Moreland Hills in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Birthplace of James A. Garfield

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

1. Birthplace of James A. Garfield Marker

Inscription. James Abram Garfield, 20th President of the United States, was born here in 1831. His father died when he was two, but the family remained on the farm where James helped when he was not attending school. He continued to live here through his years as a driver and bowsman on the canal and as a student at Geauga Seminary and Hiram Eclectic Institute (later Hiram College). He left here in 1859 when he was elected to the Ohio Senate.

Erected 1990 by The Moreland Hills Historical Society and the Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 15-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #20 James A. Garfield, the Ohio and Erie Canal, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 41° 26.194′ N, 81° 26.635′ W. Marker is in Moreland Hills, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is on S.O.M. Center Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4350 S.O.M Center Road, Chagrin Falls OH 44022, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James A. Garfield (a few steps from this marker); 1850’s One Room Schoolhouse

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(within shouting distance of this marker); From Log Cabin to the White House (within shouting distance of this marker); Making a Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); Settling Down Near Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Garfield Neighbors (within shouting distance of this marker); Finding His Voice at Pulpit Rock (within shouting distance of this marker); The Larger World Calls (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Moreland Hills.

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

2. Birthplace of James A. Garfield Marker

Backside of Marker: Birthplace of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, November 19, 1831 This was formerly Orange Township.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 15, 2025

3. Birthplace of James A. Garfield Marker

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 15, 2025

4. Birthplace of James A. Garfield Marker

James Garfield Birthplace Cabin Replica image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

5. James Garfield Birthplace Cabin Replica

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

6. James Garfield Birthplace Cabin Replica

The Home of Garfield's Childhood image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

7. The Home of Garfield's Childhood

by R. A. Williams in The Great American Book of Biography, International Publishing, 1896.

James Garfield Birthplace Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

8. James Garfield Birthplace Statue

James Garfield Birthplace Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Frankie, April 21, 2017

9. James Garfield Birthplace Marker

In 1829 Abram Garfield, a farmer, and his wife, Eliza Ballou Garfield, built a log cabin, 20'x30' described as having three windows, loft and ladder, fireplace and chimney. This cabin follows that description as nearly as possible. The Garfield's fourth child was born in that cabin, and he became the last of our "log cabin presidents". JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD 20TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BORN NOVEMBER 19, 1831 - DIED SEPTEMBER 19, 1881 James played in these woods, attended school nearby, helped his widowed mother on the farm and learned carpentry. He excelled as a student, became a college president, state senator, ordained minister, Brig. General serving in the Civil War, U.S. Congressman and in 1880 was elected President of the United States.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2018. This page has been viewed 1,698 times since then and 137 times this year. Last updated on June 4, 2018. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2018. 3, 4. submitted on July 20, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5, 6. submitted on June 1, 2018. 7. submitted on April 10, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 8, 9. submitted on June 1, 2018. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.