2 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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 woric. 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 sick- 

 nesses. 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 admir- 

 able and unexcelled in management of the practical details of household work, 

 Mrs. Garfield was one of the gentlest of women. No visitor to Burton fai*m 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 renom- 

 ination 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 yellows law in important particulars; providing for compulsoi-y 

 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 

 m'ade 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 Burton farm, Mr. Garfield has become concerned in a number 

 of business enterprises of Grand Rapids, and has been highly successful in partici- 

 pation 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 und 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 fruit- 

 grower, 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. Gar- 

 field became a member of the executive committee of the society, and remained 



