The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-04

16. studied in the academy. pursued a
law course, led the village debating So
ciety, performed many of the duties
of the postmaster, taught school,
found work for his hands to do at all
times, and became easily the most
promising young man of the commun-
ity. 1t was at this time-in lSaS-that
he became member of the Methodist
Episcopal church of Poland. religious
organization with which he has been
connected ever since. There are many
who remember his characteristics in
those days when he was first forming
his character. They tell of him that
he was genial. happy. buoyant and al
ways thoughtful of the happiness of
others. with whom he came in contact.
His loyalty and devotion To his mother
was marked from the first day that
he was able TO lisp her name. This
fidelity to her has continued to the
present day, finding no division save
in the love he bestoWS upon his wife.
His mother was an Allison before h r
marriage, and is of English descent.
She was married in 1927 TO William Nc
Kinley. Sr. She was born in 1909 near
New Lisbon, Ohio.
Young Mckinley left Poland when
he was Il, to pursue a course of study
at Allegheny college, but a sudden i'll
ness compelled him to return home
and he took up school teaching. He
went from the schoolmaster's desk into
the army to fight for the Union. There
is an old tavern in Poland known as
the Sparrow House, which was built in
1904. The rafters are tumbling down
now. and time has almost completed
it's destruction. But in June. 1861, the
old place was one of common resort for
the villagers, and most of the town
meetings We're held there. Lincoln, at
that time, had just issued his call for
troops. and Poland was to send COM
pany to the front. A meeting had been
called to he held in the Sparrow House.
The place was packed. Mckinley had
come from his school to hear the
speeches. When one speaker said,
pointing to an American flag which had
been displa, ed: "Our country's flag
this free government may keep race
i'm the bondage of slavery Who will
he the first to defend it," Mckinley
stepped forward, and with him the
first young men of Poland. lie and
| they enlisted. They became Company
T. of the Twenty-third Ohio. one of
the forement regiments sent by that
! state to do battle with the confederacy.
The company marched from Poland To
Youngstown and at Camp Chase. CO.
| lumbuS, Joined its regiment and en-
| tered on actual service. OF the rcgi-
ment and of Private Mckinley. after
ward to become Major Mckinley, eX-
President Hayes wrote before. his
| death: "Rather more than thirty
years ago first made the acquaintance
of Major Mckinley. He was then Il
| boy. had just passed the age of II. He.
with me, entered upon new, strange
| life-a soldiers life-in the time of ac-
tual war. We were in fortunate resi-
ment-its colonel was William s. Rose
| Grams. It's lieutenant colonel was
Stanley Mathews. Young as he was,
we soon found that in business. in exc
| cutive ability, young Mckinley was n
| man of rare capacity. of unusual and
! unsurpa ssed capacity. especially for n
hoy of his age. When battles We're
! fought or service was to he performed
| in warlike things, he always took his
place. The night was never too dark:
| the weather was never too cold: there
| was no sleet. no storm. or hail or snow
| or rain that was in the way Of his
| prompt and efficient performance of
| every duty" The Twentythird Ohio
| was made up Of superior class Of men
| men whose families were largely of
New England origin. Mckinley took
his place among them. according ia
| the testimony Of every associate he
| ever had in the army. by sheer force of
| executive ability. He became n com
| miSsary sergeant and then second
| lieutenant. This latter promotion was
| for gallantry at the battle of Antietam
| and was made on the recommendation
| of his colonel. In 1862. after he had be-
! came a second lieutenant, Colonel
| Hayes, to become a president himself
at n later day. made him one of his
| staff. Afterward he served as a staff
officer with Generals Hayes. Crook
Sheridan and Hancock. He became q
| first lieutenant of his own home COM
pany in 1863 and captain of Company
q, Twenty-third Ohio. in 1864. He was
acting assistant adiutant general OF
the First division. First Army corps
on the staff of General Carroll: was
brevetted major in March. 1855. and
mustered out of the service July &c
1865. He saw good fighting through al
hts army service and he met it. by nj
testimony, as he has congressional
fighting since. They tell here in Can
ton and at Poland fmen who fought be.
side him) that he always had his face
fronted toward the quarter whence M
expected trouble. He was at the en-
gagement of Carnifex Ferry. Then h,
came to South Mountain and Tho
bloody field Of Antietam. He was II
the engagement at Kernstown, neal
Winchester. and at ODenquan.
General Hayes loved Mckinley ~
though he were he his own son. ans
when he had sent him at the la tie o
| Eerretoyn on q apr~e-ous tn;rrt~ y
, | ,io1, ..lo1 10 rrl.llf cert n dEat