The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-17
THE PRESIDENTS CAREER.
Major in Army, Congressman, Cover.
nor of Ohio and Twice Elected
to the Chief Office Of the
Nation.

The Mckinley family is OF Scotch
Irish descent, and was transplanted
to America about one hundred and
fifty years ago. William Mckinley,
the father of the president, married
in 1899, Nancy Campbell Allison, who
was of English and Scotch-German
descent. The president was the
seventh of their nine children. His
father was an iron manufacturer. He
was a man of ability and character,
in religion a devout Methodist and in
politics an ardent whig and republi-
can. He lived to see his son governor
of Ohio. Mrs. Mckinley saw her son
president, and died on December -,
1897, at the age Of Lightweight.
William Mckinley was born at
Niles, Ohio, on January 20, 1S43, and
began his education in the public
schools of his native place, but when
he was nine years old the family re-
moved to Poland, Mahoning county,
Ohio, where his education was con-
tinued in the Union Seminary. He
entered Allegheny College, Meadville,
Penn, in 1860, but his health soon
broke down from overstudy, and he
was compelled to leave college. On
his recovery he became a clerk in
the Poland postoffice where he re-
manned until the val broke out.
A Private in the Civil War.
On June II, 1861, he enlisted as a.
private in Company E of the 23d Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. Among the Off
GERS of this famous regiment were
Generals w. S. Rosecrans, Rutherford
B. Hayes, who became president in
1877; 3. P. Scammon and James M.
Comley and Colonel Stanley Mat
thews. Mckinley served on the stats
of Generals R. B. Hayes, George Crook
and Winfield S. Hancock. OF his mill
tary career it may be said that both
as a private and an officer, both in
the commissary department and on
the fighting line, he was courageous,
clear headed and calm. For services
rendered in the winter camp of Fay
etteville he received his first promo
ton, becoming a commissary sergeant
on April Is, 1862. After the summers
campaign in Virginia his regiment
took part on September II and II in
the battles of South Mountain and
Antietam, and it was for his extraor-
binary services as commissary SER
geant in the latter battle that he was
promoted to be second lieutenant.
Not long after this the regimental
colonel, r. B. Hayes, entered in his
diary: "Our new second lieutenant,
Mckinley, returned today-an exceed
ingly bright, intelligent and gentle
manly young officer. He promises to
be one of the best" At a little later
date he added: HE has kept his
promise in every sense of the word"
By February Z, 1863, he became a first
lieutenant, and on July 25 of the fol-
lowing year, when he was only TWEEN
ty-one, he was made captain for gal
lantry and faithfulness in the battle
of Kernstown (near Winchesterl. A
little later at Berryville, his horse was
shot under him., and on March IA,
1865, he received his commission as
major by brevet "for gallant and mer-
itorious services at the battles of
Opequan, Cedar Creek and Fishers
Hill" He took part in every one Of
the many engagements in which his
regiment participated, and when he
was mustered out on July 26, 1865, he
was in perfect health.
Entrance Into Political Life.
Returning home he studied law
with Judge Charles E. Glidden, Of
Canton, and at the Albany Law school.
He was admitted to the bar in March,
1867, and settled in Canton, which
has since been his home. He soon
attracted attention as a lawyer of
ability, and, although Stark county
Wdo uC1lOCl dIlC, uC Wuo SlCSICu 1 iOo-
ecuting attorney in 1869, but he was
defeated for the same Office two years
later. From this time forward Major
Mckinley gave much attention to poll
tics. In 1876 he was elected to con-
gress. That year the democratic leg
islature of Ohio gerrymandered the
state, but nevertheless Mckinley was
returned to congress in 1873, as he
was also in 1880, 1882, 1884, 1886,
and 1888. He was unseated in 1884,
and was finally defeated in 1890, when
his district was gerrymandered again.
In 1888 he showed great ability in OPP
posing the Mills bill, representing ap-
proXimately President C1eveland's
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