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From Canal Boy To President

Horatio Alger

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From Canal Boy to President or the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield

From Canal Boy to President or the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield

by Horatio Alger, Jr. Author Of Ragged Dick; Luck And Pluck; Tattered Tom, Etc. ILLUSTRATED . NEW YORK AMERICAN PUBLISHERS CORPORATION 310-318 SIXTH AVENUE 1881 James A Garfield, at the Age of 16. James A Garfield, at the Age of 16. Copied by permission of J.F. RYDER, Cleveland, G. TO Harry And James Garfield Whose Private Sorrow Is The Public Grief, This Memorial Of Their Illustrious Father Is Inscribed With The Warmest Sympathy....

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General Preface.

General Preface.

The present series of volumes has been undertaken with the view of supplying the want of a class of books for children, of a vigorous, manly tone, combined with a plain and concise mode of narration. The writings of Charles Dickens have been selected as the basis of the scheme, on account of the well-known excellence of his portrayal of children, and the interests connected with children—qualities which have given his volumes their strongest hold on the hearts of parents. These delineations havi

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Preface.

Preface.

If I am asked why I add one to the numerous Lives of our dead President, I answer, in the words of Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, because "our annals afford no such incentive to youth as does his life, and it will become one of the Republic's household stories." I have conceived, therefore, that a biography, written with a view to interest young people in the facts of his great career, would be a praiseworthy undertaking. The biography of General Garfield, however imperfectly executed, can not but be p

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Chapter I.—The First Pair Of Shoes.

Chapter I.—The First Pair Of Shoes.

Two weeks before my story opens, a farmer living not far away called at the log-cabin. Thomas, the oldest boy, was at work in a field near the house. "Do you want to see mother?" he asked. "No, I want to see you." "All right, sir! Here I am," said Thomas, smiling pleasantly. "How old are you?" asked the farmer. "Eleven years old, sir." The farmer surveyed approvingly the sturdy frame, broad shoulders, and muscular arms of the boy, and said, after a pause, "You look pretty strong of your age." "O

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Chapter II—Growing In Wisdom And Stature.

Chapter II—Growing In Wisdom And Stature.

He still went to school, however, and obtained such knowledge of the mysteries of grammar, arithmetic, and geography as could be obtained in the common schools of that day. But Jimmy Garfield was not born to be a carpenter, and I believe never got so far along as to assist in building a house. He was employed to build a wood-shed for a black-salter, ten miles away from his mother's house, and when the job was finished his employer fell into conversation with him, and being a man of limited acqui

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Chapter III—In Quest Of Fortune.

Chapter III—In Quest Of Fortune.

I suppose there is no doubt that, had James followed the sea, he would have risen to the command of a ship, but the idea did not seem to dazzle his mother. "If you go to sea I shall lose you," said his mother. "A sailor can spend very little time with his family. Think carefully, my son. I believe your present fancy will be short-lived, and you will some day wonder that you ever entertained it." Such, however, was not the boy's idea at the time. His mother might have reason on her side, but it t

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Chapter IV—On The Tow-Path.

Chapter IV—On The Tow-Path.

"I suppose you think that would be the next thing to going to sea?" "It might prepare me for it." "Well," said Captain Letcher, good-naturedly, "I will see what I can do for you. Can you drive a pair of horses?" "Oh, yes." "Then I will engage you. The pay is not very large, but you will live on the boat." "How much do you pay?" asked James, who was naturally interested in the answer to this question. "We pay from eight to ten dollars a month, according to length of service and fidelity. Of cours

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Chapter V—An Important Conversation.

Chapter V—An Important Conversation.

James answered every question promptly and accurately, to the increasing surprise of his employer. The latter paused. "Haven't you any more questions?" asked James. "No, I don't think of any." "Then may I ask you some?" "Yes, if you want to," answered the captain, rather surprised. "Very well," said James. "A man went to a shoemaker and bought a pair of boots, for which he was to pay five dollars. He offered a fifty-dollar bill, which the shoemaker sent out and had changed. He paid his customer

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Chapter VI—James Leaves The Canal.

Chapter VI—James Leaves The Canal.

"At Pittsburg Landing one night in 1862 there was a rush for rations by some newly-arrived troops. One strong, fine-looking soldier presented a requisition for a barrel of flour, and, shouldering it, walked off with ease . When the wagon was loaded, this same man stepped up to Colonel Morton, commanding the commissary steamers there, and remarked, 'I suppose you require a receipt for these supplies?' 'Yes,' said the Colonel, as he handed over the usual blank; 'just take this provision return, an

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Chapter VII—The Choice Of A Vocation

Chapter VII—The Choice Of A Vocation

"What are your plans, James?" asked the young man. "I should like best to go to sea," said James, "but mother doesn't approve of it." "She is wise," said Bates, promptly. "You would find it a great disappointment." "But, it must be delightful to skim over the waters, and visit countries far away," said the boy, his cheeks flushing, and his eyes glowing with enthusiasm. "You think so now; but remember, you would be a poor, ignorant sailor, and would have to stay by the ship instead of exploring t

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Chapter VIII—Geauga Seminary.

Chapter VIII—Geauga Seminary.

"Go on, follow the leadings of your ambition, and ever after I am your friend. You have the brain of a Webster, and you have the physical proportions that will back you in the most herculean efforts. All you need to do is to work; work hard, do not be afraid of over-working and you will make your mark." It will be easily understood that these words from a man whom he held in high respect were enough to fix the resolution of James. If he were really so well fitted for the work and the career whic

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Chapter IX—Ways And Means.

Chapter IX—Ways And Means.

"I will try you, for I am rather pressed with work just now." So, in a day or two James was set to work. The carpenter found that it was as he had represented. He was not a first-class workman. Indeed, he had only a rudimentary knowledge of the trade, but he was quick to learn, and in a short time he was able to help in many ways. His wages were not very large, but they were satisfactory, since they enabled him to pay his expenses and keep his head above water. Before the seventeen dollars were

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Chapter X—A Cousin's Reminiscences.

Chapter X—A Cousin's Reminiscences.

"I remember when he was fourteen years of age, he went away to work at Daniel Morse's, not four miles down the road from here, and after the labors of the day he sat down to listen to the conversation of a teacher in one of the schools of Cleveland, when it was yet a village, who had called. The talk of the educated man pleased the boy, and, while intent upon his story, a daughter of the man for whom he was working informed the future President with great dignity that it was time that servants w

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Chapter XI—Ledge Hill School

Chapter XI—Ledge Hill School

"If I can get a school to keep," was the reply. "That's the business I came about. We want a schoolmaster for the Ledge Hill School. How would you like to try it?" "The Ledge Hill School!" repeated James, in some dismay. "Why, all the boys know me there." "Of course they do. Then they won't need to be introduced." "Will they obey me? That's what I was thinking of. There are some pretty hard cases in that school." "That's where you are right." "I wouldn't like to try it and fail," said James, dou

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Chapter XII—Who Shall Be Master?

Chapter XII—Who Shall Be Master?

"He goes to work as if he knew how," said another. "I didn't think Jimmy Garfield had so much in him." "Oh, he's smart!" said another. "Just think of brother Ben trying to keep school, and he's just as old as James." Meanwhile Tom Bassett and Bill Stackpole had a private conference together. "What do you think of Jim's speech, Bill?" asked Tom. "Oh, it sounded well enough, but I'll bet he was trembling in his boots all the while he was talkin'." "Maybe so, but he seemed cool enough." "Oh, that w

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Chapter XIII—Ames Leaves Geauga Seminary

Chapter XIII—Ames Leaves Geauga Seminary

Without anticipating too far events we have not yet reached, it may be said that Lucretia Garfield's education and culture made her not the wife only, but the sympathetic friend and intellectual helper of her husband. Her early studies were of service to her in enabling her partially to prepare for college her two oldest boys. She assisted her husband also in his literary plans, without losing the domestic character of a good wife, and the refining graces of a true woman. But let us not forget t

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Chapter XIV—At Hiram Institute.

Chapter XIV—At Hiram Institute.

The school had commenced one morning, when the young teacher heard angry words and the noise of a struggle in the school-yard, which chanced to be inclosed. The noise attracted the attention of the scholars, and interfered with the attention which the recitation required. James Garfield stepped quietly outside of the door, and saw two of his oldest and largest pupils engaged in a wrestling match. For convenience we will call them Brown and Jones. "What are you about, boys?" asked the teacher The

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Chapter XV—Three Busy Years.

Chapter XV—Three Busy Years.

"I have no doubt on that point. You will teach only what is familiar to you, and I believe you have a special faculty for imparting knowledge." "Thank you very much, Mr. Hayden," said Garfield. "I will accept with gratitude, and I will do my best to give satisfaction." How well he discharged his office may be inferred from the testimony given in the last chapter. Though a part of his time was taken up in teaching others, he did not allow it to delay his own progress. Still before him he kept the

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Chapter XVI—Entering Williams College.

Chapter XVI—Entering Williams College.

"His head is big enough." "Yes, he has a large brain—a sort of Websterian intellect. He is bound to be heard of." "It is a pity he is so awkward." "Oh, that will wear off. He has a hearty, cordial way with him, and though at first we were disposed to laugh at him, we begin to like him." "He's as old as the hills. At any rate, he looks so." "How old are you?" "Seventeen." "Compared with you he is, for he is nearly twenty-three. However, it is never too late to learn. He is not only a good scholar

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Chapter XVII—Life In College.

Chapter XVII—Life In College.

And shape the whisper of the throne; And moving up from high to higher, Becomes on Fortune's crowning slope The pillar of a people's hope, The center of a world's desire." I am only repeating the remark made by many when I call attention to the fitness of this description to Garfield himself. Our young student was fortunate in possessing a most retentive memory. What he liked, especially in the works of his favorite poet, was so impressed upon his memory that he could recite extracts by the hour

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Chapter XVIII—The Canal-Boy Becomes A College President.

Chapter XVIII—The Canal-Boy Becomes A College President.

So the young man decided adversely, and it looks as if his decision was a wise one. It is interesting to conjecture what would have been his future position had he left college and accepted the school then offered him. He might still have been a teacher, well known and of high repute, but of fame merely local, and without a thought of the brilliant destiny he had foregone. So he went back to college, and in the summer of 1856 he graduated, carrying off the highest honor—the metaphysical oration.

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Chapter XIX—Garfield As A College President.

Chapter XIX—Garfield As A College President.

"He tried hard to teach us to observe carefully and accurately. He broke out one day in the midst of a lesson with, 'Henry, how many posts are there under the building down-stairs?' Henry expressed his opinion, and the question went around the class, hardly any one getting it right. Then it was, 'How many boot-scrapers are there at the door?' 'How many windows in the building?' 'How many trees in the field?' He was the keenest observer I ever saw. I think he noticed and numbered every button on

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Chapter XX—Garfield Becomes A State Senator.

Chapter XX—Garfield Becomes A State Senator.

"Yes," said the doctor, "and if I hadn't found your ten dollars you wouldn't have become President of the United States." Many a true word is spoken in jest. It might have happened that the boy would have been so depressed by the loss of his money that he would have given up his plan of going to Hiram and returned home to fill an humbler place in the world. But it is time to return from this digression and resume our narrative. Devoted to his profession, young Garfield had given but little atten

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Chapter XXI—A Difficult Duty.

Chapter XXI—A Difficult Duty.

Then came the trial of parting with wife and mother and going forth to battle and danger. To his mother, whose highest ambition had been that her son should be a scholar, it was doubtless a keen disappointment that his settled prospects should be so broken up; but she, too, was patriotic, and she quietly said: "Go, my son, your life belongs to your country." Colonel Garfield's orders were to report to General Buell at Louisville. He moved his regiment by way of Cincinnati to Catlettsburg, Kentuc

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Chapter XXII—John Jordan's Dangerous Journey.

Chapter XXII—John Jordan's Dangerous Journey.

At the request of Garfield, Jordan was sent for. In a short time he entered the tent of the Union commander. This John Jordan was a remarkable man, and well known in all that region. He was of Scotch descent, and possessed some of the best traits of his Scotch ancestry. He was a born actor, a man of undoubted courage, fertile in expedients, and devoted to the Union cause. Garfield was a judge of men, and he was impressed in the man's favor at first sight. He describes Jordan as a tall, gaunt, sa

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Chapter XXIII—Garfield's Bold Strategy.

Chapter XXIII—Garfield's Bold Strategy.

"Yes," answered the new-comer, "I belong to Marshall's force, and I've come straight from his camp to spy out your army." "Well, you go about it queerly," said Garfield, puzzled. "Wait till you are alone, colonel. Then I'll tell you about it." Col. Bent said in an undertone to Garfield, as he left the tent, "Don't trust him, colonel; I know him as a thief and a rebel." This was the substance of Brown's communication. As soon as he heard that James A. Garfield was in command of the Union forces,

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Chapter XXIV—The Battle Of Middle Creek.

Chapter XXIV—The Battle Of Middle Creek.

Turning The Tide Of Battle At Chickamauga It was clear that the main body of the enemy was not far away. To determine this Garfield sent forward a body of skirmishers to draw the fire of the enemy. He succeeded, for a twelve-pound shell whistled above the trees, then plowed up the hill, and buried itself in the ground at the feet of the little band of skirmishers. Noon came, and Garfield made the necessary preparations for battle. He could not have been without apprehension, for he knew, though

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Chapter XXV—The Perilous Trip Up The Big Sandy.

Chapter XXV—The Perilous Trip Up The Big Sandy.

"It's which and t'other, General Jim," he answered, "starvin' or drownin'. I'd rather drown nur starve. So gin the word, and, dead or alive, I'll git down the river!" Garfield gave the word, but he did not let the brave scout go alone. Together in a small skiff they "got down the river." It was no light task. The Big Sandy was now a raging torrent, sixty feet in depth, and, in many places, above the tops of the tall trees which grew along its margin. In some deep and narrow gorges, where the ste

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Chapter XXVI—The Canal-Boy Becomes A Congressman.

Chapter XXVI—The Canal-Boy Becomes A Congressman.

When, on the 5th of December, 1863, Garfield took his seat in the House of Representatives, he was the youngest member of that body. The Military Committee was the most important committee of Congress, and he was put upon that, on account of his practical experience in the field. This, of course, brought him, though a new and young member, into immediate prominence, and his familiarity with the wants of the army enabled him to be of great service. I do not propose to detail at tiresome length th

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Chapter XXVII—Garfield's Course In Congress.

Chapter XXVII—Garfield's Course In Congress.

"'It pains me very much that a gentleman of venerable age, who was in full maturity of life when I was a child, and whom I have respected since my childhood, should have taken occasion here in this place to use language so uncalled for, so ungenerous, so unjust to me, and disgraceful to himself. I have borne with the ill-nature and bad blood of that gentleman, as many others in this House have, out of respect for his years; but no importunity of age shall shield him, or any man, from my denuncia

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Chapter XXVIII—The Man For The Hour.

Chapter XXVIII—The Man For The Hour.

"We stepped out to the balcony to watch the fearfully solemn and swaying mass of people. Not a hurrah was heard, but for the most part a dead silence, or a deep, ominous muttering ran like a rising wave up the street toward Broadway, and again down toward the river on the right. At length the batons of the police were seen swinging in the air, far up on the left, parting the crowd, and pressing it back to make way for a carriage that moved slowly, and with difficult jags through the compact mult

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Chapter XXIX—Garfield As A Lawyer.

Chapter XXIX—Garfield As A Lawyer.

"'How long ago were you admitted to the bar?' asked Judge Black. "'Just about six years age.' "'That will do,' Black replied, and he took Garfield thereupon over to the Supreme Court and moved his admission. "He immediately entered upon the consideration of this important case. On the side of the Government was arrayed a formidable amount of legal talent. The Attorney-General was aided by Gen. Butler, who was called in on account of his military knowledge, and by Henry Stanbury. Associated with

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Chapter XXX—The Scholar In Politics.

Chapter XXX—The Scholar In Politics.

"Nor feared he the gloom of the rain-bearing Hyads Nor the rage of fierce Notus, a tyrant than whom No storm-god that rules o'er the broad Adriatic Is mightier its billows to rouse or to calm. "What form, or what pathway of death him affrighted Who faced with dry eyes monsters swimming the deep, Who gazed without fear on the storm-swollen billows, And the lightning-scarred rocks, grim with death on the shore?" In reviewing the work of the year 1874, he writes: "So far as individual work is conce

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Chapter XXXI—The Tributes Of Friends.

Chapter XXXI—The Tributes Of Friends.

"Coming on the train from Washington, after his nomination, he said: 'Only think of this! I am yet a young man? if elected and I serve my term I shall still be a young man. Then what am I going to do? There seems to be no place in America for an ex-President.' "And then came in what I thought the extreme simplicity and real nobility of the man. 'Why,' said he, 'I had no thought of being nominated. I had bought me some new books, and was getting ready for the Senate.' "I laughed at the idea of hi

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Chapter XXXII—From Canal-Boy To President.

Chapter XXXII—From Canal-Boy To President.

"In regard to the great questions of human rights he has stood inflexible. The successor of Joshua R. Giddings, he is the man on whom his mantle may be said to have descended. Still he is no blind partisan. The best arguments in favor of civil service reform are found in the speeches of Gen. Garfield. He is liberal and generous in the treatment of the South, one of the foremost advocates of educational institutions in the South at the national expense. Do you wish for that highest type—the volun

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Chapter XXXIII—The New Administration.

Chapter XXXIII—The New Administration.

Nor was he less fortunate in his political family. He had selected as his Premier a friend and political associate of many years' standing, whose brilliant talent and wide-spread reputation brought strength to his administration. In accepting the tender of the post of Secretary of State, Mr. Blaine said: "In our new relation I shall give all that I am, and all that I can hope to be, freely and joyfully to your service. You need no pledge of my loyalty in heart and in act. I should be false to my

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Chapter XXXIV—The Tragic End.

Chapter XXXIV—The Tragic End.

"It happened that some of the humbler classes were among the most eager to signify their feelings. The omnibus-drivers had each a knot of crape on his whip. Many of the cabmen had the same thing, and so had the draymen. In the city, properly so called, and along the water-side, it was the poorer shops and the smaller craft that most frequently exhibited tokens of public grief. Of the people one met in mourning the same thing was true. Between mourning put on for the day and that which was worn f

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Chapter XXXV—Mr. Depew's Estimate Of Garfield.

Chapter XXXV—Mr. Depew's Estimate Of Garfield.

Probably the nearest and closest friend of Garfield, intellectually speaking, was his successor in the presidency of Hiram College, B.A. Hinsdale. If any one understood the dead President it was he. For many years they corresponded regularly, exchanging views upon all topics that interested either. They would not always agree, but this necessarily followed from the mental independence of each. To Mr. Hinsdale we turn for a trustworthy analysis of the character and intellectual greatness of his f

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Chapter XXXVI—The Lessons Of His Life.

Chapter XXXVI—The Lessons Of His Life.

"Such are some main lines in the character of this great-natured and richly-cultured man. The outline is but poor and meager. Well do I remember the days following the Chicago Convention, when the biographers flocked to Mentor. How hard they found it to compress within the limits both of their time and their pages the life, services, and character of their great subject. One of these discouraged historians one day wearily said: 'General, how much there is of you!' "Space fails to speak of Presid

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