The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-19
AS A SOLDIER.

William Mckinley was born on jan
uary 20. 1S43, at Niles, Trumbull county
Ohio, where his father was interested
In one of the early iron furnaces of tina,
section. He was educated in the com.
mon schools and at the Poland acad-
emy, and in 1860, at the age of II, enter
ed Allegheny college. Taking sick
early In the term, he returned home
and that winter, following the example
of so many great Americans, taught Il
country school near Poland. His du-
ties ended in April, 1861, and it was his
intention to go back to Allegheny col
lege that fall. But while this young
country boy had been teaching his little
school great and portentous events
were transpiring. Secession was try
ing to dismember the union. Armed
treason stalked through the south. The
roung teacher had scarcely laid aside
lis books when the roll of Sumter's
guns summoned people to arms.
new school opened its doors to the
youth Of the north--the grim school OF
war.
Abraham Lincoln called for soldiers
to defend the union and the flag. Ohio's
response was ready one. IN June
the Twenty-third regiment Of Ohio vol
unteers was organized at Columbus Its
first colonel was William s. Rosccrans
afterward major general and COM
mander Of the department Of the Cum
berland. Its lieutenant colonel was
Stanley Matthews, who became United
States senator and justice Of the su.
preme court It's major was Ruther-
ford B. Hayes. later thrice. governor of
Ohio and president of the United States
There were famous names on the roster
of the Twenty-third Ohio volunteers
And when the regiment started for the
front there marched in the ranks OF
Company e, knapsack on his back and
musket on his shoulder all 1s-year-old
private, In a new suit of blue, whose
name was William Mckinley.
When the flies and drums woke the
echoes in the little village OF Poland,
stirring the hearts Of its people to pa
triotic fervor. young Mckinley present.
ed himself to the recruiting officer and
was accepted as Il private in the Or
ganization that afterMard became Com
pany 3 Of the Twenty-third. The reg,-
ment was hurriedly mustered In and
trained and sent to West Virginia. For
) fourteen months the young soldier
served in the ranks--one of hundreds of
thousands Of privates who marched and
toiled and fought and made the major
generals famous. But they saved the
Union. Every duty of private soldier
William Mckinley performed. He
shouldered the musket and carried the
knapsack. and in camp and on the
march, on picket and in battle, bore his
part, It was said of Napoleon's SOL
diers that they were invincible because
each man carried in his knapsack the
baton Of marshal of France" and
fought to win 1t. Perhaps in the KNAPP
sack William Mckinley carried there
lay hidden from human vision the scep-
ter Of civic power swayed by the presi-
dent Of the United States.
In the executive offices Of Ohio's capt.
tol the other day Governor Mckinley
leaned back In his chair, a smile of
pleasant retrospection upon his fea-
lures. and said:
Il always look back with pleasure up
on those fourteen months in which
served In the ranks. They taught me
great deal. was but q school boy
when ! went into the army, and that
nrst year was formative period in my
life. during which I learned much Of
men and affairs. I have always been
elad that ] entered the service ~ q pri-