Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 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
great public way, but simply as faith
full and devoted citizens, not striving
for particular eminence, 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, 1S43. 4 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 a STRIPPING of 10 when he entered
as a private. The church records
show that in 1858, when he was hardly
16, he united with he Methodist Epis-
copaI church of Poland, the minister
Wilson NJ. Day, is now president of
the Cleveland chamber of commerce.
Major McKinley's father was an iron
manufacturer, and a 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 a citizen of Canton,
spends most of his time in New York,
where he is engaged In business. Nc
Kinley'c 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. 1t was his good fortune
that assigned him to the tWenty-third
Ohio. The recruits that composed it
were in June, 1861, mustered and
formed into a regiment. It's first col
onel was William S. Rosecrans, after
ward major general commanding the
department of the Cum berland.
| Second in command was Stanley
Matthews, who was a 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
a few of the illustrious men who were
| )orne on the roll of officers of the gal
ant regiment in which marched Pri-
7ate William Mckinley, Jr. He car
ried the musket for fourteen months
then he was prom )ted.
He became a second lieutenant on
! Sept. "a, 1862 He was promoted to first
| lieutenant Feb Z, 1868. His commits
sion as captain bears date July %, 1864
The brevet rank of major was confer
red by President Lincoln for gallant
and meritOriOus services at the battles
of Opequan, Fishers and Cedar Hill. "
He was with Sheridan in the Shenan-
! L,
! Cedar Creek, 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 Twentythird 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 a law student in the office of
Charles E. Glidden and David Wilson.
then leaders of the Mahoning county
bar. He supplemented his reading py
taking the course at the Albany law
school, and in 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
leading places and one of the best gen
eral practices in the country Major
Mckinley was about SO 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 - each subsequent election
until that 1890, in which year a 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 pOstOffice 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
tee 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
of Ohio was engendered Immediately
upon the announcement Of the result of
the election of 1890, when after four
teen years continuous service in con-
gress the Ohio statesman was defeated
cut down the democratic majority from
2 800 to 302. He was elected by plur-
atty of S0,995, up to that time the rec
ord plurality in Ohio's history.