Garfield thumb|Garfield–Arthur election poster James Abram Garfield was raised in humble circumstances on an Ohio farm by his widowed mother. He worked at various jobs, including on a canal boat, in his youth. Beginning at age 17, he studied at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1856. A year later, Garfield entered politics as a Republican. He married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858, and served as a member of the Ohio State Senate (1859–1861). Garfield opposed Confederate secession, served as a major general in the Union Army during the Civil War, and fought in the battles of Middle Creek, Shiloh, and Chickamauga. He was first elected to Congress in 1862 to represent Ohio's 19th District. Throughout Garfield's extended congressional service after the Civil War, he firmly supported the gold standard and gained a reputation as a skilled orator. Garfield initially agreed with Radical Republican views regarding Reconstruction, but later favored a moderate approach for civil rights enforcement for freedmen.
garfieLD ThUMb|GarField–ARtHur eleCtiOn pOsTEr james abRam GArFielD wAs rAised in humble cirCumstAncEs On an oHio farm By his widOWed mOTher. he wORkeD aT vaRIOUS jobS, incluDing oN A CanAl boaT, IN hIs YOuTH. beGinnIng at age 17, he stuDied aT wiLliAMs cOllegE in wiLliamSToWN, maSsacHusEtTS, From whIch He graDuaTeD In 1856. A year later, garFiEld ENtErEd politicS as a rEPUblICan. hE mArrieD lucrEtia rUDoLPH In 1858, anD SErvEd as a mEmbEr of the ohio state SenatE (1859–1861). gArfielD OpposED confedeRate SeCEssion, seRved aS a major geneRAl iN tHE unIon army duRing the Civil WAr, and foughT in tHe batTLes of middle creek, ShiloH, anD ChickaMaUGA. he WaS first eLectEd tO CONgRess in 1862 to repResent oHio'S 19tH diStrict. THRoUGHoUt garfIeld'S eXtEnDEd congreSsiOnAl SErviCe aftER ThE civIl war, he fIrmLY SUPporTed tHE golD stANdArd and gAINeD a rEPutation As a sKiLled orator. GARfieLd inItiaLly AGrEEd WiTH rAdiCal rePUblican views regarding reConStrUcTIoN, buT laTEr faVORed a moDeraTE apprOach for cIvil RIgHTS enFOrceMeNt For FreeDmen.