Lucretia Garfield

Lucretia Garfield was the wife of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, and served as First Lady of the United States from March 1881 until her husband's assassination in September 1881. She was known for her strong character and her support of her husband's career, which included his time as a United States Representative from Ohio and his service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Lucretia Garfield was also a close friend of Julia Dent Grant, the wife of Ulysses S. Grant, and Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison, the wife of Benjamin Harrison. Her life was marked by her relationships with other prominent figures, including Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Frances Cleveland Preston.

● Early Life and Education

Lucretia Garfield was born in Garrettsville, Ohio, to Zebulon Rudolph and Arabella Mason Rudolph. She grew up in a family that valued education and was encouraged to pursue her intellectual interests, which included reading the works of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. Lucretia Garfield attended the Geauga Seminary in Chesterland, Ohio, and later studied at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute in Hiram, Ohio, where she met her future husband, James A. Garfield. The couple was influenced by the ideas of Horace Mann and Henry Barnard, and they shared a commitment to social reform and public service. Lucretia Garfield's education also included studies in music and art, and she was an accomplished pianist who enjoyed the works of Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms.

● Marriage and Family

Lucretia Garfield married James A. Garfield in 1858 and the couple had seven children together, including Eliza Garfield, Harry Augustus Garfield, James Rudolph Garfield, Mary Garfield, Irvin McDowell Garfield, Abram Garfield, and Edward Garfield. The family lived in Hiram, Ohio, and later in Mentor, Ohio, where they were friends with Amos Sutton Hayden and Burton Harrison. Lucretia Garfield was a supportive wife and mother, and she managed the family's household and raised their children while her husband pursued his career in politics. The family was also close to John Sherman, William McKinley, and Mark Hanna, who were all prominent figures in Ohio politics. Lucretia Garfield's husband was a member of the United States House of Representatives and later served as a United States Senator from Ohio, and she often accompanied him to Washington, D.C., where they socialized with other prominent couples, including Schuyler Colfax and Henry Wilson.

● First Lady of

the United States As First Lady of the United States, Lucretia Garfield was known for her simplicity and her lack of interest in the social aspects of the role. She preferred to focus on her family and her husband's career, and she often avoided the public eye. However, she did host several receptions and dinners at the White House, where she entertained guests such as Robert Todd Lincoln, John Hay, and Whitelaw Reid. Lucretia Garfield was also a strong supporter of her husband's policies, including his efforts to reform the civil service system and his commitment to education and social reform. She was a close friend of Clara Folsom, the wife of Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston's brother, and she often sought advice from Julia Tyler, the wife of John Tyler. Lucretia Garfield's time as First Lady was cut short by her husband's assassination in September 1881, which occurred just six months into his presidency.

● Later Life and Death

After her husband's death, Lucretia Garfield returned to Mentor, Ohio, where she lived a quiet life with her family. She continued to be involved in social reform and public service, and she supported various charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Lucretia Garfield also remained close to her friends and family, including Rutherford B. Hayes, Lucy Webb Hayes, and Benjamin Harrison. She died on March 14, 1918, at the age of 85, in South Pasadena, California, where she had moved to be closer to her son, Harry Augustus Garfield. Lucretia Garfield's legacy as a First Lady and a supporter of social reform has endured, and she remains an important figure in American history, alongside other notable women such as Dolley Madison, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, and Louisa Catherine Adams.

● Legacy

Lucretia Garfield's legacy is marked by her support of her husband's career and her commitment to social reform. She was a strong advocate for education and women's rights, and she worked to promote these causes throughout her life. Lucretia Garfield's time as First Lady was also notable for her simplicity and her lack of interest in the social aspects of the role, which set her apart from other First Ladies of the time, such as Mary Todd Lincoln and Julia Dent Grant. Today, Lucretia Garfield is remembered as a devoted wife and mother, and a dedicated supporter of social reform and public service. Her legacy continues to inspire people, including historians and scholars who study the lives of First Ladies and the history of the White House, such as Doris Kearns Goodwin and Cokie Roberts. Lucretia Garfield's story is also an important part of the history of Ohio and the United States, and it continues to be told and retold through the works of authors and historians such as Carl Sandburg and David McCullough. Category:First Ladies of the United States