The herald., 1897-12-12

KNOWN any arrangements. IL - iio@ po-
lieved that any will be made until the
much worn family has had few hours
rest and sleep.
Mrs. Nancy Campbell Allison McKin-
ley, the mother of William Mckinley
president of the United States. and who
was so often called Mother Mckinley"
was IS years of age. She was the daugh-
ter of Abner Allison, who was of English
descent, and Ann Allison, nee Camp
bell, of Scotch ancestry. Her parents
settled in Pennsylvania, but soon moved
to Ohio and settled at New Lisbon.
James Mckinley, grandfather of Will
liam, settled, with his family Of four
teen children, at New Lisbon, Columbi-
ana county, when the father of the pres
dent was year and a half old. William
Mckinley, the elder, here met Nancy
Campbell Allison and married her. The
young couple settled in New Lisbon,
where three children We're born to them,
and they then moved to Niles, Trumbull
county, where William Mckinley, the
future president was born. He was sew
enth in family Of nine children.
Nancy Campbell Allisons early life
WIS Spelll dilllu ilOuoCiloib uuliSo
on her fathers pioneer homestead. Here
she acquired the strong constitution
has carried her through life of excite
ment and change and made her old age a
marvel of health and vigor and kept her
mind strong and peaceful.
She was married to William Mckinley,
the elder, in 1920. While she was widely
known and beloved, her simple life pre-
sented few facts of public interest. She
was considered to be a perfect type of
womanhood and motherhood by thous-
ands who knew her. The president has
loved and cherished her since he at
tanned to honors and high position as he
loved and cherished her when he was a
boy. The country caught much of this
respect for her character from him and
learned to regard her in much the same
way as Martha Washington was regard
ed nearly a century ago.
1t has been said of her that in no way
did she betray her great size. She was
vivacious and active up to the time
when she was stricken with paralysis.
She had none of the long INDUCED hab-
it's of the old-the easy rocking chair, the
flreside corner for social chat and gossip,
or the whims that gather about age. Po-
litical matters of gravity and importance
interested her always more than gossip.
and she was always the ready confident
and counselor of her son.
Up to the beginning of summer she
resided in the White House with the
president, but she then returned to Can
ton for rest.
Mrs. Mckinley was distinctively a
home loving woman, and the historic
frame cottage. on West Tuscarawas
street in this city, where she died and
where she had lived for many years,
was dearer to her than any other spot on
earth. There she spent her declining
days with her daughter Helen and hei
grand children Grace and James Nc
Kinley, receiving occasionally visits
from other children, seldom going ou,
except to church, where she could be
found every Sunday morning unless pre-
vented by illness. While showing deer
affection for her other children, she
had followed the career of William with
pride and solicitude. With fond, moth
erly admonition she watched him rise
from the position of prosecuting attor-
ney Of his own county and by successive
= F.
finally to the presidency. During the
memorable campaign of last year fol
the nomination and afterward the elec
ton, Mrs Mckinley was one of the most
interested observers. She was always
given the place of honor at the home OF
her illustrous son, and on the day of his
nomination by the St. Louis convention
she heard the news as soon as he did
1t was then that William Mckinley
showed the deep love he bore for his
mother by kissing her as soon as he haC
received the announcement of the result
at St. Louis. All through the tryine
campaign that followed she watched hel
son with deep interest. She was a fire
quent caller at his home and was greeted
by many of the visiting delegations OF
Republicans. She accompanied the
president to the inauguration, riding IL
the special train, and remained in Wash
ington until Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley had
become settled in their new home. Ther
she returned to the Canton cottage with
expressions Of gratitude at getting home
once more.
Nancy Allison Mckinley came of a
family which was transplanted from
England to the hills Of Virginia. The
Allison family subsequently removed
to Green county, Pa, where Abner Alli-
! son, Nancy's father, was born, and
! where he married Ann Campbell of
| Scotch German descent. Early in the
present century Mr.. and Mrs. Allison
came from Pennsylvania to Columbia
county. this state, travelling by pack