Legislator Details
Portrait of Charles William Garfield scanned from Men of Progress p.235.
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Alice I. Rockwell, 1/6/1876, in Jackson, MI ; children: adopted dau. Deborah (Decker)married Jessie Robertson Smith, dau. of Anne Smith and Thomas Smith, (installed the gas system in Grand Rapids), 11/24/1897
Number of Children: 1
Background
Education:
common schools in Paris Township, MI;, graduated from State Agricultural College in 1870.
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Samuel Marshall. and Harriet E. (Brown) Garfield . The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1858, settling upon Burton Farm, just south of the city. Charles William worked upon the farm summers, attended school during the winters. He taught school several years in his own and adjoining districts, and entered the State Agricultural College as a sophomore in 1868. He entered horticulture as an occupation, spending a year as an apprentice with the firm of Storrs & Harrison, Painesville, Ohio. His first business was growing nursery stock, which proved to be a disaster, owing to the unprecedented severity of the winter of 1872-3. He was offered a position of foreman of the gardens at the Agricultural College, and soon thereafter was elected secretary of the State Horticultural Society. He then took on 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. He was secretary of the American Pomological Society for some years and chairman of the executive committee. He was president of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank, and director in a number of business organizations at Grand Rapids. He was appointed a member of the Michigan Forestry Commission, and was subsequently elected president of the Commission. He wa a prominent figure in the origins of conservation and management of Michigan's forests.
Notable Facts:
He was one of the leading persons in the organization of the American Park and Outdoor Art Association. Strong advocate for the creation of public parks in Grand Rapids.
Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Buried in GARFIELD PARK (Burton St. & Madison Ave.), west of the Lodge, in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI, on land he donated to the City.