Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-12-16
OUR STRICKEN RULER.
The Venerable Mother of Presi-
dent Mckinley Dead.
The End Comes Painlessly In the
Early Sabbath Dawn-Her Dis
tinguished Son and Other
Children Present.

Sunday morning. The nations chief
executive, the son whom she had
lived to see in the white house, was at
her bedside for hours before the end
came. The mother passed away with
her hand in his, but the end was marked
by the Inconsistencies that denotes
paralysis from acute old age. The
death scene was touching and impress
sive one. The members of the McKin-
ley family, including children. grand
children and other relatives, were
grouped about the bedside, and as the
hours of the night wore on it was re-
allied that the sufferer could not live
until daylight. President Mckinley
was constant attendant at his
mothers side, and vainly tried to secure
some signs of recognition.
Shortly after midnight change was
noticed in the condition of the fast sink
ing patient, and those who watched the
Pickering of the vital spark saw that
the end was at hand. The deep, palsied
sleep in which she had lain for hours
grew more deathlike. Physicians and
relatives could do nothing but watch
for the final fight of the spirit. The
president held one withered hand in
both his own. and bent low over the
face of the dying woman. AT eight
minutes past two there came a sigh,
and the breath, hardly noticeable for
hours. ceased. Nancy Allison Mckinley
was dead.
About the sacred couch, now the bier
a long life of usefulness, were the chill
dren and other relatives. Around the
deathbed when the final scene was en-
acted were President Mckinley, his
wife. Mr.. Abner Mckinley, Mrs. Duncan
and Miss Helen Mckinley, children of
the aged woman whose life breath had
been hushed forever, whose tongue had
sister was there, Mrs. Abigail Osborne,
the only one of the Allison family now
living. Mrs. Bowman. of Lorain; Misses
Grace and Mabel Mckinley, James Nc
Kinley, Miss Duncan and Jack Duncan,
grandchildren. were all in the sad party
that witnessed the last breath of the
noble parent. The end came without
struggle. 1t was sleep whose signifi-
canoe could not be mistaken. President
Mckinley remained at the bedside for
an hour or more, and was then persuad-
ed to take some rest from his long and
painful vigil.
1t is a coincidence that Mrs. Mckinley
died at almost the identical hour of the
day as did her husband on Thanksgiv-
ing five years ago. President Mckinley
remained up until about $3.50 o'clock,
little more than an hour after the death,
and then retired for a few hours sleep.
During the forenoon he and his broth
er spent the greater part of an hour
walking about the more secluded
streets near home. securing much
needed exercise and fresh air. The pres
ident was greatly refreshed by the ex-
perience, although even before he
seemed little the worse physically for
the trying ordeal of the past DAYS, dur
ingwhich, except when he went to Wash
ington to attend to official duties, he
kept an almost constant vigil at the
bedside of his mother. In the after
noon the president and Abner McKin-
ley drove to beautiful West Lawn ceme-
terry, about a mile west of the home, to
attend personally to arrangements for
the interment. which will be made in
the family lot where lie the remains of
the husband and father and which adj
joins the lot which for more than 20
years has contained the bodies of the
two children of the president and his
wife, under carefully-kept mounds that
are strewn with flowers whenever the
parents come to Canton. The presi-
dent tenderly and tearfully laid clus-
tiers of flowers on the graves while the
site of the mothers resting place was
being selected
Messages of coincidence are pouring
into the telegraph office from all quar-
tiers. and many friends have already
called at the house to offer sympathy.
Mrs. Mckinley came Of a family which
was transplanted from England to the hills
of Virginia. The Allison family subse-
quently removed to Green county, Pa,
where Abner Allison, Nancys 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 Columbiana county,
this state, travelling by pack horses In
1909, near the present city of Lisbon, Nancy
Allison was born. Her girlhood was passed
on the farm, and In 1927 she married Will
liam Mckinley, young iron manufac-
turer. The couple first lived at Fairfield,
and afterward at Niles and Poland before
removing to Canton. Nine children were
born to them. They were: David Allison.
deceased: Anna, deceased; James, de-
ceased; Mary, deceased; Helen Minerva
now living at Canton; Sara Elizabeth. now
the wife of A. ]. Duncan, of Cleveland:
William. the president; Abigail Celia, de-
ceased and Abner, whose home is in New
York. William Mckinley Sr., died in No
vember. 1892 at the age of S. years. When
President Mckinley entered congress over
20 years ago he was from his mother
much of the time until he retired from
congress to make the canvass for governor
in 1891. During his service from 1892 to
1896 as governor. he went to Canton fire.
quently to visit his mother and he was
with her from January, 1896, until he went
to Washington last March. Previous to
entering public life the president was al
ways located near his parents and spent
much time with them.
OM TILE cThHC