The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-13
MOTHER MKINLEY DEAD
The Venerable Lady's End Was
Painless and Peaceful.
THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.

The Final Services VIII Take Place
in the Church of which the PresY.
dent and His Mother Have Long
| Been Members.
Canton, O.. Dec. 13.-Mrs. Nancy AL
iison Mckinley, the aged mother Of the
president, died shortly after o'clock
yesterday morning. Almost two weeks
had elapsed since the stroke of paraly
sis, which was at once pronounced ia
tai. and the wonderful vitality which
had kept death at bay so long had
deluded the friends and relatives into
the belief that the aged woman might
perhaps recover, despite the verdict of
her physician. But unmistakable signs
of approaching dissolution were seen
early Saturday morning, and at night
fall 1t was evident that death must
come before morning.
The demise of Mrs. Mckinley was
painless and peaceful. All night long
the members of the family were watch
ing and waiting for the time of disso-
luton. From II o'clock until the time
Of death the Mckinley house was quiet
and shrouded in a stiffness that was
that We're within the walls. No response
could be obtained by messengers or re-
porters who sought In vain for news.
Shortly before midnight the attendants
discovered what We're thought to be
certain signs Of death. The fact w. "A
communicated to the inmatcs Of the
household, who had gone to their
rooms. but had not retired for the
night.
Around the deathbed when the final
scene was enacted were President Nc
Kinley and his wife, Mr.. Abner Nc
kinley, Mrs. Duncan and Miss Helen
Mckinley, children Of the aged woman.
The aged sister was there, Mrs. Abigail
Osborne, the only one OF the Allison
family now living. Mrs. Bowman, Of
Lorraine; Misses Grace and Mabel Nc
Kinley. James Mckinley, Miss Duncan
and Jack Duncan, grandchildren, We're
in the party that witnessed the last
scene in the gentle life. The president
and his wife remained at the bedside
for an hour after the end, but by 4
o'clock every member of the family
had retired.
Funeral services over the remains of
Mrs. Mckinley will be held in the First
NJ. T. church of this city at l o'clock
tomorrow afternoon. Intcrment will
follow In West Lawn cemetery, just
west of the city, and tomorrow even
ing President Mckinley and wife, and
officials from Washington who attend
the funeral Will leave Tor the capital,
reaching there about noon Wednesday.
Pallbearers have been selected from
among the older members of the
church. and those who for years have
been close neghhors Of the deceased.
They are: Judge William r. Day,
Hon. William A. Lynch, Former Mayor
r. A. Cassidy, l.. L, Miller W. W.
Clark, Judge Il. J. McCarty, Davis Zol-
lars and Former Mayor John r. Blake.
The First Methodist church, in which
the services are to be held is the one in
which Mother Mckinley wDrshippe1
during her residence in Canton, and ir
which she was found almost every Sun.
day morning, only serious indisposi-
tion or important circumstances keep
Ing her away. Three weeks ago she
was in her pew as usual, and though
she was nearly SO years Of age, her at
tendance had been regular all the while
This is also the congregation with
which the President has always been
associated. It was in this church that
he was superintendent Of the Sunday
school, 90 years ago, and here that
he always attended services when in
Canton, usually going with his mother.
They last attended together In Sep
tember when the president was here
during his summer vacation. The pres
ldent Is a member of the board OF
trustees of the church.
At daylight yesterday morning. at the
suggestion Of some of the older men,
bers of the congregation that an old
time custom now almost obsolete be
observed to publicly announce the
death. the bell in the tower of the
church slowly tolled off the years of her
age.
1t is coincidence that Mrs. McI<in-
10y died at almost the identical hour
OF the day as did her husband on
Thanksgiving, five years ago. Pres-
dent Mckinley remained up until 3:3t
o'clock little more than an hour after
the DEATH and then retired for few
hours sleep. During yesterday fore.
noon he and his brother spent the
greater part of an hour walking about
the more secluded streets near home
securing much needed exercise and air
The president was greatly refreshed by
the excise from the trying ordeal of the
past days during which, except when
he went to Washington to attend tc
official duties, he kept an almost con-
stant vigil at the bedside of his mother.
In the afternoon the president and
Abner Mckinley drove to beautiful
West Lawn cemetery about mile
west Of the home, to attend personally
to arrangements for the intcrment,
which will be made in the family lot,
where lies the remains of her husband
snd father and which adjoins the lot
which for more than 20 years has CON
tained the bodies Of the two children OF
the president and his wife.
The children and grandchildren ex-
cept Mrs. George b. Morris, Of San
Frsncsco a daughter of the late David |
Mckinley, and all Of the immediate
family, were here for the closing scenes
Of lie. Other relatives will come for
lhe funeral.
During her life Mrs. Mckinley show
ed feAndness for visiting with her
ph!ldlcn, and, beeides having them at
her home as much as possible, fire.
Quantly visited at their homes. She |
Cpent one winter with her son David, |
In California, shortly before her death, |
and frequently went to the Somerset,
Pa, home of her son Abner, as well
as to Pittsbuvg and later to Cleveland. |