The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-09-21

William Mckinley was born at Niles.
Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan. 29s 1S43.
He was the son of William Mckinley and
Nancy Campbell Allison.
When William Mckinley was q small
boy his father. who was engaged in the
iron business at Niles. decided to move
to Poland. in Mahoning county, Ohio. be-
cause of the superior educational adj
vantagcs it afforded. for their children.
Here William McKinlcy's boyhood life
really began. and like that Of all boys in
small communities 1t was devoid Of any
special incident.
When the call to arms came he was
eighteen years old. A company was
quickly formed in Poland and was Dig
niaed with the name of the Poland
Guards" q
He made haste to Join his friends and
schoolmates and was mustered in with
the company at Columbus,
Mr.. Mckinley served in the ranks until
a few DAYS after the first battle of An
tietam. when he was promoted to a Sec
ond l~ieutenantcy. At the battle just
mentioned he was acting commissary,
and during the neat of the fight took
to the front cooked rations to feed his
hungry comrades. who had been without
food for twenty-four hours
Feb. Z. 1859. he was made first lieuten-
ant: July Is. 1864, captain and breveted
major by President Lincoln for
Gallant Conduct ON the Fields
Of Opeauan. Fishers Hill and Cedar
Creek. He served on the STATS of ex-
President Hays. Gen. Crook. Gen. Han
cock and Gen. Carroll. He was with the
sid Twenty-third in all its fights and was
mustered out with the regiment in July.
1865. (.
During his military service Mr.. McKin-
ley tool part in the engagement at
Clarks Hollow, Princeton, w. Va. the
battles of South Mountain. Antietam,
Bufiingtons Island. Ohio. in the campaign
against Morgan's raiders at Cloyds Noun
tain, at Westminster, Va; at the Berry
Vile, Va; at Cedar Creek n many other
engagements.
After the close Of the war Mai. McKin-
ley entered upon the study Of law. He
was admitted to the bar. at Warren in the
carly months Of 1857 The young at
torney practiced alone for awhile, having
located at Canton, Ohio. D..
Maj. Mckinley was an excellent advo-
cate and made some Of the best jury ar
guments ever made at the Stark county
bar. AT the time he was first elected to
congress he enjoyed one Of the leading
places and one Of the
Best GcncralfPrartfces
In the county. He prepared himself by
thorough courses of reading for his pub
lie career. During all this time he was
an active participant in Republican cam
paigns and early gave evidence of the
power he afterward developed as a pub
lie speaker and orator
MT. Mckinley first became prominent
in the state politics Of Ohio in the cam
erford b. Hayes. wa the Republican can
didate for governor. Mr.. Mckinley threw
himself into this contest with ardor. and
was considered one 81 the most effective
speakers of his party in that exciting
campaign. 1t Also made him widely
known throughous the state among TIE
party leaders and gave him an ambition
to aspire to political rrcfernnent for him-
self. 55a
n31a78 MI. Mckinley announced himself
q candidate for congress in his dis
|trfct. He had plenty Of opponents forithe
nomination. Mr.. Mckinley was such 8;
strong favorite that he had q majority Of
the delegates In almost every county In
the district and was nominated on the
first ballot III the convention,
For Fourteen Years After This
event he represented the district Of which
Stark county was q part.