Last updated: July 31, 2020
Person
Mary Garfield
Quick Facts
Significance:
Sister of President James A. Garfield
Place of Birth:
Newburgh (now Independence), Ohio
Date of Birth:
October 19, 1824
Place of Death:
Solon, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
Date of Death:
November 4, 1884
Place of Burial:
Solon, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cemetery Name:
Roselawn Cemetery
Mary Garfield was born October 19, 1824, in Newburgh (now Independence), Ohio. She was her brother James' favorite sibling. Like her sister, Mehetable, not much is known about her young life. She married Marenus Larabee (b. 1820) on January 29, 1845 in Cuyahoga County, OH, at the age of 20. They spent about three years in Germantown, Michigan. The first of their six children, Ellen was born there on February 23, 1846. The Larabees moved back to Ohio in 1848, and lived near the rest of the Garfield family in Solon. One summer, James boarded with Mary and Marenus. His comment about his brother-in-law was that he was a sharp man with a dollar. James said his sister Mary was the best cook in the family. The Larabee children: Hattie Mehetable was born on May 1, 1851. Mary Adelle followed on April 10, 1852, James on August 18, 1958, Alton G. on August 1, 1861, and their youngest Celia in 1863.
Mary had psychic powers, a talent she shared with her sister Hitty's daughter Anna Eliza. Mary died in Solon on November 3, 1884 at 60 years old. Marenus lived until June 16, 1913. They are both buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Solon, Ohio.