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James A. Garfield Farewell Poem

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Title	James A. Garfield Farewell Poem
Subject	Education Literary Ohio Presidents and Politics Universities and colleges Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
Place	Hiram (Ohio) Portage County (Ohio)
Description	This farewell poem was written by James A. Garfield before he left the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) for Williams College in 1853. Garfield's affection for the school is clear as he writes: "farewell fellow classmates my heart shall go with you..." He later returned to the institute to serve as a teacher, president, and trustee. This one-page poem measures 6" x 7.4" (15.2 x 18.8 cm). James A. Garfield (1831-1881) was president of the United States from March 4, 1881 to September 19, 1881. Born on November 19, 1831 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Garfield was the youngest of five children. Garfield's father died when he was two, and his family was left poverty-stricken. As a teenager, Garfield worked on a canal boat. He enrolled in the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College), then went to Williams College to complete his education. Garfield married Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918) in 1858. Lucretia was the daughter of Zeb Rudolph, a devoted member of the Disciples of Christ and one of the founders of the institute. Garfield served as a lieutenant colonel in the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.) during the Civil War, and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1863 to 1880. He supported the Radical Republican plan for African American suffrage, as well as the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. In 1880, Garfield was elected to the U.S. Senate. His plans changed, however, when he was nominated for president at the Republican National Convention later that year. The election was close, but Garfield emerged the winner. Less than six months into his administration, Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a Washington attorney who was upset that he did not receive a federal appointment. The president died three months later on September 19, 1881 at Elberon, New Jersey. The James A. Garfield Collection at Hiram College focuses on Garfield's connection to Hiram and includes a broad range of personal and professional material, much of it in Garfield's own hand. The collection also includes a virtually complete set of Garfield's speeches in pamphlet form and works about Garfield written after his death and up to the present.
Creator	Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881
Date of Original	June 24, 1853
Collection	James A. Garfield Collection
Source	Unpublished material (archives/manuscripts)
Submitting Institution	Hiram College
Type	Text
Format	manuscripts

Title	Om132_728907_003
Rights	For rights and reproduction requests, go to the Ohio Historical Society's Audiovisual and Graphic Reproduction Services page at http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/audiovis/photodup.html; Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information
File Name	Om132_728907_003.tif
Image Height	2975
Image Width	2391
File Size	2344.097 KB
Full Text	Farewell The time has arrived when our sojourn together For many bright days must now draw to a close In friendship and union we'll dwell with each other While time has rushed by with its joys, fears and woes. The days have sped swiftly since first we assembled To store up the treasures that science imparts We know as we sep'rate that love undissembled May linger with mem'ry and never depart. We'll think on these scenes with the fondest emotion When time writes the wrinkle of age on our brows Though tossed by life's fitful and troubled commotion We'll swell with delight on the scenes passing now. But never again shall we all meet each other To seek the bright diamonds of unfading truth Till meeting in heaven each sister and brother Shall bloom in immortal unchangable youth. And now fare ye well all these scenes that are closing We go and are scattered abroad o'er the earth Some one of our number may soon be reposing Beneath cold clods of the land of our birth. Farewell fellow classmates my heart shall go with you Through joy and through sorrow, through sunlight and gloom And students beloved may God ever give you His grace and protection till laid in the tomb. Hiram, June 24th 1853} James A. Garfield

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James A. Garfield Farewell Poem

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