Visiting the Garfield Monument in Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery
On Monday 31 March 2008, Geri and I visited
the Garfield Monument in Cleveland, Ohio.
[President James Abram Garfield]
Eight United States presidents have come from the state of Ohio.
Garfield was the fourth of these, and the 20th U.S. President overall.
[the Garfield Monument in Lake View Cemetery - photo by JC]
President Garfield died in office on 19 September 1881, the same year he took office,
and the Garfield Monument in Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery is his final resting place.
[at my car, down the hill from the Monument - photo by Geri]
Lake View Cemetery is also home to Untouchables hero Eliot Ness and other famous folks.
Back in the days of President Garfield, of course, there were no automobiles. 
[Geri by the Monument's front doors - photo by JC]
Unfortunately, we didn't realize until we got there that the Monument doors aren't open to
the public until April 1st, and we were one day early. Guess that makes us April Eve fools....
[JC - photo by Geri]
I find the blue striking. And blue seems sadly appropriate when you consider that the presidential career of James Garfield, formerly a successful General and respected U.S. congressman, was cut short by assassination only about fifteen years after the perhaps more famous Abraham Lincoln met a similar fate.
[Relief depicting James Garfield, above the Monument's front doors - photo by JC]
Would you believe that Lincoln and Garfield, two of our best Presidents, were both Republicans?
Seems hard to imagine from our perspective in the days of the George W. Bush administration.....
[self portrait from the Monument's steps - by JC]
[JC - photo by Geri]
[plaque on the front of the Monument - photo by JC]
But rather than ramble on myself, I'd like to share with you this biography of President James Garfield
from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jg20.html:
James A. Garfield
As the last of the log cabin Presidents, James A. Garfield attacked political corruption and won back for the Presidency a measure of prestige it had lost during the Reconstruction period.
He was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1831. Fatherless at two, he later drove canal boat teams, somehow earning enough money for an education. He was graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts in 1856, and he returned to the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (later Hiram College) in Ohio as a classics professor. Within a year he was made its president.
Garfield was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859 as a Republican. During the secession crisis, he advocated coercing the seceding states back into the Union.
In 1862, when Union military victories had been few, he successfully led a brigade at Middle Creek, Kentucky, against Confederate troops. At 31, Garfield became a brigadier general, two years later a major general of volunteers.
Meanwhile, in 1862, Ohioans elected him to Congress. President Lincoln persuaded him to resign his commission: It was easier to find major generals than to obtain effective Republicans for Congress. Garfield repeatedly won re-election for 18 years, and became the leading Republican in the House.
At the 1880 Republican Convention, Garfield failed to win the Presidential nomination for his friend John Sherman. Finally, on the 36th ballot, Garfield himself became the "dark horse" nominee.
By a margin of only 10,000 popular votes, Garfield defeated the Democratic nominee, Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock.
As President, Garfield strengthened Federal authority over the New York Customs House, stronghold of Senator Roscoe Conkling, who was leader of the Stalwart Republicans and dispenser of patronage in New York. When Garfield submitted to the Senate a list of appointments including many of Conkling's friends, he named Conkling's arch-rival William H. Robertson to run the Customs House. Conkling contested the nomination, tried to persuade the Senate to block it, and appealed to the Republican caucus to compel its withdrawal.
But Garfield would not submit: "This...will settle the question whether the President is registering clerk of the Senate or the Executive of the United States.... shall the principal port of entry ... be under the control of the administration or under the local control of a factional senator."
Conkling maneuvered to have the Senate confirm Garfield's uncontested nominations and adjourn without acting on Robertson. Garfield countered by withdrawing all nominations except Robertson's; the Senators would have to confirm him or sacrifice all the appointments of Conkling's friends.
In a final desperate move, Conkling and his fellow-Senator from New York resigned, confident that their legislature would vindicate their stand and re-elect them. Instead, the legislature elected two other men; the Senate confirmed Robertson. Garfield's victory was complete.
In foreign affairs, Garfield's Secretary of State invited all American republics to a conference to meet in Washington in 1882. But the conference never took place. On July 2, 1881, in a Washington railroad station, an embittered attorney who had sought a consular post shot the President.
Mortally wounded, Garfield lay in the White House for weeks. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, tried unsuccessfully to find the bullet with an induction-balance electrical device which he had designed. On September 6, Garfield was taken to the New Jersey seaside. For a few days he seemed to be recuperating, but on September 19, 1881, he died from an infection and internal hemorrhage.
looks like you had a lovely day.
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I've always wanted to go there. As much traveling as we've done, it seems a shame that there are so many cool and interesting places in our own back yard, so to speak, that I've never seen. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is another. I'd better get busy, I guess before I'm too old to get to them all.
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VERY informative. Mr. J pointed out that Harrison was in office even less time. He scares me. I did not know that much about Garfield, so I appreciate the information.
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Thanks, A! And Mr. J is right.
President William Henry Harrison, also from Ohio, caught pneumonia at his inauguration and died within about 28 days of taking office. He had been considered a "hero" for his "success" killing Native Americans. Doesn't seem so heroic to me....
And another Ohio President, William McKinley, was assassinated in 1901. We might be the only state with three presidents to die in office.
Garfield was probably by far the best of the lot. Ulysses Grant also came from Ohio; but he was not nearly as good a President as he was a general.
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Mr. J strikes again. You have FOUR (Warren G. Harding). And no, he did not look that shit up. Mr. J is Mr. J for a reason.
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He's right! How could I forget that Harding died in office?! You think I'd remember that since I lived in his hometown of Marion, Ohio, for 11 years of my adult life. Then again, I wasn't free to roam about when I resided there... lol... but I did read a few biographies about him. I guess I must attribute my forgetfulness to old age, or a mind fart.
My hat's off to Mr. J!
Er... well, I wasn't actually wearing a hat. But if I had been, I would certainly doff it!
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Nice pics of you! The one with you and Geri, look beyond your sunglasses...can you see those devil, red eyes. They burn right through you. Very evil!
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LOL... they're not really red.
(That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!)
Thanks, Kimberly!
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You are an inspiration to all of us.... There is so much history in everyone's "back yard"... and all too often,there we are, looking over the fence, into the distance, missing all the things that are so close by. Thank you for sharing your Garfield experience, and the wonderful "you are there" photos.
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You're welcome, Mr. Minister! And thank you for being such an inspiration.
(I guess those folks who are convinced the Minister is me will wonder why I'm talking to myself... lol. I promise everyone we are not the same person. The Minister is simply a very good friend of mine... that is, if he's who I think he is. He's never really confirmed that he is).
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Well, I always thought you were the devil in disguise...LOL! (Previous conversations included).
By the way, I know that everyone has heard about the 3 terrorists arrested in Toledo. What they did not mention is that, 1 of them actually lives in Sylvania, across the street and 3 houses down from me. They are going to trial tomorrow. The day the feds arrested the one down the street, I was ready to go to church and could not get out of my drive because the feds had one of their vehicles blocking my drive. They had been using their sattelite dish to get communications from over in Iraq. He was constantly messing with it and even after they released him, he was/is still making communications to there.
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Wow, Kimberly! That's a heck of a story, and would make a terrific blog.
Can you get a photo of the satellite dish?
Wouldn't it be funny if all he was trying to get via satellite was something like a soccer game?
Don't mean to make light of it though.... It would be scary to know there are actual terrorists living on one's street.
I wonder why they released him if they had proof he was guilty. Perhaps I should do a little research. I only vaguely remember hearing about the case.
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It saddens me that Garfield met his death by assassination. The mills of the gods grind slow but they grind exceedingly fine. Notice there are two ass ass in that word. Too much ass ass in this world right now. Too many guns. Everywhere there are ass ass ins. Lincoln, Kennedy, all killed with guns.
4000 now in Iraq. You are a beautiful person, John. I am reminded every time I read you I find something new to rememember. mem mem member. You always seek the truth in history and I seek the truth in you. Is this memorabilia? It is only NOW but there are a lot of mem mem mem ories. History hasn't invented truth but a lot of it is imagined and a lot not. Too many plots. ...dot dot
Today I sent two certified mails. The future is yet to see, whatever will be will be. Cool, real cool man. So cool it might chill you out and about. I have no doubt. Read me....
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Find the subliminal secret code in this comment and wonder why it rhymes.
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I already have.
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"Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, tried unsuccessfully to find the bullet with an induction-balance electrical device which he had designed".
What a cool piece of information! The whole thing was really interesting. And you two look hot! Great photo.
I'd never seen the tomb before either...magnifico!
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...this truly IS a magnificent place...too bad you were unable to get in to see the rest....
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Thank you, barbie! Believe it or not, I've never been inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame or had a close encounter with the McKinley monument. I've driven past both a few times, particularly since Geri's son lives in Canton - but it always seems like we have somewhere else to be and don't have time to stop at the historical sites. I suppose we'll have to make a special trip just for those. I also want to return to the Garfield Monument sometime this year to see the inside - and after we returned home today, I found a list online of all sorts of famous people buried at Lake View. Might have to check them out, too....
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Thanks, Pugzz! I appreciate your comment.
I found the A.G. Bell tidbit incredibly interesting as well. I'd never known that before today. And it amazes me how far we've come from those days technologically speaking. Nowadays, a man with President Garfield's injuries would almost certainly survive.
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Very interesting reading. Loved the photo's too! Have you visited Garfield's home on Mentor Ave in Mentor? Nice. I loved the library! I sure miss Cleveland. There are so many cultural sites of interest there.
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Thanks, Susan! We've not yet been to Garfield 's home, although we were just talking about that. Perhaps we’ll make a day of it in the near future. Would've gone today, if we'd had more time, but Geri wanted to stop at the West Side Market before it closed at four....
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I sent a news link from Feb. 28, 2008 from WTOL. Check out the article. As far as a pic, I could get one after work tomorrow when it is light outside. Ok?
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Cool! Thanks!
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Thank you for the history lesson. Yes LakeView is a wonderful place to visit. I've been there many times. In the summer its a nice place to have a picnic. I've been to many Dead Shows but this one is one of my favorite. FYI the only MLB player to ever be killed with a baseball is also there. JDR is still making money. There are always coins being left on his head stone. I guess he couldn't take all that money with him but its still building interest.
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LOL... good old Rockefeller! And I didn't know about the MLB player. Definitely plan to go back when we have more time.... Cleveland (please pardon the pun!). It's too bad we waited this long to visit.
This cemetery is a buried treasure in the heart of
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Hello to you guys. I loved visiting Lakeview. Also got a real cool cemetery here. If you visit Oaxaca, you have to see it.
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I'd love to see it!
Hi, Lady! It's nice to "see" you. We drove past the Tremont exit today and thought of you and Smith; then we stopped and grabbed some West Side Market pomegranates. Thanks to you, we know how good they are (and how to eat them... lol).
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Welll this was a great blog. Things I didn't know... about Garfield, city of Cleveland and more... Have you ever been there before? And what prompted the trip?
The monument is gorgeous... when was it built do you know? Looks at least turn of the century...
Anyway thanks for sharing it all... You and Geri make such a cute couple... I like the photo booth shot... you need longer arms...
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Thanks, Chris!
I'd never been there before. I knew Garfield's Monument was somewhere around Cleveland, and I'd driven past that cemetery probably a couple dozen times without realizing it was THE cemetery. Finally, I decided to look up the location online and voila, there it was! If I remember correctly, the Monument was finished in 1890 - at least that's when it was dedicated.
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Those are some great pictures. You are correct, that blue is very pretty!!
Thank you for the trip in history!!!
Take care,
Angela
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You're welcome, Angela. And thank you!
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the cemetery's a great place to sit and toke ... also has had a few good art installations in it. somewhere in it is daniel thompson's grave.
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Lake View has for now officially supplanted the one in old town Savannah, Georgia, as my favorite cemetery.
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The Minister understands what you're saying about Lake View Cemetery, and from a sentimental standpoint, could agree with you... but the "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil" cemetery in Savannah still has the best overall ambiance, in my humble opinion... the genteel ghosts of that old cemetery come right up and whisper in your ear.... Johnny Mercer's sweet music was playing, just out of earshot... and the granite angels watching over the graves were weeping their granite tears...
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Ah, you may be right, dear Minister. That's why I put "for now" in my statement....
My mind is an amazingly changeable thing.
I guess we like to find reasons to prefer grapes we can readily reach to those we can't.
Yet who's to say I wasn't listening to "Moon River" in Lake View?
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Since you are fond of cemeteries perhaps you should check out Oberlin's cemetery.
There are some of the first residents buried there and the tombstones say, "Born slave, died free" Oberlin was active in the Underground Railroad movement and Oberlin College was the first college in the county to accept blacks and women.
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Yes! I will definitely do that at some point. I appreciate the suggestion!
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I am glad we visited this cemetery. The picture of this monument doesn't do it justice. It is phenomenal! I'm anxious to revisit it now that it's open. I'm also looking forward to visiting the house in Mentor. Perhaps this weekend.....
It's nice to have such a knowledgeable (and handsome) personal tour guide too!
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You should visit Fort Meigs and the Fort Meigs Cemetary (if your into cemetaries) in Perrysburg, OH. There is a lot of history there! That is, if your into the Civil War scene!
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Definitely! I probably have more books on the U.S. Civil War than on any other topic (except perhaps religion).
Thanks for the suggestion, Kimberly! It sounds like a place I could really dig (but not literally... lol).
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I could be your personal tour guide (flirt, flirt)...lol...jk! No, but, my husband would like to go sometime when it gets warmer. Maybe we could go together!
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I suspect my wife would love to check it out, too. I'll run it by her.
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When you run it by her be sure she isn't chasing you and the dogs with a video camera while you are streaking down Cleveland Street. LMAOWWY
WWY- while watching y'all
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I see someone's been to Church this week.
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I am reminded every time I read you I find something new to remember. mem mem member. You always seek the truth in history and I seek the truth in you. Is this memorabilia? It is only NOW but there are a lot of mem mem mem ories. History hasn't invented truth but a lot of it is imagined and a lot not. Too many plots. ...dot dot
Today I sent two certified mailsVery interesting reading. Loved the photo's too! Have you visited Garfield's home on Mentor Ave in Mentor? Nice. I loved the library! I sure miss Cleveland. There are so many cultural sites of interest there.
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Thank you for the history lesson. Yes LakeView is a wonderful place to visit. I've been there many times. In the summer its a nice place to have a picnic. I've been to many Dead Shows but this one is one of my favorite. FYI the only MLB player to ever be killed with a baseball is also there. JDR is still making money. There are always coins being left on his head stone. I guess he couldn't take all that money with him but its still building interest.
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Great post I must say.. Simple but yet entertaining and engaging.. Keep up the good work!
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