James A. Garfield

• 1. A Log Cabin And A River Baptism

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  James Abram Garfield was born on the 19th of November 1831 inside a log cabin in Orange Township, Ohio. His father Abraham had traveled from Worcester, New York to woo Mehitabel Ballou only to find her married to another man. He instead wed her sister Eliza who was born in New Hampshire. James grew up poor and fatherless after his father died later that year. His mother raised him with strong will while he remained her favorite child throughout their lives. In early 1833 his parents joined a Stone-Campbell church which would shape his future path. At age 16 in 1847 he left home seeking work but was rejected by the only ship captain in Cleveland. He found employment managing mules on a canal boat until illness forced his return home six weeks later. During his recovery his mother secured a promise that he would spend one year at school instead of working. He began attending Geauga Seminary in Chester Township where he excelled in languages and elocution. The seminary was coeducational and there he met Lucretia Rudolph whom he would eventually marry. To support himself he worked as a carpenter's assistant and teacher while traveling between towns. This constant movement made him develop a deep dislike for what he called place-seeking. It became the law of his life that he would never seek positions through politicking.

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• 2. From Colonel To Major General

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  Garfield entered military service without formal training when Governor William Dennison asked him to help raise Ohio volunteer regiments in April 1861. He received a commission as colonel in the 42nd Ohio Infantry regiment in August 1861. His first task was filling ranks with neighbors and former students before the unit trained at Camp Chase outside Columbus. On the 19th of November 1861 he became a Freemason at Magnolia Lodge No. 20 in Columbus after completing his initial military service. In December 1861 he led his regiment to Kentucky where they joined the Army of the Ohio under Brigadier General Don Carlos Buell. Garfield drove Confederate forces out of eastern Kentucky using the 18th Brigade which included his own regiment plus two other Ohio infantry units and cavalry elements. They reached Paintsville on the 6th of January 1862 where his cavalry engaged rebels at Jenny's Creek. Confederate troops under Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall held the town but Garfield positioned his men to deceive Marshall into believing they were outnumbered. The Confederates withdrew to Middle Creek forks on the road to Virginia. On the 9th of January 1862 Garfield attacked rebel positions in what became known as the Battle of Middle Creek. This was the only pitched battle he commanded personally though it resulted in Confederate withdrawal from the field. In recognition of this success he was promoted to brigadier general. After Marshall retreated his command remained the sole Union force in eastern Kentucky. He announced that any men who had fought for the Confederacy would receive amnesty if they returned home peacefully and remained loyal to the Union.

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• 3. The Gold Standard And Financial Scandals

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  Garfield served nine terms in the House of Representatives beginning with his election in October 1862 to represent Ohio's 19th district. He firmly supported the gold standard throughout his political career while opposing paper money not backed by gold. In 1865 he joined the House Ways and Means Committee which gave him focus on financial issues. He gave a two-hour speech on currency in 1868 advocating gradual resumption of specie payments rather than unredeemable paper money. His opposition to greenbacks cost him his place on the committee in 1867 due to Republican editor Horace Greeley's influence. Starting in January 1870 as chairman of the House Banking Committee he led an investigation into the Black Friday Gold Panic scandal. Two New York conspirators Jay Gould and James Fisk launched a scheme to corner the gold market in September 1869. Grant and Treasury Secretary George Boutwell released gold causing widespread panic on Friday the 24th of September 1869. Garfield investigated rumors that Grant's family might be involved but found no indictable offenses in his report released the 12th of September 1870. The Crédit Mobilier scandal broke in July 1872 involving corruption in Union Pacific Railroad financing. Oakes Ames offered congressional colleagues stock at par value well below market rate. Garfield testified before the committee in January 1873 admitting he had refused ten shares initially but later received $329 in dividends which he returned. Biographers note he told partial truths during testimony though never claimed he was corrupted by the affair.

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• 4. The Compromise Candidate Emerges

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  At the 1880 Republican National Convention delegates chose Garfield who had not sought the White House as their presidential nominee. He gained support after defending three West Virginia delegates against expulsion by Roscoe Conkling floor leader for the Stalwart faction. His passionate speech defending their right to reserve judgment turned the crowd against Conkling who withdrew his motion. When Grant received 304 votes and Blaine 284 on the first ballot neither achieved the 379 needed for nomination. Subsequent ballots remained deadlocked between these two candidates until Jeremiah McLain Rusk and Benjamin Harrison shifted anti-Grant votes to Garfield. On the 35th ballot Garfield gained 50 votes triggering a stampede of support. Nearly all Sherman and Blaine delegates shifted their backing giving him 399 votes on the next ballot. Most Grant supporters backed him to the end creating a disgruntled Stalwart minority within the party. To secure that faction's support Chester A. Arthur former New York customs collector was nominated for vice president. Levi P. Morton initially offered the vice-presidential nomination declined after consulting with Conkling. Garfield conducted a low-key front porch campaign while leaving active campaigning to others. The Democrats selected Major General Winfield Scott Hancock of Pennsylvania as their nominee. Fewer than 2,000 popular votes separated the candidates from over 9.2 million cast though Garfield won easily in the Electoral College 214 to 155.

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• 5. Cabinet Battles And Reform Efforts

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  Garfield assembled a cabinet designed to bring peace between the party's Conkling and Blaine factions. James G. Blaine received Secretary of State position while William Windom became Treasury Secretary. Thomas Lemuel James served as Postmaster General representing New York. Wayne MacVeagh from Pennsylvania was appointed Attorney General despite being an adversary of Blaine. The feud with Conkling reached its climax when Garfield nominated Judge William H. Robertson as Collector of the Port of New York. This prize patronage position was held by Edwin A. Merritt until Conkling raised senatorial courtesy to defeat the nomination. Garfield refused to back down threatening to withdraw all nominations unless Robertson was confirmed. He intended to settle whether the president was merely registering clerk of the Senate or Executive of the United States. Conkling and his colleague Senator Thomas C. Platt resigned their Senate seats seeking vindication but found only further humiliation. The New York legislature elected others in their places confirming Robertson as Collector. Garfield also reformed the Post Office Department after receiving word of corruption from Assistant Postmaster General Thomas J. Brady. He demanded Brady's resignation ordering prosecutions that ended in conspiracy trials though juries found Brady not guilty in 1882 and 1883. In March 1881 he re-nominated Stanley Matthews to the Supreme Court who was confirmed by a vote of 24-23.

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• 6. The Shooting And The Aftermath

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  On the 2nd of July 1881 James Abram Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau a deluded office seeker at a railroad station in Washington D.C. The bullet entered his back and lodged near his spine causing severe infection over time. Medical failures during treatment involved doctors probing the wound with unwashed hands which introduced bacteria into his body. He died on the 19th of September 1881 from infections related to the wounds rather than immediate trauma. Vice President Chester A. Arthur succeeded him upon death. Historians tend to rank Garfield as below-average president due to his brief term and lack of major changes during tenure. Some view his potential favorably praising anti-corruption efforts and pro-civil rights stances. His assassination cut short ambitious plans including a Pan-American conference scheduled for 1882. Nine countries had accepted invitations but they were withdrawn in April 1882 after Blaine resigned from cabinet. Naval reform continued under Arthur though on more modest scale than originally envisioned. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act passed Congress in 1883 and signed into law by Arthur completed Garfield's legislative legacy regarding civil service reform.

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