities for American citizens. — Thoughts on the relations of generations. — Character of Garfield. — His pedigree.—The Garfields in England.— The Garfields in America. — Solomon Garfield in New York". — His son Abraham. — The Ballou family in America. — In New Hampshire. —Eliza Ballou, mother of President Garfield. — She becomes a playmate of Abraham Garfield. — The Ballous go to Ohio. — The Western Reserve. — Abraham Garfield and Eliza Ballou wedded.— A homo in the Wilderness.—State Canal in Ohio. — Abraham Garfield Settles in Cuyahoga county. — Birth of James A. Garfield.. . 17

CHAPTER II. Early Life and Aspirations

The Cottage in the Wilderness. — Death of President Garfield's father.— His widow and children. — The widow's Resolution concerning her Family.— Her independence of Spirit. Heroic work and Suffering. — Her helpful Son Thomas. — School-house on their land. — James Garfield in School. — His restless Spirit. —His growth of mind and body. — Indebtedness to his brother Thomas. — Unselfish labors of ■ Thomas. — James a carpenter. — Extent of his Education, Reading and home instructions. — The "Disciples of Christ."— Their tenuis.— The Garfields become "Disci pies." — Mrs. Garfield's cheerfulness and energy. — The Constitution and Guerricre, — James at fifteen. — At a

[viij viu CONTENTS.

" Saltery " near Cleveland. — A hay-maker aod wood-chopper. — Anxious to "go to sea" on the Lake. — His disillosion 33

CHAPTER III. A Critical Period of Life

Becomes a Canal-driver. — His experience on a Canal. — His moral honesty. — Determines to leave the canal. — Severe illness. — His mother draws him to the pat Its of learning. — Proposition to go to an Academy. — Enters Geauga Seminary. — A letter to its Trustees. — His personal appearauce there. — Mrs. Stiles's kindness aud unconscious prophecy. — Lucrctia Rudolph. — James Garfield a district 6chool teacher. — Joins the church of "The Disciples." — His hunger for more Education. — The Western Reserve Eclectic Institute at Hiram. — Miss Booth and her influence on young Garfield's diameter. — His Studies. — His Eulogy on Miss Booth 53

CHAPTER IV. Garfield at Williams College

A born orator. — Father Bentley and Garfield. — Sketch of Garfield at the Eclectic Institute at Hiram. — Lucretia Rudolph at Hiram. — Garfield's choice of a college. —His situation at College. — History of Williams College.—Betrothal of James Garfield and Miss Rudolph. — Attractions at Williams College. — Garfield's life at College.— His financial arrangements. — He edits the College Magazine and his contributions thereto. — A Poem by Young Garfield. — Becomes a teacher of writing. — His temptation at Troy. — His graduation and college character.— Imitation of Tennyson.— His first political position. Thilologian Society. — Garfield and Don Quixote. — His filial affection. — Estimate of his character by President Chadbourne 75

Chapter V

Garfield at Hiram College.— Beginning of Political Life. ^arfiehl a Trofessor at Hiram. — Description of Hiram. — Present of Hiram College. His influence there.— President J

CONTENTS. \x

Hinsdale and Garfield.— Garfield's letter of advice to Hinsdale.— J. L. Darsie's account of Garfield at Hiram College. — Lucretia Rudolph.— Her family. — Marriage of Garfield and Miss Rudolph. — Their love of classical studies. — Garfield's connection with Hiram College. — He preaches. — Studies Law, Lectures, and his interest in the German people. — Garfield sympathizes with the Republican Party. — The Ostend Manifesto. — Personal Liberty Laws. — Garfield a vigorous " Stump Speaker."— A member of the State Senate of Ohio. — On a mission to Louisville. — Beginning of the Rebellion in South Carolina. —Symptoms of the Great Insurrection. — South Carolina Ordinance of Secession.— Proceedings in Charleston, South Carolina 96

CHAPTER VI. Beginning of the Civil War

Momentous interests at stake. — Garfield's oration at Ravenna, on the dignity and privileges of American citizenship. — Garfield watches the approaching storm.— 'The people look to the Government for strength. — They discover its weakness.— President Buchanan and his Attorney-General.— Advice of the latter. — Weakness of the arguments of the conspirators and their friends. — State sovereignty. — Garfield advocates measures of precaution. — His ideas of coercion as protested against. — His anxiety caused by the Secession movements expressed in a letter to Hinsdale.— Its prophetic character. — General Dix and bis famous order. — Its salutary effect. — Garfield's estimate of the character of Lincoln. — His reflections on the aspect of the times. — President Lincoln's Inaugural Address. — Garfield's readiness for public life. — Declines a tempting offer. — Peace Convention at Washington. — Attitude of Virginia. — Result of the Convention. — A Virginia agitator in Charleston. — The attack on Fort Sumter. — The President's call for troops. — Responses of disloyal Governors to the call. — An extraordinary session of Congress called. — The seizure of the national capital. — The prime object of the conspirators. — Alexander Stephens urges the capture of Washington. The cry of "On to Washington" by the Southern press and politicians. — Jefferson Davis's protest poetically illustrated 121 x A - " CONTEXTS.

Chapter VII

State of the Nation in the Spring op 1861.

England and other European governments give aid aud comfort to the Insurgents. — ,; Shop and Freedom," from Punch. —

Disloyal utterances.— Mayor Wood suggests the secession of New Fork city. — A characteristic article in De Bow's iew. Philadelphia's Resolutions. — State supremacy advocated by many Northern newspapers. — The "American Society for the promotion of Union." — Action of Loyal States.— Attitude of New Jersey. — Disloyal Resolutions adopted in Philadelphia. — The -people of Pennsylvania loyal. —Action of Ohio. — Action of Indiana — Action of Michigan. — Action of Illinois and Wisconsin. —Action of Iowa and Minnesota. — Action of Maryland. — Actiou of Deleware. — Kentucky's neutrality. — Garfield in the presence of the public danger 152

CHAPTER VIII. Ajtfaibs in Kentucky.— Garfield's First Military Campaign

(.iartitKl in the Ohio State Senate- -Ohio Volunteers. — Garfield sent to Illinois for arms. — Recruits a Company. — Commissioned Colonel of the Forty-Second Regiment. — Bis interview with General Buell. — Commands a brigade in eastern Kentucky. — Civil and Military affairs in Kentucky.— Garfield pursues and defeats Marshall at Middle Creek. — Garfield's trusty courier. — Clears eastern Kentucky of Rebels. — Address to his Soldiers. — Thanked by Buell. — Made Brigadier-General. — Procures supplies. — Expedition to Pound Gap 177

CHAPTER IX. Battlb of Bhtloh. — Bragg Driven from Tennessee

'. irliiM joins Bucll's army.— The Battle of Shiloh. — id in that battle. — Garfield and a fugitive Returns home sick.-— Ordered to Washington. — f Inquiry. —Becomes General Rosecrans' Chief of Staff. Hi- services in the Army of the Cumberland. Hii remarkable Report. — Advance of the Army into Georgia.— Bragg abandons Chattanooga 203

CONTENTS. xi

CHAPTER X. Battle op Chickamauga

Hostile forces preparing for battle. — Battle of Chickamauga. — Details of the battle. — Garfield's services in the battle. — At the headquarters of Thomas. — Victory for the Confederates on the field. — Troops engaged in the battle. — Losses. — Garfield's aid to Thomas. — Commissioned a Major-General. — Garfield and Copperheads. — Elected to Congress. — Leaves the Army. — Rosecrans on Garfield 233

Chapter XI

Garfield in Congress. — The Peace Party. Garfield's constituents. — Joshua R. Giddings in Congress. — Garfield's colleague from Ohio. — Garfield and President Lincoln. — Peace Party Leaders. — General Scott's famous letter. — Professor Morse's plan for Reconciliation. — Leaders of the Peace Party and Lord Lyons. — The Democratic Convention at Chicago and the Confederates, — Garfield on the Peace Party Leaders. — Verdict of the People '■, 258

Chapter XII

Garfield's First Engagements in Debates in Congress. Garfield's power felt at an important period.— An effective debater.— Speeches during the first session. — Speech on Soldiers' bounties. — His first motion in Congress. — His first debate. — Speech on Confiscation 283

CHAPTER XUI.

Garfield's Career in the Thirty-Eighth Congress,— His Independence.

Combats the heresy of "State Supremacy." — Camden and Am boy Railroad. — On Governor Parker's Proclamation. — Scathing rebuke of a colleague. — His readiness on occasions. — Anniversary of Lincoln's death. — Lincoln's desire for more troops. — Garfield's remarks on a bill for that purpose. — Garfield true to his convictions. — His independence. — Scene in a nominating Convention. — Garfield's re-election to Congress 311 xii CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV

Assassination of President Lincoln. — End of Civil War.

List of Garfield's speeches in Congress. — Speech on the Abolition of Slavery by Constitutional Amendments, — On Negro Suffrage. — President Liucolu in Richmond. — Surrender of Lee at Appommattox. — Rejoicings. — Assassination of President Lincoln. — Excitement in New York. — General Garfield's Speech on the Event. — Disbanding of the Armies. — The Public Debt. — Reorganization of the Union. — General Garfield's choice of a Committee. — Speech on the Tariff 342

CHAPTER XV. Garfield in the Supreme Court. — On Education and "Honest Monet."

Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court. — Garfield and Judge Black. — The case in Court. — Garfield's speech on Education. — President Johnson's for reorganizing the Union. — His warfare upon Congress. — His journey to Chicago and back. — Johnsou impeached. — Garfield and wife go to Europe.— His reception on his return. — Fidelity to his convictions. — How he broke up a Distillery 370

Chapter XVI

Garfield's Forebodings. — His Great Speech on the Finances.

Garfield Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs. — Letter on various topics. — His dealings with " Political Generals."— His interest and efforts in the Resumption movement.— Garfield's famous speech on the Currency 392

CHAPTER XVII. Garfield on the Census.— Finances and Appropriations

Garfield and Thaddeus Stevens. — His position on the subject of the Public Debt. — His oration at Asbury on Decoration day.— Made Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Currency.— Labors on the Committee on the Ninth Cenbufl. - Bpeeco on the Census.— A Bill to strengthen the public credit.— Garfield's speech on the subject.— A bill

00NTENT8. xiii

for increase of banking facilities. -Garfield on a Committee concerning Fluctuations in Gold.-Letter to Colonel Rockwell— A summary of Garfield's work in Congress. . 429

CHAPTER XVIII. Garfield on Public Expenditures—The Credit Mobilieb Company

Garfield Chairman of Committee on Appropriations—Speech on Public Expenditures—The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution— His Speech on the nature of Governments—History of the Credit Mobilier Affair— Charges against Garfield in connection with it— His defense and full acquittal— Garfield and the " Salary Grab. "-President Hinsdale's address on Garfield's influence and Pointy a4g6

CHAPTER XIX. Jefferson Davis and Amnesty— The Democratic Party Arraigned

A Democratic majority in Congress— " Liberal Republicans » Unsuccessful effort to defeat Garfield— The people of the -North assailed— Garfield defends them— Garfield on Jefferson Davis— The peace faction arraigned— Speech of Mr. Laman-^arfield's Reply— Quotes from Speeches by Lamar and Singleton in 1859— His remarks on the course of the Democratic Party concerning Slavery, and m the House of Representatives ; ' 483

Chapter XX

Resumption, and the Counting op the Electoral Vote. General Garfield ever an advocate for « Honest Money -His remarks on Resumption— The Presidential election in 1876— Action of Congress on the Subject— Debate on the Electoral Commission— Garfield's Speech on the subject. 502

Chapter XXI

Garfield's Latest Services in Congress. General Garfield the Republican leader in the House— Estimate of him as a leader— R. B. Hayes President of the United States— His conciliatory policy— Garfield on the xiT CONTENTS.

Policy of Pacification.— Messrs. Ewiug and Kelloy on Resumption.— Garfield opposes the " Silver Bill."— His Bpeech before the " Honest Money League." — A solemn farce. — Special Session of Congress. — A threat to block tho wheels of Government. — Riders to Appropriation Bills.— Garfield's indictment of the policy of the majority of the House.— The President's Vetoes. — Garfield's effective Speech on "State Sovereignty." — Close of Garfield's career in Congress. — Chosen United States Senator. 531

CHAPTER XXII. Republican National Convention, June 2, 1880

ing of the Convention at Chicago. — Preliminary proceedings.— Names of candidates for the Presidency. — Mr. Coukling's resolutions in Convention. — The Platform adopted.— Nominations. — Garfield's Speech on nominating John Sherman for the Presidency. — Other nominations .. 550

CHAPTER XXHI.

Garfield Nominated for President of the United States.

Ballotings for Candidates for the Presidency. — Lesser Candidates giving way. — Many votes for Garfield. — He raises a point of order but is overruled. — Exciting scenes in the Convention. — General Garfield unanimously nominated for President of the United States. — Receives Congratulations.— Gratification at the result expressed. — A curious incident. — Informal acceptance of the nomination. — Garfield's Speech at Hiram College. — His response to a Serenade in Washington. — His formal acceptance of the nomination.— 0. A. Arthur nominated for Vice-President. — Llifl formal acceptance 567

CHAPTER XXTV.

Garfield's Election and Inauguration. Republican Conference in New York.— Garfield's address to "Tli' Blue" and citizens.— The Campaign.— President of the United States.

— T ttulatory visit to him. — Resigns his II. journey to Washington. — Inauguration of J-r. field.- Incidents of the Inauguration .- Bii Inaugural Address 596

CONTENTS. xt

CHAPTER XXV.

President Garfield's Administration. — His Assassination.

Great procession after Garfield's Inauguration. — The Inauguration Ball. — Garfield's Cabinet Ministers. — A Struggle for Power in the Senate. — Opposition to nominees of the President. — The President's firmness. — Resignation of Senators from New York. — A struggle for their reappointment.— Their seats filled by others. — Progress of the Administration. — President Garfield shot. — The assassin arrested. — His conduct. — Statement of the affair by a public officer. — Excitement everywhere. — Surgeons in attendance on the wounded President. — Correspondence with the Vice-President. — Interest abroad. — Bulletins. — Mrs. Garfield 618

CHAPTER XXVI.

Death op President Garfield.

The President lingers eighty days. — Interest in his case manifested all over the civilized world. — Prayers everywhere for his recovery. — Queen Victoria's sympathy expressed. — Removal of the President to Long Branch. — A most notable journey. — The Presideut at Long Branch. — Opinions of his medical attendants. — An alarming relapse.— The President's sudden death. — Words of condolence and sympathy from all the States and Territories, and from Europe. — Vice-President Arthur becomes President. — Official report of an autopsy. — Removal of the President's body to the National Capitol. — Funeral services at Long Branch. — The journey. — The body laid in state in the Rotunda. — "Wreath laid on the Casket by order of Queen Victoria. — An incident. — Final services there. . 644

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Funeral at Cleveland.

The remains of the President conveyed from Washington to Cleveland. — Its reception at Cleveland. — It lay in State nearly two days, under a Pavilion. — Description of the Pavilion. — The funeral ceremonies at the Pavilion. — Rev. Isaac Evrett's sermon. — Garfield's favorite hymn. — The funeral car. — Ceremonies at the cemetery 666 xri CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVin.

Universal Sympathy.

I for the salvation of the life of the wounded President— Expressions of sympathy in every form at bome and abroad.— Unanimity of public Expression concerning the character of Garfield. — Interest manifested in England and on the Continent. — Art tributes in Harpers' Weekly. — Borrow expressed on the death of the President. Symbols <>f mourning displayed throughout England on the day of the funeral.— Messages of condolence and of jKithy from Europeans. — Honors awarded in Australia and Chili. — Tokens of mourning in America, especially in York and Brooklyn. — How the prayers were anl red.— Effect of President Garfield's death 690

CHAPTER XXIX.

<i\RFiELD's Domestic Life.

Ill mbcrs of Garfield's family — The character of his wife portrayed by himself, and by one of her sex.— Description of the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Garfield. — Description of a to their rural home in Ohio. — Garfield's two homes. His home in Washington. — His untiring industry. — Classical studies kept up. — A poetic translation by Garfield : 722

Appendix

I. SUBSTANTIAL SYMPATHY 741

II. Mo.MMI.NT TO THE MEMORY OF GARFIELD 742

III. President Garfield's Fortitude 743

IV. 1M:i him vrr, aim if. 1. 1>, and Fatalism and Coincidences 741 V. BOHORED TJT VebSB 752

VI. A Mi.i>ii ai. REVIEW 765

VII. A ( Iubious Rboord 789

VIII Q \ urn id's Notable Words 71)1

IX I r.i\i. ov THE Assassin 811

THE BIOGRAPHY

OF

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

Chapter I. The Garfield And Ballou Families

Our national history is studded with the names of brilliant men in every department of activity — statesmen, diplomatists, publicists, scientists, theologians, artists, authors, in the learned professions, inventors and skilled artisans.

The conditions of our society have ever been most favorable to the fullest development of the whole man, morally, mentally and physically. Our climate and our institutions work kindly with the spiritual natures of men. Free to choose life's avocations, with every avenue to knowledge open, broad and free, and with helpful allies all around him, the American citizen must be dull indeed or excessively indolent or improvident if, with a sound mind in a sound body, he is not found on the high road to prosperity and happiness in some degree.

A* a general rule, in this country only vice and unthrift arc the parents of pinching poverty. Honors and emoluments, the good will of his fellow men, and the rewards of industrv await the active man in America who labors most earnestly, most wisely, conscientiously, soberly and tently To obtain them. In the race for them the rruly good citizen is quite sure to win.

[t has been said that circumstances make men. It may as truly bo said that men mako circumstances. There is a continual action and reaction — a constant impinging among the mural forces which make up the immaterial man; and all things in the moral, intellectual and spiritual world are, a.- in nature, closely related, whether, in the aggregate or individual, refashioning each other by attrition.

The late President Garfield touched the springs and hinted at the profound philosophy of human character when, in his admirable eulogy on General George II. Thomas, he said: " In this world all is relative. Character is the result of innumerable influences from without and within, which act concurringLy through life. Who shall estimate the effect of those latent forces enfolded in the spirit of a new-born child ? — forces that may date back centuries and find their origin in the life and thought and of remote ancestors — forces, the germs of which, enveloped in the awful mystery of life, have been transmitted silently from generation to generation, and never , ! All-cherishing nature, provident and unforgetting, ra ap all these fragments, that nothing may be lost, that all may ultimately reappear in new combinations. thus the ' heir of all the ages,' the posof qualities which only the events of life can unfold." • the private and public career of a man like

James Abram Garfield, whose life, "purified as by fire," is a model of rare exeellence, is a task which ought to be assumed with reverence and thought-fulness, and a prayerful desire to be just and true in its performance. To do this I have availed myself of every source of trustworthy information within my reacn.

Of all the heroes and sages of our country who have won the just applause of mankind for well-doing — for noble deeds, profound and varied knowledge and shining virtues — no one seems more worthy of love and admiration than he whose life-work I now attempt to record. Not even the beloved Washington, embalmed as he is in the hearts of all lovers of human freedom throughout the civilized world, excelled him in the grand qualities of head and heart which make a perfectly rounded and symmetrical character with scarcely a flaw or blemish.

It was only within the space of little more than twenty years that this illustrious citizen appeared conspicuous in our national life. In a comparatively humble and circumscribed sphere of action, with no burning ambition for public fame, his great spirit was passing through a chrysalis existence preparatory for great achievements on a higher plane of life. As Minerva sprang full-anned from the brain of Jove, the deity of wisdom, to lead mankind to goodness and power, so did this hitherto almost obscure citizen appear before the nation full-panoplied in moral, intellectual and physical strength to battle for the right and humanity in the field and in the forum.

General Garfield said : " Moral forces may date back centuries, and find their origin in the life and thought and deeds of remote ancestors." His own life illustrated the truth of this assertion. Let us look at his lineage:

i

THE BIO OR A PHY OF

James A.bram Garfield was ninth in descent from Ed- .•. .u.l Garfield of Chester, England, on the borders of Wales, and who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay, in New

and, in 1636. This paternal ancestor settled in Watertown, now a lovely suburb of Boston, which place soon

ie the great hive of New England, from whence Bwarmed almost innumerable families who peopled first Connecticut, and then westward, until their descendants ippear in large force in the census tables of the Great Their genealogies, thirty years ago, covered eleven hundred closely-printed octavo pages.

Edward Garfield was one of the one hundred and six proprietors of "Watertown, and in the ancient little cemetery there the remains of five of the late President's family name were buried. These names may yet be deciphered on the moss-grown and mouldering head-

- of their graves. These seem to have been all tillers of the soil, and bore their part in the heroic labors and sufferings of those pioneers of American civilization. Their history appears to be summed up, as far as records

: the brief inscriptions on the tombstones. Edward Garfield, the ancestor of all, lived until In. was ninety-seven years of age, which is presumptive evidence that

te of a -frong physical frame, and led a lif? of tempi ranee and placidity.

It U nol certain whether the Garfields are from Saxon or from Welsh blood. Edward came from the '"border," but from which side, whether in England or in Wales, is unknown. There appears to have been a large infusion of Teutonic blood in Garfield's veins. According to a tradition in the family, Edward Garfield married a Ger-

woman on the long and stormy passage from Eng-

James a. Garfield. %i

land to America ; and in support of this tradition is the decided German cast of countenance of the family. The late President had a strong love for the German race and literature. England is not really the fatherland of the linglieh-speaking people. Their real ancient home — the old dwelling-place of the Anglo-Saxons before they invaded Britain and created the British Empire — was the dark forests of Germany.

Of the ancestors of Edward Garfield in " the old country " nothing is known, and almost nothing of his immediate descendants before the middle of the eighteenth century. There is on record in the " Herald's Visitation to Middlesex," England, about the middle of the seventeenth century (when Edward was in New England), die name of Garfield, and a description of the family arms and crest of the Garfields of Middlesex. One of them was named Abraham, which has kept reappearing in the family in this country, shortened, as in the case of the late President, to Abram.

The family have no records of the immediate descendants of 2d ward Garfield. It is known that Solomon Garfield, a lineal descendant, married Sarah Stimpson, and went to western Massachusetts, and that his brother Abraham, with John Hoar, was called as a witness, in 1775, by the Province of Massachusetts, to prove that the British troops were the aggressors in the skirmish at Concord Bridge on the 19th of A pril. The investigation concerning that point was very searching, for the American actors in that fight were anxious to prove, beyond question, that the British, not they, were tho first lawbreakers on that momentous occasion, which opened the war for American independence. Abraham Garfield

>P

of est was a competent witness, for he was one of the New England fanners who participated in that skirmish. It is ertain that his brother Solomon was in the fight. John Hoar, above-mentioned, was the great-grandfather of Senator George F. Hoar, whose family are old residents of Concord. Senator Hoar was chairman of the Convention which nominated James A. Garfield for the Presidency of the United States.

Solomon Garfield was sixth in descent from Edward, and was the great-grandfather of President Garfield. Abraham was his great-grand-uncle. We have uo record of the life of Abraham after he signed his name to the affidavit which was sent to the Continental Congress that the Americans acted on the defensive only in the Concord Of Solomon we have slight traces of his future career. v7hen the war ended he had a growing family, and with thei i he turned his steps westward to the wilds of the State <>f New York, beyond the Hudson river, lit- joined a small settlement, chiefly of New England people, <>n the upper waters of the Susquehanna river, in Worcester, Otsego county, then on the borders of civilization. There he bought a small farm, and culti- I it industriously. He was noted for his physical jth. On" day. while at a country store, the merchant, doubting his alleged muscular power, offered him agrindstone, weighing five hundred pounds, if he would it home on his shoulder. Solomon raised it to his shoulder and boro it in triumph to his house, a mile and a half distant, without Btopping to rest.

near the close of the last century Solomon's sturdy ' T irried Asenatb Hill, a half-sister of Samuel

JAMES A. GARFIEl.lh

county. They were blessed by the birth of a spu in December, 1799, whom they named Abraham, and who became the father of President Garfield. Thomas, like his ancestors, was a tiller of the soil. In 1801 the young husband and father, exposed to a storm and great fatigue, suddenly sickened and died, leaving a widow with a baby less than two years old. That baby was Abraham, the father of President Garfield.

This half-orphan boy was taken charge of, with the consent of his mother, by a near friend and neighbor of the Garfields, James Stone, of West Hill, and grew to be a tall, broad-shouldered, sinewy young man, with little school education, but an abundance of mother wit and the indomitable perseverance of the Garfield race. He appears to have inherited a strong brain, which, untrammelled by hard necessity, and allowed extended action, might have made him a man of mark among his fellows.

When Abraham Garfield was ten years of age, a small family named Ballon came into the sparse settlement of Worcester. It was composed of a widow and four children, one (a daughter) about eight years of age. The deceased husband was James Ballon, a native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. His family had been citizens of that commonwealth for several generations. They were descended from the Huguenots, those brave, sturdy, indomitable and uncompromising French Protestants who, when the fires of persecution again flamed out fiercely after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. in 1085, left homes and country and sought freedom to worship God as they pleased in English cities, or in the forests of America. They gave to our republic some of its best

UJh BlOOMAPSl Ob'

I and keenest intellects in the "time that tried men's the fierce Btruggle for independence. The founder of the Ballon family in America was irin Ballon. After the revocation of the famous edict lie fled with his family to Rhode Island, where its fonnder, Roger Williams, had just died. He appears to a Protestant clergyman, and built a church edifice in < luraberland, known as the " Elder Ballou Meeting-house." In that little wooden temple, yet standing, he taught the pure religion of Jesns of Nazareth, and the higher christian virtues and moralities. His was a race <>f preach-!-. I <>r generations his descendants preached the same pulpit, and in that modest place of divine ;• -: • BaUon race in America have annual reunions. It is -aid that one <>f Maturin Ballou's descendants, himself a clergyman, had ton r sons who were preachers of righteousness. < Mir of these sons had three boys who beministers, and one of these had a son and grandson who were also clergymen. The Ballou's have been distinguished in oth.-r avocations. More than twenty of them k re in the army of the Revolution ; and Sullivan Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Represend in the firet battle of Hull Run, in July, 1861. remarkable of the Ballou. family was !lou, the .•hie!' founderof the Christian sect in known as - dniversalists." Before his birth his ted to the forest-covered region of NTew ' Richmond, in Chester county, just

north of the Massachusetts line. He had preached in the °W Mieeti: . bat his conscience would not allow him

• pay to,- hisservices in the sanctuary. Like the he believed that a gospel received free

JtogrsEi? ajiiiFiELQ.

I ff .

JAMES i. UAlCflELD.

2.1 from tile Master should be dispensed as freely by those win i Wcre able to be almoners of its blessings. Yet ho was so poor that Ilosea,iu learning to write, was compel cd to use birch bark m lien of paper, and a charcoal solution

for ink. „ TT , .

With Ilosea Ballou's family went into IS cw Hampshire his cousin James Ballon. James's father felled the forest and made a "clearing," for a home. There in due time James grew to manhood, full of an adventurous spirit, and when he was about twenty years of age he married Mehitable Ingalls, from whose paternal ancestor sprang General Burns Ingalls, the able chief-quartermaster during the American Civil War. These were the parents of Eliza Ballon, who became the mother of President Garfield.

Eliza Ballon, like nearly all the Ballon race, is of small stature. The Ballous have been called a " French pony hreed," that is, of compact and tough moral, mental and physical fibre; possessed of great nervous energy, combined with untiring power of endurance. They have been marked by great conscientiousness and honesty ot purpose, tenacitv of will, and a thorough independence of spirit. Eliza was born in Bichmoud, Chester county Hew Hampshire, on September 21, 1801. There also was born, thirty years before, her distinguished kinsman, Kev, Hosea Ballon. Her early childhood was spent among the beautiful wild scenery of Ballon Dale. Such scenery such communings with nature, in its most beautiful and attractive aspects, is calculated to inspire the soul with devotional emotions, for :