On this day 133 years ago-September 26, 1881-President James A. Garfields funeral was held in Cleveland, Ohio. President Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881 and lingered for 80 days. Most of that time was spent in the White House, but his physicians approved moving him to the seashore at Elberon, New Jersey in early September in hopes the sea air would improve his condition. He died there on September 19, and his body was then returned to Washington, D.C., where he lay in state in the United States Capitol before being taken via train to Cleveland for burial. The Presidents funeral (top) took place on Public Square in downtown Cleveland, where hundreds of thousands of people were in attendance. He was then taken to Lake View Cemetery for internment. He was interred in a temporary location while the beautiful Garfield Monument was constructed over the next nine years. The Monument (interior seen at bottom) was dedicated on May 30, 1890, and President Garfields remains were moved into it. Lucretia Garfields remains were placed next to his following her death on March 13, 1918. The ashes of their daugher, Mollie, and her husband, Joseph Stanley-Brown (who had once been James A. Garfields personal secretary) are also in the Monument today.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:00:00 +0000
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