Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-25


descent, and his ancestors immigrated
to this country early enough to have
sons who took patriotic part in the
war of the rebellion The family re-
moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in
1914 and from that day have been
Identified with that state not In q
great public way, but simply as faith
full and devoted citizens. not striving
for particular eminenee. but notable
for sturdiness of character and integ-
rity. 1t was among such people and
OF them that William Mckinley was
born, at Niles, in Trumbul county,
Ohio Jan. 20, 1913 a younger son, he
was destined by his father, after whom
he was named, for the bar, and was
educated at the public schools. and lat
er entered Allegheny college at Mead.
vile, Pa. teaching school to pay his
tuition, Scarcely was he matriculated
when the civil war came on He was
but STRIPPING of 10 when he entered
as private. The church records
show that in 1858, when he was hardly
l6, he united with he Methodist Epis-
copal church of Poland. the minister
Of which was Rev DR. Day, whose son,
Wilson NJ Day. il now president Of
the Cleveland chamber OF commerce
Major McKinley's father was an iron
manufacturer, and pioneer In that
business. William was his third son
The eldest, David, is now a resident
of San Francisco, where he is the Ha-
waiian consul general to the United
States The second sen, James. died
about four years ago. There is anoth-
er son, Abner, younger than the major
who, although citizen OF Canton,
spends most OF his time In New York,
where he is engaged In business Me-
Kinley's mother is now 81 years of age
but alert and vigorous. mentally and
physically She sees much of her dis
tinguished son, and he waits on her
and walks with her each day he spends
in Canton. II was his good fortune
that assigned him to the twenty-third
Ohio. The recruits that composed it
We're in June, 1861, mustered and
formed into a regiment. Its first col
onel was William y. Rosecrans, after.
ward major general commanding the
department Of the Cumberland
Second IN command was Stanley
Matthews, who was splendid soldier,
but won his greatest honors in civil
life by becoming United States senator
and justice of theunited States SUI
preme court; and Ruthford b. Hayes.
afterward governor of Ohio and pres
ident of the United States These are
few Of the illustrlous men who were
lorne on the roll df officers of the gal
ant regiment in which marched Pr-
rate William Mckinley. Jr He car
ried the musket for fourteen months;
then he was prom 1ted.
He became a second lieutenant on
Sept. "a 1862. He was promoted to first
lieutenant Feb. 7, 1868. His commits
sion as captain bears date July 25, 1864.
The breyet rank of major was confer
red by President Lincoln for gallant
and meritorious services at the battles
Of Opequan, Fishers and Cedar Him."
He was with Sheridan In the Shenan-
doah campaign; was at Winchester,
Cedar Greek, Fishers Hill, Opequan,
Kernstown. Floyd Mountain and Berry
Vile, where his horse was shot from
under him. and in all the battles in
which the Twenty~thlrd participated.
He served on the stats of Generals
Hayes, Crook Hancock and Carroll.
He was mustered out with the regi-
ment July 26, 1865, after more than
four years continuous service.
When the war closed, Mckinley was
just twenty-five. He at once
became law student in the Office OF
Charles e, Glidden and David Wilson,
then leaders of the Mahoning county
bar. He supplemented his reading oy
taking the course at the Albany law
school, and ia 1867 was admitted TO the
practice He located at Canton, where
he formed a partnership with Judge
Belden AT the time he was first elect
ed to congress he enjoyed one Of the
ledulHB pidcSS anu one OF Inc DtSt Bbu-
eral practices In the country. Major
Mckinley was about 80 years old when
he was elected by the people OF his
district to represent them in congress.
There he soon made his mark, and was
returned at each subsequent election
until that 1890, in which year gerry
mander Of his district defeated him by
a majority of only 302. While In CON
gress he served on the committee on
revision OF laws, the judiciary commit
tee, the committee on expenditures in
the postcffice department and the com
mittee on rules. When General Gar
field received the nomination for the
presidency, Mr.. Mckinley was assigned
to the vacancy on the committee on
ways and means. He served on the
last mentioned committee until the ex-
piration of his last term as representa-
tive. While chairman of this commit
lee he framed the Mckinley bill,
which afterward became law and
which still bears his name.
The sentiment which resulted in the
nomination OF Mckinley for governor
NJ Ohio vas on pndorpd Immediately