The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19
HIS HOME LIFE.

.A~ 49,
Major Mckinley is now in his fifty
third year. He is strong and vigorous.
well-preserved. OF long-lived family,
his father reaching 81 and his venerable
mother still living at the great age Of
81. his stock OF vitality has not been i'm
paired by careless living or excess. His
form is erect, his eye bright and scarce
~ gray thread CLEANS among his
dark hair. He works, but does not
worry, and work seldom kills. \ good
deal of a philosopher, care sits rather
lightly upon him. Trouble never keeps
him awake. His dress Is plain. and al
ways of black materials. His coat Is
| a frock, always buttoned. In summer
his clothing is of lighter material. but
black in color, and he wears a straw hat
instead of the silk hat worn in other
seasons and on all formal occasions
His neckties are black or dark blue
Beyond plain gold ring he wears no
jewelry, but in his buttonhole Is always
seen the bronze badge Of the Grand
Army of the Republic or the red, white
and blue rosette of the Loyal Legion.
He does not use intoxicating liquors.
but Is an inveterate smoker. No man
Is better judge of good cigar, and
he won't smoke any other. When not
at work the blue smoke from his cigar
Is constantly curling In the air as he
talks or travels. These who do not
| know him well might think him rather
| reserved, II not austere. This would
be u mistake. With his friends he Is
a most jolly companion. While he
tails ctn IN cnaanhaa IN
is an excellent story teller, and enjoys
listening to them. His appreciation OF
humor is most keen, and when among
his intimate associates there IL no bet
ter sign that he Is in an excellent humor
| and likes the person with whom he
| talks than the way in which he joking
ly leases him on some harmless matter.
His home life is happy In the ex-
treme. In 1871 he married Miss Ida
| Saxton, OF Canton. Mrs. Mckinley Is O
gentle, accomplished lady, but for years
she has been an invalid. and Is even
| now confined to her bed much of the
time. The devotion of husband and
wife for each other is touching. No
young lover ever manifested greater
affection, more constant. loving care
| thuu uotS MuJOT MCnIulcy lOi Ills
| valid wife. When her health makes it
at all possible she travels with him.
When absent from her. not a day pass
| es, not even during his arduous west
| ern tour last fall. In which he does not
| find time to send brief letter or tele-
gram to her at frequent intervals. In
Columbus the governor and his wife
| occupy suite of rooms at the Neal
| house. just Opposite the capitol. Sit
| ting at her window Mrs. Mckinley can
| look into the executive Offices and see
her husband at his duties. Every morn.
ing as he goes over to the capitol, he
turns at the gate entering the grounds,
lifts his hat and bows a goodbye to the
watcher at the window.
Their two children died in infancy,
an especially deep affliction to a couple
who love children as they do. Mrs. Nc
Kinley will frequently stop her carriage
while out driving and call a child to
| her. All her friends must bring their
| babies for her to see. At Christmas
| she sends little gifts to all the admin
| istration babies" and those of her other
| friends. Both she and the major are
| fond of the society Of young people,
| and 1t Is a source Of regret to them
that circumstances prevent their enter
| tanning them. But Mrs. Mckinley can
| neither go out nor receive guests, and
1t Is recognized in Columbus that all
she can do is to formally acknowledge
by cards calls made upon her. During
his service as governor they have, how
| ever. given several receptions at their
| hotel to the legislature, the public and
| their Columbus friends. These have
been pleasant affairs, for the governor
enjoys agreeable company. Is an ex-
cellent conversationalist and a delight
full host.
In religion the major and Mrs. Nc
Kinley are Methodsts, as were his
father and mother. He is now arrang-
ing to place a memorial window in the
little Methodist church at Poland, in
remembrance Of his father. But he
came originally of Presbyterian stock.
His grandfather was an elder in the
Lisbon Presbyterian church from 1922
to 1886. during the pastorate of Rev.
DR.. Vallandigham, father Of Clement L.
Vallandigham. Governor Mckinley will
place a similar memorial window to
his grandfather In the new Presbyter-
ian church at Lisbon.
Major Mckinley Is man of moderate
means. While not a poor man, he Is
by no means rich. Eut he lives plain
ly, and has no extravagances, personal
or domestic. He owns some property
IN Canton, and has leased the Harter
residence there and vii! occupy 1t on
the expiration of his gubernatorial
term. His aged mother lives in Canton
with his sister, Miss Helen Mckinley,
and with her two grandchildren, Grace
and James Mckinley. children of the
governors brother, who died in Indi-
ana.
There Is not much ceremony about the
executive offices at Columbus. When
the writer handed his card to a clerk in
the ante-chamber, expecting that it
would be sent in to the governor, as is
usually the case elsewhere, he said:
"Oh, just walk right in"
The governor was found sitting in a
large room, comfortably, but plainly
furnished, with a high arched ceiling.
Facing him on the wall hangs an excel
lent oil painting OF President Hayes,
flanked by smaller portraits Of William
Henry Harrison. James A. Garfield, and
those two bluff old Ohio worthless,
Ben" Wade and Dave" Tod. The lat
ter signed McKinleys commission as
captain. Pictures of Arthur st. Clair,
s. p. Chase, William Dennison, Will
liam Allen, George Hoadly and other
governors Of Ohio hang around the
walls.
lie has many callers, not only from
all parts of Ohio, but from every state
of the union. Ohio men, wherever they
live, are proud Of Mckinley, and they
never visit Columbus without calling to
pay their respects. The old soldiers
always call to see the governor who
served In the ranks. His mail is very