President James A. Garfield
...ic and grammar. He also began to show much interest in American history. He had already read every book in the libraries in his area of the wilderness. In 1849 his mother persuaded him into entering Geauga Academy in Chester, Ohio. He taught and did anything and everything to get money to pay his schooling. While attending Geauga Academy he met Miss Lucretia Rudolph, his future wife. He was attracted to her first because they shared the same educational pursuits. He then grew fond of her in many other ways. On November 11, 1858 he married Lucretia Rudolph. The happily married couple had seven children: Eliza A. Garfield (1860); Harry A. Garfield (1863); James R. Garfield (1865); Mary Garfield (1867); Irvin M. Garfield (1870); Abram Garfield (1872); and Edward Garfield (1874). Garfield was thirty-two years old when he entered congress. He became representative of his home district in December of 1863. He went on to win eight consecutive terms to the same office. Having a military background helped to secure him a place in the Committee on Military Affairs. He favored the “hard money” policy which said all paper money issued by the government should be secured by gold or silver. He was a loyal Republican and he favored voting rights for blacks. In 1865 he requested to be transferred to the influential Ways and Means Committee. During Garfield’s rise there were two incidents that that tarnished his record. The first involving an alleged bribe to delay a congressional investigation of Credit Mobilier Company, which had made illegal profits from government contracts. The other involved accepting fees from a company trying to obtain a paving contract for Washington, D.C. He denied all charges. He ran for presidency in the election of 1880. He defeated Hanc...