Garfield excelled in academics and later on attended western reserve eclectic institute.He then Married a former classmate in 1858 and they had seven children.In 1859 Garfield began to study the law and started a career in politics which then led him to be elected in the Ohio state Senate until 1961.Later on in 1961 Garfield was ranked a lieutenant colonel in the union army, later on he gained the rank of brigadier general and commanded his own brigade at the battle of shiloh in 1862.”A pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck”(biography on garfield) In October 1862 Garfield was awarded a seat in congress which was a big step for him because it eventually led to him becoming