The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-14
THE DEAD PRESIDENT
AND HIS NOTABLE CAREER,

William Mckinley. son of william Me-
kinley. sr.. ana Nancy Campbell All
son Mckinley. was horn a Niles o.. on,
Jan. % lsiS, being the seventh born OF al
family OF nine children. On both his,
grandfathers and grandmother's side he,
came of sturdy stock his Scottish and,
English ancestors fleeing from Great Britt
ian 10 escape religious tyranny and COM
ing TO this country. the former settling
originally in Pennsylvania and the latter,
in Virginia.
The family moved TO Poland from Niles
when William Mckinley was still young
His education was limited 10 the local
public schools and brief academic courseI
in Allegheny college. lie taught school
in the country ana accumulated the small
means necessary 10 defray the expensesI
OF that sort OF education,
lie was clerk Ia the Poland post
office and had hardly attained the age,
of u when he entered the Union army inI
June 1884, enlisting in the cd Ohio In!
Iantry Among its earlier held officers,
were General Rosecrsns. General Stan
ley Matthews. General. (afterward Pres-
denD Garfield and other conspicuous pub
lie men.
CREDITABLE WAR RECORD.
He served during the entire war. rising
from the position OF a private 10 the ranl<I
OF major lie was a soldier ever on thel
[ front line. serted IN battles. marches
bivouacs and campaigns and received:
( the commendation OF his superior officers!
on many occasions
His military career. while he may not,
Lave been In high command was full OF!
heroic incidents, which are proven notI
only by coutemporaneous publications inf
the newspapers but by the Official repOrtsi
OF superior officers who admired his good
Judgment and wise administrative cal (
pa,styg
From the bloody battle Of Antietam
In September. 1852, down 10 the surrender
or Lee at Appomattox, William Me-
kinley was distinguished for his activ-
ity and bravery, so that al the close OF 4
the war he was offered "A commigs i,n
In the regular army. But preferring civil
pursuits To military career lie declinedf
the preferred honor.
Returning 10 Ohio from the war withh
record OF which any young man mightt
be proud, he found Il necessary to choose
his employment for life Therefore With
ont further schooling he entered upon
the study OF law in the office OF Judget
Ghdden and subsequently graduated from
the Albany law school with high honors q
Being admitted TO the bar I'm 1867 he
began the practice Of law In Canton, O. (
'NH tduNt nedtDs ana as DractitiOnery
az the bar he at once exhibited supe-
rlor qualities-careful, studious and faith
ful. he was elected prosecuting attorney
oi MS country and distinguished himself
by his learning, fidelity and efficiency In
the discharge OF his duties 10 tbe niihlic
and his clients. He declined recollection IN
thls oHice which he had filed faithfully
Tor more than I've years and then re-
sGmed the private practice OF his pro
fession.
MODEL MARRIED LIFE.
In 1871 he was married TO Miss Ida sax
ton, whose father was a man OF constd h
cradle literary ability and the editor ofe
tne Canton Repository which 20 this day
an abe paper. He was banker asy
she was thoroughly educated given a
trip abroad and returning entered h.rA
fathers banking house as cashier Shev
later left that position 10 marry William
Mckinley Jr. Her father did not like the
idea or her marrying but he decla rod
that Major Mckinley was the only man
ne was willing she should marry and ne
cheerfully gave his consent
Two girls. Kate and Ida, blessed thisp
union. The former died when still a baby 4
and the latter passed away az the age OF
four years. Mrs. Mckinley had been worn
by the death OF her father and this ad-
uiuonal ontce aided I'm breal king herf
health She had been strong Young
woman but the cares brought on an ill-M
ness from which she never recovered
Though an Invalid, Mrs Mckinley hasE
been cheerful and in trying times brave
never faitering in faith In her husband
and ever ready 10 cheer him And for hcrR
ne ever manifested mutually sincereA
and manly solictude.
In that prolonged contest-the euherna
torial campaign I'm Ohio I'm ls9S-when1
Governor Mckinley the now universi sillys
iamented martyr, spoke more than 300
times IN so out of the IS counties ~ tneH
state. he was never too weary after the y
last meeting Of the week on Saturday ION
take a train for Columbus Cincinnati
Cleveland or wherever Mrs. McKinleyE
happened 10 be, that he might spend sun
day AT her side. IN was beautiful devo-N
tion that terminated only with death.
CAREER IN CONGRESS.
After vigorous campaign in 1875 hen
was elected and served rs a member ing
the i5th Congress: subsequently I'm then
tSth, i7th and tsth congresses. UnseatedM
toward the close of the 4sth congress hex
was reelected 10 the s9th 50th and 5lstT
congresses, his congressional career COW
ering nearlN IS years. AS a member ofN
congress he Was attentive industriousE
and untirins, working his way gradually :.
until he reached the post of leader Of theE
Republican ma aiority OF the 5lst congress
Prom the very commencement OF hisr
congressional career he was a firm be-
lever In and an ardent advocate OF DION
lection 10 American Industries and II was
during his second term he made his repu-H
tation as a tariff debate He advocatedH
protection because he was convinced IN
was necessary for the prosperity Of the
country.
Ia 1852. as a member of the Ways andx
Means committee he urged the appoint
ment OF the tariff commission ana he wasd =
one Of those who helped frame the tariff 4
~ ,f - hs.sla In, .l..N
seven years following.
In the Republican national conventionU
et Chicago in 1854. he led the BlaineY
forces from Ohio and antagonizedS
John sherman from that state. He wrotet
the platform that year As chairman of Z