The last U.S. president born in a frontier log cabin, James Garfield worked his way through school as a carpenter to become a professor of ancient languages and literature. He was also an ordained minister, served with distinction in The Civil War, and was a U.S. Congressman for 17 years.

Because Garfield campaigned for the presidency from his own front porch, the property was christened "Lawnfield" by the press who camped out on his farmland! The Victorian mansion had modern gas lighting, and 30 rooms with plenty of space for his wife, their seven children, and his mother.

Only four months in office, President Garfield was shot by a vindictive office-seeker. He lingered for several weeks, but ultimately died of a lethal infection from the non-sterile instruments used to locate the bullet.