DEATH CLAIMS CHARLES W. GARFIELD

MOST BELOVED G.R. CITIZEN GOES TO REST

FATHER OF PLAYGROUNDS WAS FRIEND OF YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE

SIMPLE FUNERAL RITES TO BE HELD TUESDAY

ASHES WILL BE PLACED BENEATH A FAVORITE TREE HE PLANTED IN PARK YEARS AGO

CHARLES W. GARFIELD, 86, probably Grand Rapids' most universally beloved citizen, died shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday morning at Butterworth hospital from heart disease. He had been ill since Wednesday but his condition did not become critical until Saturday when he became unconscious.

Mr. Garfield leaves his wife, who before her marriage, Nov. 24, 1897, was MISS JESSIE ROBERTSON SMITH of Scotland; one daughter, DEBORAH, wife of PROF. A.J. DECKER of the University of Michigan, and a resident of Ann Arbor; and one sister, MRS. JOHN WALKER of Muskegon.

Though Mr. Garfield was a well know horticulturist and forestry expert and a successful business man, a former secretary of the American Pomological society and of the Michigan State Horticultural society, and for decades a prominent banker here, he was even better known as good citizen and philanthropist than he was as scientist and business man.

OWE PLAYGROUNDS TO HIM

Children in Grand Rapids playgrounds owe their wholesome pleasure there to a movement he started and the beauty of Grand Rapids parks gained much by his dedication of himself and his knowledge to public service.

He started, with a University of Michigan professor, the first reforestation project in Michigan. He was deeply loyal to Grand Rapids and a champion of good government for the city he loved. In all his undertakings he planted friendships and in his old age he was beloved by thousands. Children and young people were as deeply attached to him as were his few surviving contemporaries.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon at Park Congregational church, Dr. Edward Archibald Thompson, pastor of the church, officiating. A quartet from Park church choir will sing and Albert McConnell will be at the organ.

NO HONORARY BEARERS

Pall bearers will be old and intimate friends of Mr. Garfield's: Dean Eugene Davenport, dean emeritus of agriculture at the University of Illinois, and like Mr. Garfield an alumnus of Michigan State college; Prof. Thomas Gunson, professor emeritus of horiculture at Michigan State college. And John B. Martin, Fred R. Jean, William E. Tallmadge and Clav H. Hollister.

There will be no honorary pallbearers, for Mr. Garfield's friendship and love for all Grand Rapids was too inclusive to make any selection possible.

"Every citizen of Grand Rapids may consider himself an honorary pall bearer." Gilbert L. Daane, chairman of the board of the Peoples National Bank and intimately associated with Mr. Garfield for years, said last night.

SERVICE TO BE SIMPLE

The service, in keeping with Mr. Garfield's democratic character, will be very simple.

The body will lie in state at the church from 1:30 to 3:30 Tuesday preceding the service.

Directors of the Peoples National bank will act as ushers during the service and as attendants during the period the body lies in state.

The Rotary club will attend the funeral in a body, John A. Collins, president, said yesterday.

The final disposal of Mr. Garfield's body will be in accordance with arrangement he himself made some years ago. It will be one of poetic beauty and appropriateness for a man who all his life loved trees, planted them and cherished them, and cherished, too, children and their happiness.

ASHES TO REST UNDER TREE

His body, by his own request, will be cremated, the ashes placed in an urn and the urn buried at the foot of a favorite tree near the lodge in Garfield park. The tree located on land he donated to the city, is one he planted many years ago and watched grow to beautiful maturity. Children play under it now and at its foot Mr. Garfield desired that his earthly remains should rest.

Following the funeral on Tuesday the body will be sent to Detroit for cremation. When the ashes are returned a very short service, for the family only, will be held in Garfield park and the ashes will be consigned to the earth beneath the tree he chose.

The permission of city authorities for this burial was obtained by Mr. Garfield years ago and all arrangements for it made.

BORN IN LOG CABIN

CHARLES W. GARFIELD was born March 14, 1848, in a log cabin in Wauwatosa, Wis. The first 10 years of his life was spent there on a farm on the bank of the Menominee river. His father, SAMUEL MARSHALL GARFIELD, was superintendent of a saw mill as well as a farmer.

One of Charles Garfield's earliest memories was of a tree he helped to plant at his Wisconsin home. The tree was a sugar locust set in the front yard, and he, then 3 years old, was allowed to hold the tree in place while his father shoveled the dirt around it and his mother wielded the watering pot.

Just before the family moved to Michigan in 1858 the mother planted five sugar maple saplings for her five sons, one tree named for each. In 1924 when a civic banquet was held here in Mr. Garfield's honor, it was remarked that Mr. Garfield's tree alone still stood, his brothers were dead, and their trees, too, had perished.

HERE AT AGE OF 10

When Charles was 10 years old the family moved here and settled in Paris township, the farm was a portion of the 320-acre tract that BARNEY BURTON, pioneer settler, acquired from the government in President Jackson's administration.

Mr. Garfield liked to recall that on his way here from Wisconsin he was called on to pay tribute to a tree. The family came by stage coach from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids and near Martin the driver invited all the occupants to get out and see "the biggest walnut in Michigan." The tree as Mr. Garfield recalled it, was 10 feet in diameter.

Charles' father said, "Take off your hat, son, to this noble tree." and the little boy gladly obeyed.

After the family settled here a favorite jaunt with father and son was a trip to the pine woods south of town owned by the Kellogg brothers. The father would take the lad to the center of the woods and say, "Charlie, listen to the wind in the pines, and consider what a wonderful growth this is. Don't you feel that this is holy ground and that we ought to be eternally grateful for these great works made for our pleasure and use?"

MARKER AT HIS SCHOOL

Charles Garfield attended Paris township school No. 1. This school, which originally stood at the corner of Eastern ave. and Burton st., became known as the Seymour school. Mr. Garfield was a pupil and later a teacher there. A marker with an inscription in his honor was placed on the site of the old school in Seymour square in 1932 and a community celebration held in Mr. Garfield's honor.

Charles Garfield taught Seymour school in 1866 and 1867, when he was himself under 20 years. He did not graduate from high school but was tutored by Supt. A.J. Daniels and was able to enter Michigan Agricultural college, now Michigan State college, as a sophomore in 1868. He specialized in geology, planning to be a teacher.

He graduated with honors but his health was at that time poor and he gave up his plans for teaching and determined upon an outdoor life.

NOTED HORTICULTURIST

He chose horticulture for his vocation and in 1871 entered an apprenticeship with STORRS & HARRISON, nursery man of Painesville, O. In 1872, he started a nursery business of his own on a 60-acre farm near Reeds lake. But the winter of 1873-74 brought him misfortune; his nursery stock was destroyed when the temperature fell on three occasions to 25 or more below zero, once, it is said, to 40 below.

Disappointed in his first venture in business and with debts on his hands to settle the young man accepted a position as foremen of the gardens at the agricultural college in 1874, which position held held until 1878. During part of this time he was also a teacher at the college. Death of his father led him to return to the farm here.

In 1876 he was elected first secretary of the Michigan State Horticultural society, which he had helped to form; he continue in this position 12 years.

In the middle seventies he was chosen by William E. Quimby, publisher of the Detroit Free Press, to start a farm department in that newspaper. He gave much of his time at this period to the State Horticultural society and he was also helpful in organizing farmers' institutes.

ADVERTISED STATE'S FRUIT

He probably was one of the first men in the state to conceive the idea of advertising Michigan fruit; he carried on an extensive campaign, placing Michigan fruit exhibits wherever possible.

His work gained him such prominence that he was urged to accept a chair of horticulture at Cornell and other universities. He refused these offers because of his desire to be near his mother and continue his work in Michigan.

He was secretary of the American Pomological society for several years during the early 80's.

During this time, too, he was active in public service. He was a member of the state legislature in the session of 1881, and was a member of the state board of agriculture for 12 years. In 1881 he offered the joint resolution which provided for the recognition of ARBOR DAY in this state.

STATE FOREST PIONEER

In the same session Mr. Garfield introduced the first measure ever proposed in Michigan for a forest domain for the state. Had the measure been passed, Michigan would have had a state forest reserve at bargain prices, for Mr. Garfield had made a survey of the situation and was able to report that 16 townships in Roscommon and Crawford counties could be bought for state forestry purposes for only $100,000.

The measure was defeated and not until the administration of Gov. Pingree was a law passed for the establishment of a forestry commission. Mr. Garfield was the first president of this commission and continued in this office until the commission was merged with the public domain commission. The first work of the commission was to establish forestry courses at the University of Michigan and at the agricultural college.

With the late Prof. Roth of the University of Michigan, Mr. Garfield established the first forest nursery in the state in 1901; soon after Prof. Roth and he directed the first reforestation of cut-over lands in Roscommon county.

HONORED BY ALMA MATER

He was for some years president of the Michigan Forestry association.

Mr. Garfield was one of the most loved alumni of Michigan State college; at the time of his death he was honorary president of the Alumni association. He was for some years a trustee of the college. In 1917 his alma mater conferred on him the degree of doctor of laws.

He wrote extensively on horticulture, forestry, and on civic and welfare subjects. As secretary of the Michigan State Horticultural society he issued 10 volumes and as president of the Forestry commission published four volumes.

BANKER SINCE 1886

Mr. Garfield's father was one of the organizers of the Grand Rapids Savings bank and in 1886 Charles W. Garfield became a director of the bank and served in various capacities, being elected president in 1893 and served until August 13, 1912, when on his resignation he was succeeded by the late Senator William Alden Smith. Mr. Garfield became chairman of the board and in 1917 chairman of the executive committee.

When the Peoples National bank was organized he became a director and member of the executive committee.

An unusual feature of Mr. Garfield's connection with the Grand Rapids Savings bank was his weekly talks to the staff on topics of general interest and inspiration. He began these talks when the institution was so small that the whole staff numbered but 10 and continued the custom even when the bank grew so large that is was the weekly conference of branch managers he addressed and not the clerks. His talks were printed and were read with interest by many outside bank circles.

FATHER OF MUSEUM

Mr. Garfield's service to Grand Rapids extended from youth to old age. When he was in high school he helped to organize a club called the Grand Rapids Scientific club which later took the name of the Kent institute. In 1868 this organization amalgamated with another scientific organization here to become the Kent Scientific institute, which later became the Kent Scientific museum.

Mr. Garfield was a pioneer in the playground movement. In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Garfield and Mr. Garfield's cousin, JULIA L. FLETCHER, gave to the city 25 acres at Burton st. and Madison ave., the original portion of the present GARFIELD-FLETCHER PARK and PLAYGROUND. Later Mr. and Mrs. Garfield gave 8 acres adjoining and afterward donated six acres across Jefferson drive, known as BURTON WOOD. Mr. Garfield had years earlier commenced an experiment in reforestation from seed of 10 varieties of native trees here.

PLAYGROUNDS FOR ALL

Adopting the slogan of the playground movement, "a playground within half a mile of every child" for Grand Rapids, the group working for playgrounds here continued until that goal was actually achieved.

Mr. Garfield was one of the organizers of the Grand Rapids Park and Boulevard association.

Mr. Garfield's work for playgrounds so deeply impressed Ida M. Tarbell, student of economic and social conditions, when she visited this city in 1912 that in the "American" magazine she later described him as Grand Rapids' "first citizen."

In his own opinion, it was said, Mr. Garfield held that the most effective work he ever did for Grand Rapids was when as a member of the old board of trade he helped reorganize the committee on municipal affairs. As a result of this organization he induced the most influential men in the city to take an active part in the movement for a cleaner, healthier, better governed and more beautiful city.

STARTED CITIZENS' LEAGUE

He called the first meeting for the organization of the old Grand Rapids Citizens league, which continued for some years after the adoption of the commission-manager form of government.

Mr. Garfield was appointed a member of the city planning commission when it was organized, and was chairman of this body for many years.

Mr. Garfield's interest in public affairs never waned. In the hotly contested city campaign of 1934 he held an honorary post in the Better Government league, and though unable to attend their meetings, sent them a cordial greeting on the occasion of their most important public mass meeting.

Mr. Garfield was extremely fond of young people. It is said that the time was rare when he was not helping at least one young person through college. When the present Alger school was built near the site of the old Seymour school which he had attended and where he had taught, he at once "adopted" this school, visited it frequently, took keen interest in its projects, advised on school gardens, gave relics to the little pioneer museum the children set up and was friend to them all.

The sight of Mr. and Mrs. Garfield driving into the school yard was a signal for general rejoicing among the pupils.

Mr. Garfield was active during some years of his life in All Souls Universalist church, where he was for 16 years superintendent of the Sunday school. He later became associated with Park Congregational church.

RAISED OWN TREES

Mr. Garfield spent a green old age in a home which stood on part of the land of the original homestead. He busied himself in gardening and the towering trees in which his home was bowered were a source of justifiable pride to him. With the exception of two trees, he had raised from seed every tree on the place. Most of them were large as old forest trees.

Mr. Garfield was honored repeatedly by his neighbors and fellow citizens, most formally in a great civic banquet in 1924. His advice was sought on many matters and he retained all his youthful interest in the welfare of his city and state.

"HAPPY OLD AGE"

When he was in his 86th year he told a reporter that he had tried all his life to prepare for a happy old age. His recipe was less grave than the advice of many octogenarians. "Play all your life," he said, and then went on to explain that he, the horticulturist, the public-spirited banker, the industrious servant of good causes in public and private life had "played" all his days. All his occupations he had enjoyed, he said; in old age his vocations and avocations still made his life full of interest. They were "play," said the smiling old philosopher.

GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Sept. 10, 1934, Pg. 1, Col. 8, Art. 1 & Pg. 3, Cols. 3-8

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LAST PUBLIC WORD WAS TO CHILDREN OF ADOPTED SCHOOL

"I'm going to keep right on till Gabriel blows his horn." Charles W. Garfield told the children of Alger school last June in what was probably his last public word. Alger school, which stood on the site of the old Seymour school he once attended, was "adopted" by him when it was build eight years ago. He helped the children plant the school garden, start a tree nursery and do some landscaping of the grounds.

Last June the first class to enter the building as kindergarteners held their closing assembly. They invited him as honor guest and presented him with a bouquet of peonies from plants he had helped them set out on the school grounds, years before.

His response was the valiant promise quoted above.

Grief for Mr. Garfield will cloud the opening of Alger school today, the principal, Miss Bertha Greenbaum, said last night.

"The children revered him," she said. Discipline problems in Alger could be settled by saying, "I wonder what Mr. Garfield would think."

GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Sept. 10, 1934, Pg. 3, Col. 6, Art. 1

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FRIENDS, OLD AND NEW, UNITE IN TRIBUTES TO C.W. GARFIELD

Affection, grief, and deep appreciation of all that CHARLES W. GARFIELD has meant to Grand Rapids were mingled in the comments of his friends and associates on his passing yesterday.

Old residents and recent comers to the city united in these expressions, for, as one new resident of the city remarked last night, "It was impossible to live in Grand Rapids a year and not know Mr. Garfield."

MAYOR WILLIAM TIMMERS: Charles W. Garfield was one of the grandest citizens a city could have. He was an inspiration to every one interested in good government. To know him was a course in civic spirit and high ideals. He was a man whom it will be exceedingly difficult to replace in our community life.

GEORGE M. AMES, city planning commission: My acquaintance with Mr. Garfield had its origin more than 45 years ago. He was teacher of an adult class in the Universalist church. That acquaintance begun there has continued to the present time. Among the activities in which I have been associated with him were the Citizens' league, the Grand Rapids Park and Boulevard association and the city planning department.

I know no one in the city who has been so active in civic betterment organizations, many of which owed to his enthusiasm the force that started them on their career. He was not content merely to point out a need, but always carried the major part of the load by being the directing force in any movement to meet that need. His place will never be filled.

REV. EDWARD ARCHIBALD THOMPSON, pastor Park Congregational church: Mr. Garfield was among the first to greet me when I came to Park church one year ago. I can never forget his cordial welcome, his friendly smile and the enthusiasm with which he spoke about his church and its members. During this year he has has been one of the greatest sources of inspiration to me that [I] have ever known in all my church experience.

His church meant much to him and he meant even more to the church. We could always count on him. He had high ideals, broad vision and progressive ideas. He was a man of rare good judgment, because his decisions were based on love and not on selfish prejudice. A long time friend said recently, Grand Rapids has never had a sweeter soul than 'Charlie' Garfield.

LESLIE A. BUTLER, superintendent, Grand Rapids schools: The passing of Mr. Charles W. Garfield is a distinct loss to every true citizen of Grand Rapids. He has always been much interested in all the schools of the city, and during the past eight years especially interested in the activities of students of Alger school. Only last June, with Mrs. Garfield, he attended honor exercises at Alger.

At that time he was the recipient of tributes by the students. Mr. Garfield's beautiful and inspiring response to us now proves to have been prophetic of the approaching close of a great and good life. To the thousands who were so fortunate as to know Mr. Garfield, thoughts of him will ever be a benediction.

CLAY H. HOLLISTER, president, Old Kent bank: It seems to me that Charles W. Garfield stands as a glorious example of the value of giving in time, thought and money to the community in which he dwelt.

G.L. DAANE, chairman of the board, Peoples National bank: Mr. Garfield had the most well-rounded life of anyone with whom I have ever come in contact. He lived the fullest life I have ever known and the one which was of most benefit to the greatest number of people.

DR. JAMES W. FIFIELD, JR., pastor East Congregational church, in his morning sermon yesterday: Charles W. Garfield's life was more eloquent than any words that may be said of him. Though he died in comparatively modest circumstances, yet he died rich. Indeed, his life says more on my subject (a plea for active enlistment in the cause of religious and civic advance) than anything I could possibly say.

REV. MILTON M. M'GORRILL, pastor, Fountain Street Baptist church: Mr. Garfield was a beautiful character. I have only been here a year but no one could live here a year and not know Mr. Garfield.

W.H. ANDERSON, banker and farmer: Charles Garfield and I have been friends for 50 years away back to the days when toll roads were still being operated. We built and operated several together. Our friendship together has always been of the closest. He lived to be 86 years old and this is a good long life, but we would have been glad if he could have lived to be 100. He was one of the most loyal and substantial citizens Grand Rapids had.

JOHN A. COLLINS, president, Grand Rapids Rotary club; mayor, East Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids Rotary club has always esteemed Charles Garfield as one of our leading citizens. Generous in his contributions of time and money to every project that was conducive to civic progress.

GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Mich., Mon., Sept. 10, 1934, Pg. 1, Cols. 6-7 & Pg. 3, Col. 2

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ASHES OF GARFIELD BURIED UNDER TREE THAT HONORED HIM

An urn holding the ashes of Charles W. Garfield, civic leader, who died last Sunday, was buried Friday in Garfield park, beneath a tree which Boy Scouts had planted several years ago in Mr. Garfield's honor.

Only members of the family were present at simple ceremonies accompanying the burial. Rev. Edward A. Thompson of Park Congregational church offered prayer.

'The body was cremated in Detroit following funeral services Tuesday. The burial was according to plans made by Mr. Garfield several years before his death.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Sat., Sept. 15, 1934, Pg. 1, Col. 6, Art. 4 (Ashes of Garfield Buried Under Tree That Honored Him)

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Below are BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES written on CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD in 1881, 1895, 1900, 1915 and 1922, respectively,...each adding knowledge and a different perspective to the progression of his active and deeply engaged life.

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CHARLES W. GARFIELD was born in Wauwaukee, Wis., Mar. 14, 1848. He is son of SAMUEL M. and HARRIET E. (BROWN) GARFIELD. He accompanied his parents to Kent county in 1858, and passed the next seven years of his life in alternate farm labor and study, and at 17 years of age entered upon the duties of teaching, which he designed as a profession. He taught school four terms, and attended the High School at Grand Rapids a year, meanwhile working on the farm at intervals, until the spring of 1868, when he entered the Agricultural College and completed a course of study, graduating in November, 1870. Uncertain health precluded the pursuit of teaching, and he turned his attention to practical horticulture, and spent a year with the nursery firm of Storrs, Harrison & Co., of Painesville, 0. On his return to Grand Rapids he engaged in the same enterprise, as a member of the firm of ROCKWELL & GARFIELD, a relation which terminated in 1873, owing to the disastrous cold of the previous winter. Mr. Garfield accepted a call to a position in the Horticultural Department of the Agricultural College, where he remained till late in the year 1877. He had charge of the Farm Department of the Detroit Free Press four years. In 1876 he was elected Secretary of the State Horticultural Society, in which position he has since been, and is still, acting. He has published four complete and most satisfactory volumes of the transactions of the society, and is completing a fifth. His home is most pleasantly situated three miles from Grand Rapids. He is a studious, scholarly man, seeking no eminence in public affairs; but in 1880 he received the nomination for Representative of his district as the Republican candidate. He received 2,412 against 1,958 for William P. Whitney, Fusion candidate.

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN (Illustrated), Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago, 1881, Pgs. 1296 & 1299 (Paris Township - Biographical Sketch of CHARLES W. GARFIELD)

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CHARLES W. GARFIELD – A Biographical Sketch

While Michigan may not claim honor as the natal state of CHARLES W. GARFIELD, she can proudly claim credit that it was upon her soil, under her skies, and within the influence of her institutions he developed, and that as one of her citizens he has accomplished good works which have more than repaid to her all his obligations.

His birthplace was near Milwaukee, and the date of beginning of his earth life was March 14, 1848. His father was S. MARSHALL GARFIELD, who followed in Wisconsin the business of farmer and lumberman. In 1858 he removed to Grand Rapids and purchased the Burton farm, one of the first tracts of land cultivated in that vicinity. It was two or three miles south of the town, but now the city has extended to the very doors of the charming old homestead, and part of the farm has been changed to city lots.

There was spent the boyhood of Charles W. Garfield, and there he lives today, and there he has lived nearly all the intervening time. After he reached his 10th year his labor was required on the farm and his attendance at school was limited to the winter seasons. He was not content, however, to accept these conditions as the limits of his education, but studied with entry to college in view, although prospects of achieving this were far from hopeful. They were rendered the more uncertain by his lack of bodily strength, a hindrance which, though it has not prevented his doing a very great amount of useful labor, has made the doing a constant menace to his life, and on several occasions he has almost passed time's boundary, only to be again restored to the companionship of devoted friends.

At the age of 20, Mr. Garfield entered the sophomore class of Michigan Agricultural college, and two years later completed the course. He was attracted by the opportunity this college offered for outdoor work in connection with study, and because that work was concerned with horticulture, for he had already become an ardent lover of the orchard and garden. The annuals of the college will always bear evidence of his participation in the work of its earlier years, and its campus and orchards will long contain portions of his planting and adornment.

His first business venture was the publication of an educational paper, the Common School Journal, which failed because he made it too good for its subscription price; and his next effort, a nursery business in connection with S.S. ROCKWELL, was ruined by the severe winter of 1872-73, which immediately followed its establishment. Mr. Garfield then, in 1873, became foreman of the gardens of the Agricultural college, so continuing until 1876, using his income to liquidate the debts incurred in his unfortunate venture in tree growing. Meanwhile he became agricultural editor of the Detroit Free Press showing great aptitude for this branch of newspaper work. In 1877, his father having died, he removed to Burton farm and engaged directly in its management.

During the time of his employment at the Agricultural college, Mr. Garfield married MISS ALICE ROCKWELL, a daughter of his former partner. Although no children blessed their union, they led an ideal life in a model home until her death several years ago. At this time, too, Mr. Garfield endured one of his severe sicknesses. It was long uncertain which would be taken, and doubtful if either would recover. It was only by the utmost care that the survivor was slowly brought back to health, a summer in Europe contributing much to that end. While admirable and unexcelled in management of the practical details of household work, Mrs. Garfield was one of the gentlest of women. No visitor to Burton farm during her residence there could ever lose the impression he received of the superiority of her mind, and the sweetness and purity of her life.

While concerned in many ways with public affairs, Mr. Garfield has but once held political office. He was elected in 1879 to the state house of representatives, as a Republican, succeeding to the seat held by his father, but he declined renomination in 1881. During his legislative term he secured the enactment of a number of bills of value to farmers and fruitgrowers, besides giving painstaking attention to the general work of the session. Among these were measures establishing Arbor day; amending the yellow law in important particulars; providing for compulsory planting of trees in public highways at public expense, and the laws providing for the annual state crop reports. He also secured the appropriation by which was made an exhibit of fruits at the Boston meeting of the American Pomological society, in 1881. Mr. Garfield was appointed to the state board of agriculture in 1887, and has remained in office to the present time, doing much to improve the Agricultural college and extend the usefulness of the school which from the days of his entry to it has been an object of his deep regard.

Since returning to the Burton farm, Mr. Garfield has become concerned in a number of business enterprises of Grand Rapids, and has been highly successful in participation in or management of them. His chief interest at present is the Grand Rapids Savings bank, of which he has for several years been president. He has been actively useful, too, in social and religious work. The city contains today few men more prominent in its affairs or more highly regarded for personal merit.

Mr. Garfield's work in horticulture is familiar to nearly every Michigan fruitgrower, and our pomologists are as appreciative of its quality as they are aware of its quantity. His official connection with the Michigan State Horticultural society began in December, 1874, when he was elected its secretary. This position he held until June, 1888, when failing health compelled his retirement. At the same time he was obliged to relinquish the secretaryship of the American Pomological society, a position to which he had been chosen a short time before, and in which he had hoped for activity and usefulness in a wider field. Next to President Lyon, no one has contributed so much to the society's prestige and success as Mr. Garfield. He gave it life and strength, and in a hundred ways directed its energies to both the advancement of Michigan horticulture at home and its fame abroad. The membership of the society rapidly increased; its meetings became largely attended; its programmes models of their kind; the fame of the society spread even beyond the bounds of the United States, and his annual reports were acknowledged to be standard authorities in horticulture. After his retirement as secretary, Mr. Garfield became a member of the executive committee of the society, and remained such until 1895, when his pressing business engagements necessitated his resignation. But with this did not go his interest in the society and its work.

Mr. Garfield's prominence in horticulture caused several offers to him of collegiate professorships, but these were declined. He has, however, done much as a lecturer before college classes and farmers' institutes, in the latter work being frequently engaged in other states than Michigan. Two years ago it was largely by his influence that an increased appropriation was made for farmers' institutes in Michigan, and to the success of the meetings so provided for he has very largely contributed. No appeal to him passes unheeded which has for its object the elevation and advancement of rural life, to the refinement and popularizing of which he has devoted all his mature years.

The writer could not speak his esteem for Mr. Garfield as a man without use of such terms as would cause suspicion of the bias of intimate friendship, resulting perhaps in harm rather than good to the object of his admiration. While I know him otherwise, and in the delights of close companionship, I know him also, as do so many others, as one of the most genial, frank, honorable, and lovable of men, and as one

" Who breaks his birth's invidious bar,
And grasps the skirts of happy chance,
And breasts the blows of circumstance,
And grapples with his evil star."

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT of the SECRETARY of the STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY of MICHIGAN, 1895, Robert Smith Printing Co., State Printers and Binders, Lansing, 1896, Pgs. 1-3 (Biographical Sketch of CHARLES W. GARFIELD with Inscribed Frontispiece Photo Illustration of Mr. Garfield)

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CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD was born in Wauwatosa, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 14, 1848. His father, SAMUEL M. GARFIELD, having emigrated from Genesee County, New York, about 1840. His mother, HARRIET E. BROWN, was born in New Hampshire, very near the original home of the Garfield family. The Garfields moved from Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1858, settling upon Burton Farm, just south of the city.

The subjects of our sketch worked upon the farm summers, attended school during the winters, practically completing the High School course when he had reached the age of 18. He taught school several years in his own and adjoining districts, and entered the State Agricultural College as a sophomore in 1868. He paid his expenses in College largely by teaching school, completing the course in 1870.

Owing to greatly impaired health, his plan of life was entirely changed, and he entered horticulture as an occupation, spending a year as an apprentice with the firm of Storrs & Harrison, Painesville, Ohio. His first business enterprise was in growing nursery stock, which proved to be a disaster, owing to the unprecedented severity of the winter of 1872-3, which practically destroyed his stock, leaving him in debt for quite a large amount. He was offered a position of foreman of the gardens at the Agricultural College, on a small salary, which he accepted, and soon thereafter was elected secretary of the State Horticultural Society. To these two branches of labor was added a third, the management of the Farm Department of the Detroit Free Press. These positions he held until the death of his father, after which he returned to the old homestead in the autumn of 1877, which he made his permanent home. He continued as secretary of the State Horticultural Society until 1885, when failing health compelled him to retire from this work. During these years many temptations to enter the educational field were presented, but he was loyal to his chosen occupation of horticulture, and became an authority upon matters of fruit growing and gardening. He was secretary of the American Pomological Society for some years, but was compelled to retire from this work on account of his health. He is still chairman of the executive committee of this organization. For twelve years he was a member of the governing board of the State Agricultural College, and has been prominently identified with many organizations devoted to rural affairs in his own state, and in the nation. At the date of this writing he is president of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank, and director in a number of business organizations at Grand Rapids. He was identified with the movement which resulted in the magnificent organization of Farmers' Institutes in the state. He was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the American Park and Outdoor Art Association. Under a recent enactment of the Michigan Legislature he was appointed a member of the Michigan Forestry Commission, and was subsequently elected president of the Commission. As a member of the Legislature of 1881 he rendered valuable service in connection with enactments in the interests of rural affairs, and was the originator of Arbor Day, as now celebrated in this state.

His wife is of Scotch parentage, and was the daughter of MR. THOMAS SMITH, who installed the gas system in Grand Rapids at an early day, and was identified with the development of the city as a prominent factor.

Burton Farm, the home of Mr. Garfield, is one of the most attractive places in the suburbs of Grand Rapids, and is especially noted for its wide range of tree growth. It is a successful fruit and truck farm. Mr. Garfield's tastes do not run to making money, but rather to the development of conditions that add to the pleasure of rural life, and the attractiveness of his city.

MEN OF PROGRESS, Embracing Biographical Sketches of Representative Michigan Men, Published by the Evening News Association, Detroit, Mich., 1900, Pg. 235 (Biographical Sketch of CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD, with Photo)

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CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD is one of the men who, through the great resources at his command as a banker and man of affairs, has given effective vitality to the general community life and progress of his home city of Grand Rapids. Probably no citizen has a wider range of useful interest and has touched the life of the city and state at more points and with more practical results.

CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 14, 1848, a son of SAMUEL MARSHALL and HARRIET ELIZA (BROWN) GARFIELD. Most of his life has been spent in Michigan, and in 1870 he graduated Bachelor of Science from the Michigan Agricultural College, and received the degree Master of Science from the same institution in I873. During 1873-77 he remained as a teacher in the faculty of that college, and since that time for nearly forty years has been a farmer, teacher of agriculture, horticulture and forestry and a business man. He is chairman of the board directors of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank, president of the Grand Rapids Stationery Company, director of the Grand Rapids Dry Goods Company, of the Worden Grocer Company, of the Grand Rapids Park and Boulevard Association and of the Preferred Life Insurance Company.

During 1881-82 Mr. Garfield was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. For twelve years he was on the State Board of Agriculture and for nine years was president of the Michigan Forestry Commission. He was for ten years secretary of the Michigan Horticultural Society. He is a trustee of the Michigan Agricultural College, president of the Michigan Forestry Association and of the Grand Rapids Playground Association, is treasurer of the Michigan Civil Service League and a member of the Phi Delta Theta. He is also a member of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce. Mr. Garfield has written extensively on commercial pomology, gardening and farming. As secretary of the Horticultural Society he issued ten volumes, and as president of the forestry commission published four volumes, and is also author of many pamphlets. He is a Republican and a member of the Congregational Church. His office is at 64 Monroe Avenue and his home at 200 Burton Street in Grand Rapids. He was married at Grand Rapids November 24, 1907 [1897], to JESSIE ROBERTSON SMITH, of Scotland.

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN (Illustrated) by Charles Moore, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1915, Vol. IV, Pg. 2255 (Biographical Sketch on CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD)

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GARFIELD, CHARLES WILLIAM, 64 Monroe Ave.; res. 206 Burton St., Southeast, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Banker; b. Milwaukee, Wis., Mar. 14, 1848; s. SAMUEL MARSHALL and HARRIET ELIZA (BROWN) GARFIELD; B.S. 1870, M.S. 1873, LL.D. 1917, Michigan State Agricultural Coll., East Lansing, Mich.; m. Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 24, 1897, JESSIE ROBERTSON SMITH. Instructor Mich. Agricultural Coll. 1873-77; engaged in farming and as teacher of agriculture and forestry; later engaging in banking; chmn. board of dir. Grand Rapids Savings Bank; dir. Grand Rapids Dry Goods Co., Grand Rapids Calendar Co. (pres.), Worden Grocer Co., Corl-Knott Co. Has served on State Board of Agriculture, Michigan Horticultural Soc. (sec. 10 years), Michigan Forestry Commission (pres. 9 years), Grand Rapids Playground Assn.; dir. Grand Rapids Park and Blvd. Assn., etc.; trus. Michigan Agricultural Coll., treas. Michigan Civil Service League; sec. Michigan Horticultural Society 10 years. Member of Grand Rapids Assn. of Commerce. Author of many pamphlets and articles on gardening, farming and pomology. Phi Delta Theta. Republican (member Michigan Legislature 1881-82). Congregationalist.

WHO'S WHO IN FINANCE AND BANKING: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries, 1920-1922, Edited by John William Leonard, Who's Who in Finance, Incorporated, Brooklyn Borough, New York City, 1922, Pgs. 259-260 (Biographical Sketch of CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD)

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Below is a TIME LINE of the life of CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD as shown through official records, documents and newspaper articles. More information will be added as it is uncovered.

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1850 U.S. CENSUS, WAUWATOSA DISTRICT 18, MILWAUKEE CO., WI, 1 August 1850
Garfield, S.M., 34, Farmer, b. NY
Garfield, H.E., 29, b. NH
GARFIELD, C.W., 2, b. WI
Garfield, Loretta, 19, b. NY
Brown, G.W., 26, Farmer, b. NH
Fitzgerald, Daniel, 18, Farmer, b. Canada

1860 U.S. CENSUS, TOWN OF PARIS, KENT CO., MI, 16 June 1860
Garfield, Samuel M., 43, Farmer, b. NY
Garfield, Harriet E., 39, b. NH
GARFIELD, CHARLES W., 12, b. WI
Garfield, Ada E., 3, b. WI
Garfield, Jennie L., 4/12, b. MI
Brown, Elbridge D., 29, Master Carpenter, b. NH

1870 U.S. CENSUS, TOWN OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM CO., MI, 11 August 1870 - STUDENTS of MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
GARFIELD, CHARLES W., 22, At School, b. WI

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JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, MARRIAGE RECORDS (1876), Pg. 64, Record No. 2822 - CHARLES W. GARFIELD & ALICE I. ROCKWELL, married 6 January 1876, in the City of Jackson. CHARLES (Horticulturist), 26, of Lansing, Michigan, b. Milwaukee Co., Wis. ALICE, 19, of Jackson, Michigan, b. Vermontville, Michigan. Married by Geo. T. Fairchild, Minister. Witnesses: S.S. Rockwell, Jackson, MI, & Henry G. Reynolds, Old Mission, MI.

As of 18 February 2013, a digital copy of this record can be viewed at: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12390-89084-75?cc=1452395&wc=990450

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MARRIED:

In Jackson, on the 6th inst., by the Rev. Geo. T. Fairchild of the State Agricultural College, CHAS. W. GARFIELD, of Lansing, and MISS ALICE I. ROCKWELL, of Jackson.

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HYMENEAL. - Our old friend, CHARLES W. GARFIELD, now stationed at the Agricultural college, Lansing, was married at Jackson, yesterday, 6th, to MISS ALICE J. ROCKWELL, of that place. Charley has the warmest congratulations of a large circle of friends in Grand Rapids.

GRAND RAPIDS DAILY EAGLE, Grand Rapids, Mich., Fri., Jan. 7, 1876, Pg. 4, Col. 1

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1880 U.S. CENSUS, PARIS TWP., KENT CO., MI, 5 June 1880
GARFIELD, CHARLES W., 32, Horticulturist, b. WI (Father b. NY / Mother b. NH)
Garfield, Alice R. (Wife), 23, Keeping House, b. IL (Father b. NY / Mother b. MA)

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1894 MICHIGAN STATE CENSUS, PARIS TWP., KENT CO., MI
name: CHAS. GARFIELD
gender: Male
residence: Paris, Kent, Michigan, United States
age: 46
estimated birth year: 1848
census year: 1894
relationship to head of household: Widower
family number: 196
line number: 7
page number: 46
film number: 984658
digital folder number: 004705884
image number: 00117
Household Gender Age
WIDOWER: Chas Garfield M 46
boarder: Amelia Brown F 47
boarder: Ora Follett F 16

"Michigan, State Census, 1894," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHKX-Y6H : accessed 18 Feb 2013), Chas Garfield in household of Chas Garfield, Paris, Kent, Michigan, United States.

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JUST A LITTLE SLY

CHARLES W. GARFIELD SLIPPED AWAY TO DENVER

AND MARRIED MISS JESSIE A. SMITH WHO WAS WAITING THERE

Denver, Nov. 24. - CHARLES W. GARFIELD and MISS JESSIE A. SMITH, both of Grand Rapids, were married at 4 o'clock yesterday at the home of the bride's brother, JOHN R. SMITH. The bride is the daughter of MRS. ANNE SMITH of Grand Rapids, who was present at the wedding, which was celebrated quietly but handsomely. After the serving of a dinner MR. and MRS. GARFIELD left for Colorado Springs, and after spending a few days there they will go to Washington city to remain until Jan. 1, when they will go to their future home in Grand Rapids. Mr. Garfield is the president of the Grand Rapids Savings bank and is otherwise prominently connected with the business and social interests of that city.

THE DEMOCRAT, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thurs., Nov. 25, 1897, Pg. 3, Col. 3, Art. 2

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CHARLES W. GARFIELD IS STRUCK BY AN AUTO

Alighting from a jitney at Division avenue and Burton street, S., CHARLES W. GARFIELD, chairman of the board of directors of the Grand Rapids Savings bank and father of Grand Rapids' playground system, was run down by an automobile and thrown with great force to the pavement.

His left shoulder and left arm were badly scratched and bruised, but no bones were broken. He was taken to his residence at 200 Burton street, S.E., where medical attention was given him. Mr. Garfield was reported feeling better Tuesday morning, although he is suffering pain from the bruises.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Jul. 3, 1917, Pg. 2, Col. 5, Art. 3

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URGES CITY DEVELOP ARBORETUM IN MEMORY OF GARFIELD

MAY BE IN WEST SECTION OF PARK

SPECIAL COMMITTEE POINTS OUT CIVIC LEADER PLANNED BOTANICAL GARDEN.

A living memorial in the development of an arboretum is to be recommended to the city commission by the special committee in tribute to the lifelong devotion of the late CHARLES W. GARFIELD, civic leader and one of the founders of the present park and planning systems.

SAMUEL H. RANCK, chairman of the Garfield memorial committee, has informed Mayor William Timmers his group is ready to report and will appear before the city commission, meeting as a committee of the whole, Thursday afternoon.

GARFIELD PLANNED GARDEN.

The memorial recommended would be developed directly west of GARFIELD-FLETCHER PARK, donated by MR. and MRS. GARFIELD and JULIA L. FLETCHER in 1906. Later the Garfields donated an additional 5.95 acres to the west of the original tract. Garfield had planned to develop the western section into a botanical garden of trees and shrubs to be cultivated for scientific and educational purposes for the community.

Details of the plan, which have been evolved under the direction of EUGENE GOEBEL, landscape architect, will be outlined before the committee meeting, the mayor said. The arboretum will require but a comparatively small cost to the city and will be a fitting memorial to a civic leader who devoted his long career to natural developments and who had intended to develop the project himself for his fellow citizens, the mayor said.

Members of the memorial committee who gave their time to the plan in addition to Chairman Ranck are LESLIE W. BUTLER, E.A. STOWE and THEODORE O. WILLIAMS. The late GEORGE M. AMES, for many years a close worker with Garfield in community affairs and natural development and who succeeded Garfield as planning commission chairman, also was a member until his recent death.

THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Feb. 19, 1935, Pg. 15, Art. 1

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Collections of the Work and Writings of CHARLES W. GARFIELD, and their Locations.

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BENTLEY HISTORICAL LIBRARY - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
(Conservation and Environmentalism Movements in Michigan)

Garfield, Charles William

Charles W. Garfield papers, 1899-1929.
50 items and 1 vol.

Charles W. Garfield served as president of the Michigan Forestry Commission and was also a member of the State Board of Agriculture. Garfield was concerned with the preservation of Michigan's timber resources. The collection details his involvement both to conserve timber resources, as well as to forest and reforest portions of the state in his leading role at the Michigan Forestry Commission. Correspondence in the collection reveals Garfield's professional relationships with prominent conservationists and environmentalists of the early decades of the 1900s: Julius C. Burrows, Burke A. Hinsdale, Alfred C. Lane, William B. Mershon, Gifford Pinchot, Hazen S. Pingree, Filibert Roth, and Volney M. Spalding.

Correspondence dealing with the Michigan Forestry Association and conservation and forestation in Michigan; eight drafts of speeches or articles on forestry and conservation, probably written by Garfield; biographical sketch of Garfield; and letter book, 1900-1903, of the Michigan Forestry Commission.

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'Find A Grave' Memorial of DEBORAH GARFIELD DECKER (1877-1972), adopted daughter of CHARLES W. GARFIELD.

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KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN, MARRIAGE RECORDS (1905), Pg. 217, Record No. 7699 - ARTHUR J. DECKER & DEBORAH GARFIELD, married 27 December 1905, in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Mich., by Geo. E. Cooley, Minister. Witnesses: Lena L. Brown, Grand Rapids & Ralph R. Tinkham, Ann Arbor. ARTHUR (Civil Eng.), 25, of Columbus, O., b. in Detroit, Mich., son of LEROY DECKER & IDA HAYES. DEBORAH, 28, of Grand Rapids, b. in Casco, Mich., dau. of A. FOLLETT & AMELIA BROWN. Neither Arthur or Deborah had previously been married.

As of 19 February 2013, one can view a digital copy of this marriage record at: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11766-190151-74?cc=1452395&wc=990520

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