James A. Garfield Biography: Children, Height, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Age, Wife, Obituary

James Abram Garfield, commonly known as James A. Garfield, was the 20th President of the United States, holding office from March to September 1881.

His presidency was tragically ended after only 200 days due to assassination.

Before his presidency, Garfield served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Ohio General Assembly also selected him for the U.S. Senate, but he turned down the position to accept the presidency.

Profile

• Full Name: James Abram Garfield
• Stage Name: James A. Garfield
• Born: 19, November 1831
• Date of death: September 19, 1881 (Aged: 50 years old)
• Birthplace: Moreland Hills, Ohio, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: The 20th President of the United States
• Height: unknown
• Parent: Abram Garfield and Eliza Ballou
• Siblings: Mehetable Garfield, Thomas Garfield, Mary Garfield, and James Ballou
• Spouse: Lucretia Rudolph (1858-1881)
• Children: Eliza Arabella, Harry Augustus Garfield, James Rudolph Garfield, Mary “Mollie” Garfield, Irvin McDowell Garfield, Abram Garfield and Edward Garfield
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life And Education

James Abram Garfield was born to Abram Garfield and Eliza Ballou on November 19, 1831, in Moreland Hills, Ohio, United States. After her husband’s death, Eliza Ballou raised James and his siblings, which included Mehetable, Thomas, Mary, and James Ballou.

Garfield received basic education at a local village school before attending Geauga Seminary. He later graduated from Williams College in 1856. Of Welsh descent, Garfield’s ancestor, Edward Garfield, emigrated from England to Massachusetts around 1630, and he practiced Christianity as his religion.

Career

James A. Garfield began his professional career after graduating from Williams College in 1856. He returned to Ohio and became a professor at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, which would later be known as Hiram College. By 1857, Garfield was appointed the institution’s principal, where he also pursued law studies.

He was admitted to the bar in 1861 and soon became involved in politics, supporting Republican presidential candidate John C. Frémont in the 1856 election. As the Civil War broke out, Garfield joined the Union Army and quickly rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming a major general.

He served as General William Rosecrans’s chief of staff and participated in significant battles, including Middle Creek, Shiloh, and Chickamauga. Garfield initially intended to remain in the army, but President Abraham Lincoln saw his potential as a Republican leader and called upon him to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Garfield served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he became a prominent political figure. In addition, the Ohio General Assembly elected him to the U.S. Senate.

However, Garfield declined the Senate seat to pursue the presidency. His career exemplified a strong dedication to education, military service, and public leadership, culminating in his election as the 20th President of the United States.

Social Media

James A. Garfield does not have a social media account

Personal Life

James A. Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858, and together they had seven children, though only five survived to adulthood. Their children included Eliza Arabella, affectionately known as “Little Trot,” who tragically passed away at the age of three and a half.

The surviving children were Harry Augustus Garfield, James Rudolph Garfield, Mary “Mollie” Garfield, and Irvin McDowell Garfield. The couple also had two sons, Abram Garfield and Edward Garfield, who died very young. Despite these heartbreaking losses, the Garfields maintained a strong family bond throughout their lives.

Net Worth

James A. Garfield’s net Worth, when adjusted for inflation to 2022 U.S. dollars, was around $1 million. Raised in poverty, Garfield worked a variety of jobs to support himself through college.

Despite his impressive resume—including serving as a college president, an army officer, and a U.S. congressman—he never accumulated significant wealth.