Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-23
M,klNLEWs ANCESTORS.

His Ancestry as Traced by the Rev. A.
Stapleton, of Carlisle, Pa.
The following genealogical sketch of
President Mckinley was prepared by
the Rev. "A. Stapleton, of Carlisle, Pa:
1T should be matter of regret to all
true historians that the campaign his
tories of President Mckinley were erro-
neous in several important genealogical
details. The data herein given may be
relied on as correct. as they are the re-
suit of researches in the court records
ard other authorities still extant
THE ancestors of President Mckinley
belonged to that sturdy race of people
called the Scotch-1rish, SO called because
in 1907 King James /. located large
rumber of Scots in the northern part of
Ireland on lands from which the irish
had been evicted. These settlements
were gradually augmented by inrmigra-
ton until eventually the Scotch Irish
element predominated in this region.
They We're staunch Presbyterans in
faith and in course of time developed
traits and peculiarities so marked as to
almost stamp them as distinct race
TN course of time this noble people
were overtaken by many hardships,
euch as the successive failure of crops
besides very unsatisfactory civil and re-
ligious conditions. Their only source OF
relief was in immigration to America, in
which they were encouraged by agents
Of the American colonies. After lbs the
Immigration became very extensive, the
chief port of arrival being Newcastle on
the Delaware below Philadelphia.
THE Scotch Irish being citizens of the
British realm their arrival is not mat
ter OF record like that of the Germans,
Swiss Dutch, ETC., who are designated
as foreigners In the colonial records, and
we're required to subscribe to an oath of
allegiance upon arrival, besides a sub
scquent naturalization. Hence 1t follows
that citizens of the realm are more diff
ficult to identity than foreigners by the
historian. Our only recourse is In tax
lists. land warrants. court records, etc.
IN the case of President Mckinley we
have an undisputed retrograde record to
his great-grandfather, David Mckinley.
We know that he was a revolutionary
soldier, that he was born In York coun-
ty. Pennsylvania, that he removed TO
Westmoreland county after the revolu-
ton, and In 1914 to Ohio, where he sdied.
In the cemetery OF the Chatfield Lu-
.theran church in Crawford county. Ohio,
may be seen two modest granite mark
crs with the following Inscriptions:
David Mckinley, Revolutionary Soldier.
Born, 1855: died, 1s40,' and Hannah G..
Rose, born, 1867; died, 1910.
David Mckinley was the father OF
James, born sept. 10, 1888, married Mary
Rose OF Mercer county, Pennsylvania,
and removed thence to Chattield. where
he purchased farm, on which he died.
He was the father of William Mckinley,
ST.. born in 1907, and died in Canton,
Ohio. in 1892. The latter was the father
OF President Mckinley Hannah g.
Rose buried by the side Of David Nc
Ktnley, was the, great-grandmother OF
former Mayor Rose, of Cleveland.
For the history of the family prior to
David the soldier we must rely on the
court house records at Lancaster and
York. Pa. From various documents and
entries we think the evidence incontro-
vertible that David Mckinley, the head
CT the clan Mckinley in America, landed
lat Newcastle, and located in Cnow)
Chanceford township. York county.
Pennsylvania in 1743. At that time he
was we'll along in life. He was accom-
panied by his wife, Esther, and three
sons, John. David and Stephen. and a
daughter, Mary. There are frequent
to these sons in the county
archives.
.The Immigrant was a weaver by
trade, but, like all thrifty artisans of
that day, he secured good homestead.
It is possible, but not probable, that he
arrived in the province earlier than l74S,
but in this year his name first appears
OH the records in a warrant for 3l6 acres
of land on beautiful elevation over
looking the Susquehanna river in the
distance.
THAT he was man of enterprise is
shown in the fact that in 1749 he crcu-
lated petition for a public highway,
which he also presented to the court
The following year he was made super
visor and doubtless had the task i'm
posed on himself to engineer his road to
n completion. His name occurs frequent
ly in the most honorable way, showing
him to have been a man OF unusual
probity and worth az a citizen.
David Mckinley, the immigrant, died
intestate in 1757. leaving his wife and
children as already named. His daugh-
ter was intermarried with Samuel Cor
don. The settlement of the estate shows
personal property to the value Of EGO,
or s1,100 besides the plantation, which
was divided Later however, the son
John (who, with his mother. was the
executor) purchased the entire estate.