Sandusky Mourns President Garfield

 

President James A. Garfield died on September 19, 1881, after having been shot on July 2, 1881.  Born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio in 1831, he became president of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in 1857, and was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859.  Garfield served as a general in the Civil War, and after the War he was elected to the United States Congress. In 1880, at the Republican National Convention, James A. Garfield became the “dark horse” candidate for the presidency. He was elected President on November 4, 1880. Author James Baird McClure wrote in his book General Garfield: From the Log Cabin to the White House, that Sandusky Register editor I. F. Mack rode with James Garfield in the train to Cleveland, immediately after Garfield secured his presidential nomination in Chicago in 1880. 

The Sandusky Register carried several feature articles about the funeral of President Garfield from September 20 through September 27, 1881. A detailed list of the groups participating in the funeral procession appeared in the paper, as well as an account of the hymns sung, scriptures read, and government officials in attendance. A delegation from the Sandusky Masons, the Erie Commandery, marched in the procession. A number of tributes to President Garfield also appeared in the Register.

On September 25, 1881, the First Presbyterian Sunday School held a commemorative service for the deceased president.

O. P. Cowdery spoke about Garfield’s boyhood; U.T. Curran’s address was about Garfield, the educator; while W. F. Converse spoke on Garfield as a statesman.

The back of the program from the Presbyterian service featured President Garfield’s favorite hymn, “Ho, Reapers of Life’s Harvest.”

At the dedication of the Garfield Memorial, on May 30, 1890, I.F. Mack commanded a group of Sandusky Civil War Veterans who were at the service in Cleveland. The Great Western Band

from Sandusky sent twenty five musicians to participate in the procession. The full text of the dedication of the Garfield Memorial can be read at Google Books. On July 3, 1948, the Sandusky Register Star News featured a syndicated column entitled “Let’s Explore Ohio: Mother of Presidents.”  The column mentions the home of James A. Garfield and his tomb at Lakeview Cemetery.