The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19
HIS LIFE BEGAN IN AN.
HUMBLE WAY.
Entered the War as a Private
and Came Out as
Major.
The Champion of Protection to Ameri.
can Labor Strong in Debate
and Eloquent.

William McKinley-ex-C Congressman of the
United States, Ex-Governor of Ohio, and
father of the celebrated tariff measure
which bears his name in its title-needs no
introduction to the American people. Truly
has 1t been said of him that his life has
been typical of all that is best in the SELF
made American, his career one that affords
stlmulus and inspiration ID the youthful
brain and sinew of our country.
Essentially man Of the people, McKin-
ley's rise from lad, born in an Ohio vii
lage, to the position of one of the fore
most statesmen of the times, is full of in
terest to the American public. Still in the
prime of vigorous and developing man
hood, Mckinley presents alike to young
and old the possibilities of our free insti-
tutions, when supplemented by patriot
ism, integrity, courage, perseverance and
unbounded faith in the economic policies
which best promote the welfare of our
common country. His story. as his bio
grapher, Robert P. Porter. says, is that of
a serious and earnest life-a life of deyo-
ton to duty, to principle and to the pub
lie service. Aided by nothing save an
honorable parentage, good constitution,
a quick perception, courteous bearing, a
brave heart and high sense of honor,
this youth in teens was mustered into the
army and began the conflict of life on the
Nations battlefelds-a conflict continued
in the halls of National legislation, and
closely interviewer with the last twenty
i've years of National progress.
No better incentive to ambition in the
American youth, no matter how humble
his origin, can be found in the lives of the
public men Of to-day than in that of Will
liam Mckinley. He is of Scotch Irish
descent. AS to his ancestry, James Nc
Kinley, an emigrant from the north of
Ireland, who at the age of II years crossed
the Atlantic with his relatives in a small
sailing-vesseI at the beginning of the last
century, was the father of David McKin-
ley, the great-grandfather of William Nc
Kinley. David Mckinley, as shown by
records in the Pension Bureau, re-enlisted
seven times in the War of the Revolution;
hence Mckinley comes from good fighting
stock.
William Mckinley was born January
%, 1s43, in the little Ohio city of Niles,
where his father, William Mckinley ST.,
was at the time managing an iron furnace.
The McKinleys inherited not only lighting
qualities put the skill of iron manufacture
ing from their revolutionary ancestors.
The father took naturally to this .occupa-
ton ard followed it until 1876, when ne
retired. This was his business in the
early part of the century at New Lisbon.
In 1929 he established an iron foundry at
Fairfield, Columbiana County, Ohio. For
twenty years William Mckinley Sr. was
interested in iron furnaces at New VIII
mington. Ohio. From Niles he moved to
Poland because of the educational ad-
vantages of Poland Academy. Shortly
after he was associated with s. o. Edison,
uncle of Thomas Edison, to construct
iron furnaces at Black River, now Lorain.
In 1869 he moved to Canton with his fam
ily, intending to retire, but he enjoyed
and managed iron interests at Caseville,
near Saginaw, Mich, up to 1876, when he
retired. He kept track of his business
with exactness up to within three weeks
of his death, which took place November
q, 1892.
William Mckinley Sr. was man of
character and of the highest integrity.
His habits were frugal and regular. He
was hard and constant worker. While
at times it was struggle to provide for
such large family (nine ch1ldren) he
conscientiously performed what he be-
lieved was his duty and made every pos
sible sacrifice to educate and make useful
men and women Of his children. In all
this he was more than seconded by his
noble wife, McKinley's mother, whose
maiden name was Nancy Campbell Alli-
son. Mrs. Mckinley was one of those
rare women who are destined to shine in
all sorts of good and useful work, whether
IN pioneer life or amid the comforts of our
modern homes. Mckinley owes much to
this good mother. All the children were
instilled with sound Christian ideas of life
and with patriotism and love for their
country which made no sacrifice for it too
much. Moreover, the mother was an in
teIIectual force, and encouraged boys and
girls alike in their studies, and was ever
ready to surrender her own personal COM
fort that they might equip themselves as
thoroughly as possible for the battle of
life.
Here we have a strong force in the devel-
opment of the young mans character.
Many of the wholesome traits which in
after years endeared the soldier and states.
man to comrades and feIlow-countryme
may be traced to the early tea chings OF
the mother, who lives to feel proud and
happy over her sons achievements. That
her son should have won fame is undoubt-
edly source of qualification and pride to
the mother, but her real happiness comes
from the fact that he as a man OF honor
and Integrity. To this plain. sweet,
simple pioneer mother, who has expert
enced much Of the hardships and struggles
of early Western life, with large family
and limited means, the fact remains that
her son William is man of high prin-
ciples and patriotic instincts, and has
never ceased to love and cherish her. and
is greater comfort than the fact that he
may some day occupy the White House.
The Allisons originally came from Eng
land and settled in Virginia. but that
branch Of the family from which McKin- |
ley is descended emigrated from Virginia
to Green County, Pennsylvania, and there
was born Abner Allison, the grandfather
of Mckinley. Abner Allison married in |
1913 Ann Campbell, who came of Scotch |
German family. Early in the present CEN
tury this couple, then having several chill |