The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-05

William Mckinley. twenty-fifth Presi-
dent of the United States. was born at
Niles, TrumbuIl county, Ohio, January
%. 1913 His ancestors were Of Scotch
Irish descent, and came to this country
about a century and half ago. William
Mckinley. father of the President, mar
ried, in 1879, Nancy Campbell Allison, who
was of English and Scotch-German de-
scent. The President is the seventh of
their nine children. Iron manufacturing
and molding was the trade Of the elder
Mckinley and of his father. They were
men of strong character and ability, de-
vout members OF the Methodist Church,
and in politics ardent Wing and Republic
can The father of the President lived
TO see his son Governor of Ohio, and his
mother saw him President. She died De
cember T. 1897. at the age Of eighty-eiGht.
Williams education was begun in the
public schools of Niles. but when he was
nine years old the family moved to Port
land, Mahoning county, Ohio, where his
schooling continued in Union Sem
mary He remained here until he entered
Allegheny College. Meadville. Pa, in 1860
Soon after this, although he was fond of
athletic sports, his health failed on ac-
count of over-study. Upon recovery he
became a clerk in the Poland postofiice,
and held this position when the Civil war
broke out in 1861. On June II. of that
year. he enlisted a private in Company
Z of the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer
Infantry. This organization became ia
nous regiment, and numbered among its
officers and men Gen. w. 5. Rosenerans,
Gen. r. q. Hayes, who BECAME President
of the United States in 1877; Gen. f. p.
Scammon, Gen. James n. Comley, and
many other well-known men. The reGi-
rnent saw active service throughout al
most the entire war. Mckinley served OF:
the STATS of Hayes, Crook. and Hancock.
The four years of army life proved
beneficial to the young soldier who was
much stronger physically at the close of
the war than at it's beginning. OF his
military record it has been stated that
Mckinley, both as private and officer, in
the Commissary Department, was coura-
geous, clear-headed, and self-possessed.
For services rendered In the winter camp
at Fayetteville he received his first pro-
motion, becoming commissary sergeant,
April Is. 1862.
On February =, 1903, while at Camp
Piatt, he was promoted to first lieutenant
and on July 25 of the following year,
when he was twenty-one years Of age,
he was made captain. Previous to this
MS regiment hiu taken part IN engage
ments at Cloyd's Mountain. New River
Bridge, Lexington, Buffalo Gap, Buchan-
an. Otter Creek, I.ynchbAg. and Buff
fords Gap. At Berryville. September ,,
1864. his horse was shot under him. On
March II. 1865, he received his commits
sion major by brevet for gallant
and meritorious services at the battles of
OpeGuan, Cedar Greek, and Fishers
HILL"
Upon leaving the army he returned to
his home In Poland and began the study
of law with Judge Charles f. Glidden and
David NJ. Wilson, Of Youngstown, Ohio.
He subsequently studied at the Albany
IN. " Law School. and was admitted to
the Ohio bar in March, 1867. He then set
tied in Canton, Ohio which has since been
his home, and soon attracted attention as
a lawyer of much ability. Although Stark
county generally gave a Democratic plu-
raiity. he was elected prosecuting attor-
ney in 1863. as a Republican, but was de-
feated for the same position two years
later From this period Mr.. Mckinley de-