Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
MkINLEY'S LIFE HISTORY
Sketch of His Services in Behalf Of the
Party.
HIS EARLY STRUGGLE AND LATER SUCCESS
Splendid Illustration of the Wonder
full Possibilities of the American
Repub1ican-SoIdicr Record
and Other Features.

full Possibilities of the American
Republicnn-SoIdicr Record
and other Features.
William Mckinley, selected by the ma
tional convention at st. Louis to stand in
the pending campaign as the leading repre-
sentative and chief exponent of the political
principles of the republican party, is not
an unfamiliar figure in the recent history
of his country. Few men in public life
are better known. Few of the great re-
publican leaders of the past decade have
presented themselves face to face with the
people of SO many states, and few have been
heard so frequently upon the public
rostrums. The great masses of the re-
publican leaders have known him-not by
the cartoons in illustrated papers-not by
the well phrased tributes of newspaper COM
ment-but by actual, personal contact. They
know him face to face, know the sound and
information of his voice, know the character
istics of his pose and gestures. They have
seen him, heard him, shaken hands with
him. Thus, they wanted him for presi-
dent-not because they doubted the strength,
availability, ability and patriotism of his
opponents less, but because they knew the
man of their own choice better. .
The life of William Mckinley, like that
of the martyred presidents, Lincoln and
Garfield, and like those of many other men
whose voices have been heard in the councils
of the nation, Enthusiastically illustrates
the possibilities of our free institutions.
Given an ancestry combining the hardy
north-of-ireland stock on his fathers side
and the tenacious, still harder character
istics of the Scotch on his mothers side,
supplemented by the educational advantages
offered by his native state four decades ago,
William Mckinley became soldier. lawyer,
congressman and governor, and today the
political party of his faith has elevated him
to the highest position of honor within its
bestowal. His career is matched by that
OF Hayes, Garfield and Harrison, all of the
records of these men bearing a marked
similarity of circumstances.
HIS EARLY ANCESTRY.
William Mckinley was born in Niles, O.,
February &c, 1914, and he is therefore a few
months past the prime age of 50. His
father was am an of character and integrity.
a hard and constant worker and of frugal
and regular habits. His mother was one
of those sweet, simple pioneer women whose
worth a half century ago contributed so
much to the intellectual development of
the men of the present generation. This
mother is still Mr.. McKinley's daily COM
at his home in Canton, and although
she has reached the advanced age of 81, is
still able to take a lively interest in the
career Of her son. AS Mckinley advanced
in boyhood years his parents removed to
o., in order that he might have the
advantages of an academic education. His
school days were uneventful, but We're
marked by energy and painstaking applica-
tion. Completing his course at the little
Poland academy, he started a more ambi-
tious line of studies at Allegheny college,
but was compelled to desist on account of
Before he was able to return
to college the civil war was a fact, and
enlisted.
AS @ soldier Mckinley was first a private
In the ranks of company Il, Twenty-third
infantry. He was then but II years
Of age and his regimen was the first to
enlist for the three years service. Twenty
regiments had preceded it, but they
were all enlisted for only three months.
The Twenty-third regiment was singularly
fortunate in its officers. It's colonel was
w. S. Rosecrans, who rose to the rank of
major general. It's first lieutenant colonel
was Stanley Matthews, afterward United
States senator from Ohio and justice of the
first major was Rutherford b. Hayes, after
ward thrice governor of Ohio and then
president of the United States.
1t will not be compatible within the limits
If a brief biographical sketch to give a de-
allied account of McKinley's services to his
country during the war. He enlisted June
], 1861. a year later he was commissary
His promotion to the second lieu.
cnancy was made on September 20, 1862.
few months later, on February Z, 1863, he
vas made first lieutenant Of company r.
in July 25, 1864, he was named as captain of
company G, and on March 10, 1865, he was
,roveted major for gallant and efficient
He was finally mustered out OF
ervice July 26. 1865, having served entirely
through the war. During his term Of service
- - nr g. anntrtnF t nIfntant annArnll
4 the first division, First army corps, OF
ioneral Carroll's staff and he also served on
he STATS of General Hayes, General Crook
nd General Hazen.
WHEN HE LEFT THE WAR.
After receiving his mustering-out papers
I the close of the war, Mckinley, at the
&c of %, returned to the private walks
I life. He could have entered the regular
rmy, but the influence of his father deferred
i'm. He at once took up the study of law
a the office of Judge Charles Il. Glidden,
he rounded out mis- studies by a
curse at the Albany, N. Y, law school. He
las admitted TO practice at the bar in 1867
I Canton, O., and from that time down to
he present he has made that city his home,
n the course of events his practice grew
nd he soon enjoyed a business which. to ,
i'm at least, afforded a lucrative recon-
ense. He was an excellent advocate. even
4 the early years OF his law career. His
'ork as a lawyer was marked By a thor
and carefulness of preparation and
with his growing ability as an adyo-
ate, soon gained him the confidence of the
eople of his own district,
II was during those uneventful years of
is law career In Canton that Mckinley
turned his attention to politics. His
Official career had its beginning in a small
'ay. He took a leading part in the local
ampaigns, and his services as a speaker
in demand in the legislative and Ju-
icial canyasses OF his own district. He
imgplf nAVar gtpn1 aG N candidate for n
office; but as his participation in sue
essiye campaigns gradually occupied a
'ldening political circle his name soon be
anne frequently mentioned in connection
18th a congressional career. 1t was not
ntil 1876, nine years after he entered the