Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-12-16
PAY A LAST TRIBUTE
FUNERAL OF MRS. NANCY ALLISON
M'kINLEY AT CANTON.

Body of the Aged Mother of the President
Is Laid Away In the Family Lot at
Westlawn-Cabinet Members and Gov
ernment Officials Attend the Fune, al.
CANTON, Dec. 15.--Although it rained
almost incessantly all day, the crowd
attending the funeral of Mrs. Nancy
Allison Mckinley were numbered by
thousands. The First Methodist Epis-
copal church, doubled in capacity by
throwing open the Sunday school rooms
and gallery, was filed to overAowing
long before the beginning of the SER
vices. The great rostrum of the church
was bank of flowers After the sim
pie ceremony thousands after thousands
passed through the church, each stop
ping an instant at the alter to take a
last look at the remains This process
sion was composed of 5000 people who
had gained admission to the church
and thousands of others who had stood
outside in the rain waiting the time
wen they could get in one side door,
pass the alter and go out at the other
side. When this had continued an
hour it was found necessary to close the
side doors and remove the casket to the
funeral car, as it was feared that the
interment would be delayed until after
dark.
During the services and until after
the remains had been viewed, the fam
lily and close friends occupied the front
pews of the central section of the
church. With the president in the first
pew was his sister, Miss Helen, and his
brother, Abner, with their sister, Mrs.
Duncan of Cleveland. Immediately
back of them was the aged sister of the
departed, Mrs. Osborne of Youngstown,
surrounded by grandchildren and other
near relatives. Back of these were
members of the cabinet, the Washing
ton visitors, Congressman Taylor, rep
presenting this district; Hon. Whitelaw
Reid of New York, II. II. Kohlsaat of
Chicago and many other intimate
friends of the family from various
points.
The church service was preceded by
brief private services at the house, at.
tended by the immediate family and
the Washington guests. The house
services consisted of a prayer by Rev.
Manchester and the reading of the 23rd
Psalm by Rev. McAfee.
Many Floral offerings.
When the cortege reached the ceme-
tery, the burial ground of the Mckinley
family, it was surrounded by an i'm
mense crowd, who seemed to give no
heed to the inclement weather A can
yass canopy had been erected near the
open grave for the shelter of the family
and those assisting in the last sad rites.
Here the beautiful wreath of flowers
which the president and Mrs. Mckinley
had placed upon the graves of the
children they lost long ago, and of the
presidents father, brother and sister,
were literally covered with the numer-
Gus floral offerings sent by sympathiz-
ing friends from all over the country.
The hundreds Of floral offerings in
cluded, besides the beautiful pieces
sent by the cabinet and the Washing
ton friends, a large emblem of the G..
| A. R., in which the flag was worked
Canton post Of which the president is a
member; beautiful one from the
presidents old regiment, the Twenty
third o. V. T., and another from the
Knights Templar.
The special train on which the Wash
ington party came left at $50 o'clock
last evening, the presidents car New
port being attached. The train carried
President and Mrs. Mckinley, General
and Mrs. Alger, Secretary Bliss, Attor-
ney General and Mrs. McKenna Post
master General Gary, Secretary to the
President Porter and Mrs. Porter, Hon.
Whitelaw Reid, Assistant Secretary
and Mrs. Day, Mrs. Abner Mckinley
and daughter Mabel of New York,
Congressman r. w. Taylor of this
district, Hon. H Fl. Kohlsaat, Earnest
Hammill and Walter H. Wilson of
Chicago; Miss Mary Barber. Mrs. Nc
Kinley's niece; Miss Sarah Duncan OF
Cleveland, the presidents niece; Mr.
Jack Duncan, Mrs. George Harter and
Colonel j. N. Taylor of East Liverpool
During the hours of the funeral busi
ness was suspended throughout the city
Business places and Offices were closed
factories and shops shut down and al
work suspended i'll courts and county
and city buildings. County and cit,
officials and members of the bar at
tended the services in body.
Bryan Entertained by Mexicans.
CJrrXy MEvJCO nao Mn P,xyo,