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President James Abram Garfield

President James Abram Garfield

Male 1831 - 1881  (49 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


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  • Name James Abram Garfield 
    Title President 
    Born 19 Nov 1831  Orange, Cuyahoga, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Biographical Information Presidents are often mis-reported to be Free Masons. Garfield was one of the few that actually was a Mason. 
    Garfield - Free Mason.
    Garfield - Free Mason.
    Garfield - Free Mason.
    Census 1860 
    Living in the household of Zeb Rudolph. His profession is listed as Professor of Languages. 
    1860 Garfield.
    1860 Garfield.
    1860 US census, Harrison Villiage Hiram Township, Portage, Ohio, Family Number 615, Garfield.
    Military Service 1861  Civil War, Union Army Find all individuals with events at this location 
    In 1861 he received a commission as a colonel in the 42nd Ohio Infantry. He was eventually promoted to the rank of major General. 
    James Garfield Commission.
    James Garfield Commission.
    James Garfield Commission.
    General James Garfield.
    General James Garfield.
    General James Garfield.
    Occupation 4 Mar 1863 
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 19th district. March 4, 1863 ? November 8, 1880. 
    Proposal for a Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Slavery.
    Proposal for a Constitutional Amendment to Abolish Slavery.
    Garfield was a staunch abolitionist. On this document (a reproduction of the original) his signature is the fourteenth down on the right column.
    Census 1870 
    1870 Garfield.
    1870 Garfield.
    1870 US census, Bradford, Pennsylvania, Family Number 128, Garfield.
    Census 1880 
    1880 Garfield.
    1880 Garfield.
    1880 US census, Washington, District of Columbia, enumeration district 39, Family Number 19, Garfield.
    1880 Garfield 2.
    1880 Garfield 2.
    In 1880 the Garfield's managed to get counted twice.

    1880 US census, Mentor, Lake, Ohio, enumeration district 615, Family Number 32, Garfield.
    Occupation 4 Mar 1881 
    He was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his assassination later that year. 
    Inauguration Invitation.
    Inauguration Invitation.
    Inauguration Invitation.
    Pitch Your Tent
    Pitch Your Tent
    "Don't pitch your tent among the dead." An appeal to young men. Conclusion of a speech delivered at Cleveland, Ohio by James A. Garfield, on the Saturday night before the Ohio election of 1879.
    Died 19 Sep 1881  Elberon, Monmouth, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Garfield Assasination
    Garfield Assasination
    Assassin Charles Guiteau used a pocket .44 caliber pistol to shoot Garfield twice. He was aiming for the heart. The first round caught him in the arm. He didn't realize what was happening but, it caused him to turn and the second round hit him in the side. He was apprehended before he could leave or shoot again.
    Garfield assassination.
    Garfield assassination.
    A newspaper engraving depicting the Garfield assassination on July 2, 1881. President Garfield is supported by Secretary of State James G. Blaine who is summoning help. To left, assassin Charles Guiteau is restrained by members of the crowd. He clung to life for several months losing the battle on September 19, 1881.

    Charles J. Guiteau, reportedly decided to murder Garfield after he was "passed over" as minister to France. Garfield had instead appointed Levi Parsons Morton.
    Garfield Assassination.
    Garfield Assassination.
    Garfield Assassination. Frank Leslie's Illustrated News, New York, NY, 16 July 1881. After he was shot Garfield remained in the train station for quite sometime because no one knew if the assassin had helpers that might be waiting outside. Eventually Garfield ordered that he be moved because he did not want to die in a train station. While the caption states the woman is "Mrs. Smith" my research indicates it correctly should have been Mrs. White who was the "Lady's Attendant" for the station. The predominantly white figure on the left is Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln who was Garfield's Secretary of War. On the Right is Secretary of State James G. Blaine. Canter is Garfield's son James Rudolph Garfield who was fifteen years old at the time.
    Charles J. Guiteau Mugshot.
    Charles J. Guiteau Mugshot.
    While Charles J. Guiteau was had been a lawyer and a preacher but failed at everything he attempted. By today's standards he was clearly mentally ill.
    President Greeted by Daughter.
    President Greeted by Daughter.
    The president's wife was out of town when he was shot but, she rushed home and personally took charge of nursing her husband.
    President's Recovery is Celebtated.
    President's Recovery is Celebtated.
    News reports had the president recovering which was driven more by wishful thinking than fact. The top picture is not entirely accurate. By this time Doctor Willard Bliss had self appointed himself the president's official doctor and forced the other doctors out. Alexander Graham Bell did indeed invent the metal detector in an attempt to locate the bullet but, it failed to do so. At the time it was blamed on interference from the bed springs. In fact it likely would have worked but, Dr. Bliss did not allow a complete examination because he did not want Bell's device to disagree with his diagnosis.
    Garfield Prepares to Die.
    Garfield Prepares to Die.
    When it became clear that he was going to die Garfield decided he wanted to be moved from Washington D.C. to his New Jersey cottage so that he could see the sea before he died. A rail car was modified to serve as an ambulance. Hundreds of volunteers worked to construct a rail line to his cottage. When the locomotive couldn't climb the hill the car was uncoupled and the crowd pushed it to it's destination.
    President Garfield at Elberon.
    President Garfield at Elberon.
    Garfield did get his last wish and less than two week latter passed away.
    Where Will Justice Look.
    Where Will Justice Look.
    As this cartoon shows Charles J. Guiteau's fate was sealed from the moment he pulled the trigger. At one point one of his guards even fired a shot at him in an attempt to kill him. The insanity defense failed as well as claiming that he shot the president but, the doctors had killed him. He was found guilty on January 25, 1882 and hanged June 30, 1882.
    Memorial service of James Abram Garfield.
    Memorial service of James Abram Garfield.
    Memorial service of James Abram Garfield.
    Buried Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Garfield Memorial.
    Garfield Memorial.
    Garfield Memorial.
    James A Garfield statue.
    James A Garfield statue.
    James A Garfield statue inside the Garfield Memorial.
    Garfield Casket.
    Garfield Casket.
    The caskets of James Garfield and his wife Lucretia in the crypt of the Garfield Memorial.
    Siblings 4 siblings 
    Person ID I24142  Nagel
    Last Modified 14 Apr 2017 

    Father Abram Garfield,   b. 28 Dec 1799, Worcester, Otsego, New York Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 May 1833, Orange, Cuyahoga, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 33 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Elizabeth Ballou,   b. 21 Sep 1801, Richmond, Cheshire, New Hampshire Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1888, Mentor, Lake, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 86 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Married 3 Feb 1820  Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F7816  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lucretia Rudolph,   b. 19 Apr 1832, Garrettsville, Portage, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Mar 1918, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years) 
    Children 
     1. Eliza Arabella Garfield,   b. 3 Jul 1860,   d. 3 Dec 1863  (Age 3 years)  [Birth]
     2. Harry Augustus Garfield,   b. 11 Oct 1863, Hiram, Portage, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Dec 1942, Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)  [Birth]
     3. James Rudolph Garfield,   b. 17 Oct 1865, Hiram, Portage, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1950, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)  [Birth]
     4. Mary Mollie Garfield,   b. 16 Jan 1867, Washington, District of Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Nov 1947, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)  [Birth]
     5. Irvin McDowell Garfield,   b. 16 Jan 1867, Washington, District of Columbia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Nov 1947, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)  [Birth]
     6. Abram Garfield,   b. 21 Nov 1872,   d. 16 Oct 1958  (Age 85 years)  [Birth]
     7. Edward Garfield,   b. 26 Dec 1874,   d. 25 Oct 1876  (Age 1 years)  [Birth]
    Last Modified 22 Nov 2015 
    Family ID F7819  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart