7/18/21 - Today was a travel day from Buffalo to Detroit, roughly 375 miles. The drive would have been considerably shorter if we were able to travel through Canada. The border is still closed. Along the way in Mentor, Ohio, we stopped at the home of President James Garfield, the 20th president. You may have forgotten from your school days (I did) that he was shot and died 2 months later in 1881 at the age of 49. His presidency lasted only 200 days. He served in Congress for 17 years. His claims to fame include:

• 1859 Elected to the Ohio Senate
• 1861 Lt Colonel -Civil War
• 1862 Elected to Congress
• 1880 Elected President
• March 1881 Inaugurated
• July 2, 1881 was shot
• Sept. 19, 1881 died from wounds/infection.

While in office he led fiscal reform and founded the Board of Education.

Garfield owned and farmed 150 acres with the windmill pumping water to the house and fields. The home was also on a natural gas well that was used for lighting and heat.