He had not far to look.
During the year 1851 the Disciples, the religious body to which young Garfield had attached himself, opened a collegiate school at Hiram, in Portage County, which they called an eclectic school.

Now it ranks as a college, but at the time James entered it, it had not assumed so ambitious a title.
It was not far away, and James' attention was naturally drawn to it.
There was an advantage also in its location.

Hiram was a small country village, where the expenses of living were small, and, as we know, our young student's purse was but scantily filled.

Nevertheless, so limited were his means that it was a perplexing problem how he would be able to pay his way.
He consulted his mother, and, as was always the case, found that she sympathized fully in his purpose of obtaining a higher education.
Pecuniary help, however, she could not give, nor had he at this time any rich friends upon whom he could call for the pittance he required.
But James was not easily daunted.

He had gone to Geauga Seminary with but seventeen dollars in his pocket; he had remained there three years, maintaining himself by work at his old trade of carpenter and teaching, and had graduated owing nothing.