Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph (1832-1918), was the wife of James A. Garfield, who served as president of the United States in 1881. Her time as an active first lady was brief. She became first lady when her husband was inaugurated in March 1881. In May, she became seriously ill with malaria and could not carry out her first lady duties. In July, while she was recovering, President Garfield was shot by an assassin. He died in September.
Mrs. Garfield, whose maiden name was Lucretia Rudolph, was born in Hiram, Ohio, on April 19, 1832. She was nicknamed “Crete” because of her first name. Lucretia was a studious child. She attended Geauga Seminary, a Baptist-affiliated high school, in 1849 and 1850. There, she met James Garfield, who also attended the school. In 1850, she entered college at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College), operated by the Disciples of Christ, her family’s faith. Her father was one of the founders of the college. James Garfield was a student there and also taught some classes. Lucretia was one of his pupils in 1853.
Lucretia Rudolph and James Garfield married on Nov. 11, 1858. They had seven children. The children were, in order of birth, Eliza Arabella, Harry Augustus, James Rudolph, Mary, Irvin McDowell, Abram, and Edward. Harry served as fuel administrator under President Woodrow Wilson in 1917 and 1918, during World War I. James served as secretary of the interior from 1907 to 1909 in President Theodore Roosevelt’s Cabinet.
Mrs. Garfield was planning to redecorate the White House along historical lines when she was struck by malaria. She won admiration for her quiet strength following her husband’s assassination. After his death, a public drive raised money for Mrs. Garfield and her family. Lucretia Garfield outlived her husband by more than 36 years. She died on March 13, 1918.
See also Garfield, James Abram .
