Background
The first child of the couple, Eliza was born while her father was a Hiram, Ohio lawyer
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Eliza Garfield
Edit ProfilePresident of the United States
Career
Nicknamed "Trot", after the character of Elizabeth Trotwell from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, the child was named after both Eliza Ballou, James"s mother, and Arabella Mason, Lucretia"s mother. She soon became the center of their letters. As an infant, Eliza was not an object of interest for James.
A few days after Eliza was born, Lucretia fell ill with a breast infection that resulted from nurturing the infant, but James went on a pleasure cruise to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Trot completed James"s picture of a perfect family: mother, father and an energetic child, always in demand of attention. A few days after the family bought their first house, Trot died of diphtheria.
James came back from Washington to help care for the sick child in her final hours. She was buried the same day she died on Hiram Hill, Ohio.
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Born
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Died
December 3, 1863 (aged 3) -
Nationality
United States