On July 2, 1881, only months after his inauguration, Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office-seeker, shot Garfield twice in the back. After struggling for his life for two months, Garfield died on September 19.
James A. Garfield's Assassination
Illus. in: Frank Leslie's illustrated newspaper, July 16, 1881
Library of Congress

Using money donated by the American public in memory of the martyred president, Mrs. Garfield transformed Lawnfield into a memorial to her husband, as well as a country estate and a place to enjoy her children and grandchildren. She added a new wing to the house that included a library and vault to protect her husband’s papers. The family continued to own Lawnfield until 1936, when they donated it to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The site today is managed by the National Park Service.
[Source: nps.com]