Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1901-09-20
Every Aid Possible Was Rendered to Keep
Him Alive---Death Caused by Dam
grene---An Autopsy Was Held.
The Body Lay in State at Buffalo Twelve ousFunea Train
Goes Direct to Washington Body Is to Remain There
One Day and Then Will be Taken to Canton,
Ohio for BuraI-His Biography

William Mckinley was born al
Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, Janu.
airy 29, 1843. His ancestors lived in
Pennsylvania, whence they emigrated
from Scotland fully 200 years ago. His
grandfather, Daniel Mckinley, was a
soldier in the revolution, DISTINGUISHED
for gallantry at Brandywine, German,
town and Monmouth. His father was
an Industrious, sensible and prosper
GUS iron manufacturer who died in
1892 at the age of IS; his mother is
still living at Canton, Ohio, at the ad-
vanced age of 81. Young Mckinley
was educated at the public schools
and at the Poland (Mahoning county,
academy, and attended for a short
time the Methodist college at Meade
Vile, Pa.
In June, 1861, he enlisted in the
Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry
as private soldier. On September
"a, 1862. he was promoted to second
lieutenant; on February Z. 1868, to
first lieutenant; on July 25, 1854, to
captain and was brevetted major bv
President Lincoln for gallant and
meritorious services at the battles of
Opequan. Fishers Hill and Cedar
creek. He served on the staff of ex.
President HAYES and Major General
Crook. and after Crooks capture he
served for time on the staff of Major
General Hancock and subsequently on
the staff of General Samuel S. Carroll
He was with the famous Twenty-third
in all its battles, and was mustered
out with it on July 26, 1865. He had 6
liking for the military profession and
1t was said that, but for the advice of
his father he would. at the solicitation
of General Carroll, have attached him.
self to the regular army.
Services in Congress.
At the close Of the war MCKINLEY re-
turned to Ohio, studied law opened an
Office in Canton, Stark county, in 1867
and in 1869 was elected prosecuting
attorney Of Stark county.
He was elected to congress in 1876
and served continuously in the house
OF representatives until March, 1881
Ia years In all-except part of his
fourth term, when he was unseated
late in Che first session. His seat was
given to the late Jonathan Wallace
of East Liverpool, his democratic
competitor. While in congress Major
Mckinley served on the committees
OF revision of laws, judiciary, expendi
lures, postoffice department and rules.
Tariff Leader in House.
Mr.. McKinley's first four years in
congress were in preparation for his
greater work began in 1881, when Gar
HnI6 n1notad -
and the place Garfield held on the
ways and means committee of the
house was given to the young man
VINO soon became known as the cham.
pion of protection.
He became the republican leader on
the floor in the tariff debates and en-.
tered into the discussion with SO much
enthusiasm that for the first time in
congress these discussions of tariff
schedules became interesting and
even entertaining to the general pub.
lie. Speaker Reed once said of Nc
ktnley that he was the most passion.
ate American. He was chairman of
the committee on resolutions in the
republican national conventions of
1884 and 1888, and men who served
ON that committee with him said that
he dominated 1t like a master spirit
by his enthusiasm and passionate de.
votion to the principle he had so much
at heart. In 1890 he was defeated
for reelection.
Governor of Ohio.
Mckinley was out of congress. but
not out of politics, because the repub
licans of Ohio would not let him re-
tire to private life. They had a demo
cratic administration, with a popular
governor, and they needed a strong
man to defeat him. They began to
talk about Mckinley as the candidate
and when the convention assembled
IN June. 1891, it had only to ratify the
choice OF the people by nominating
by reclamation.
Then followed one of the most mem.
orable campaigns ever waged in the
Buckeye state. Mckinley began his
the first of August, and for
.hree months he travelled night and
lay, making from two to a dozen
speeches a day. until he had visited
very county in the state. His cam
'aign was on national issues, on the
ariff, on protection, and eloquently
md passionately did he defend his
principle.
His election as governor of Ohio
vas by a handsome majority.
In 1892 there were calls for McKin-
ey everywhere in the campaign. He
lad presided at the national conven-
ion, and refused to allow his name to |
'e voted for in two conventions. He |
vas the idol of the hour. He spoke |
n Maine, Massachusetts,, New York.
'ennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Indi-
ma, Missouri and Kansas, but the |
'arty went down to defeat again.
AS governor Of Ohio, Mckinley had
opportunity to develop his executive
alent, and he made such record that
re was renominated by reclamation in
1893, and elected by the largest ma.
GRITTY, with one exception, ever given
n the state.
President of United States.
He was delegate at large to the ma.