President James A. Garfield
Born in November 19, 1831, in what is now known as Moreland Hills, OH, President Garfield valued education. He graduated in 1856 from Williams College in Massachusetts, and became President of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (known today as Hiram College). Serving his country during the Civil War, Garfield rose to the rank of Major General. Convinced by President Lincoln that it was important to serve his country in Congress, Garfield was elected in 1862 serving for the next 18 years.
While attending the Republican Convention in 1880, Garfield became the “dark horse” nominee on the 36th ballot. Winning the election by only 10,000 votes, President Garfield took the oath of office on March 4, 1881. On July 2, 1881, just four months after being sworn in as president, Garfield left for a holiday with his family. Walking through the train depot in Washington, DC, Garfield was shot by a disappointed office seeker; he lingered for two months, then died on Sept. 19, 1881, two months short of his 50th birthday.
To set up a tour of the monument, please contact Mary Krohmer at marykrohmer@lakeviewcemetery.com. For more information on his birth site, please visit click here. His home, the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, in Mentor is owned and operated by The National Park Service. For more information please click here.