The Van Buren press., 1901-09-21


distances) from the shores of that great
inland sea, which nearly century ago
reverberated to Perry victorious guns,
is being consigned, accompanied by the
roar of the solemn minute guns, all
that is mortal of your captain and of
mine.
After lifes itful fever, he sleeps well
Treason has done his worst nor steel, nor
poison,
Malice domestic nor foreign levy, nothing
Can touch him further"
The King is dead Long live---but mol
Tomorrow and on all days to come We
will salute the living.
Today we pay our obeisance to the
dead Bear then with me yet little
longer while l, all too imperfectly, I'M
fold the history of his life,
1--WE are says Emerson, quota
tions from our ancestors
The progenitors of William Mckinley
we're, on the paternal side, Il blend of
Scotch, Irish and Puritan stock; on
the maternal side Scotch Covenanter
stock. These ancestors emigrated from
Scotland to Pennsylvania fully two
hundred year ago. The grandfather of
the future president WAS Daniel Mckin-
ley, who was soldier of the revolution
distinguished by his gallantry at Bran
DIVINE Germantown, and Monmouth.
After peace was declared he moved to
Ohio, where he founded the Buckeye
branch of the Mckinley, family. While
the McKinley's were moving from
Scotland to Pennsylvania, one Andrew
Rose an English Puritan, came to the
keystone state and became MEM
Der Of the council of the colony. His
son, Andrew Rose Jr was soldier
in the American war for independence I.
David Mckinley and Mary, daughter of
Andrew Rose, Jr., met, loved and
married. The first offspring Of that
marriage, boy, William Mckinley,
was one of the pioneers of the iron in
dustry in Ohio. His wife was Nancy
Allison blessed be her memory. To
them came eight children, one
of whom, born at Niles, Trumbull
county, Ohio. Jan. 30. 1S43, inherited
his father name CT William and In the
fulness of tinie became president of the
United States.
Young Mckinley was educated, first
at the village school at Niles, afterward
ut the Poland Academy 1t Is said that
he showed himself solid and thorough
scholar rather than u snowy one, and
that thus early he disclosed his bent for
debate and oratory. At Poland, there
was a literary club and debating club,
Of which he was, for some time presi.
dent. The story Is told that the boys
and girls saved up their spending money
until they had enough to buy carpet
for the meeting room Of the club. They
purchased at neighboring carpet store
what they deemed an exceedingly hand
some fabric. Its groundwork was green
and its ornamentaion gorgeous golden
wreaths. The society unanimously de-
cided that no boots should ever profane
that sacred carpet, and the girl mem
bers, therefore, volunteered TO knit
slippers for all the members to wear.
Unfortunately, the slippers were not
ready for the first meeting, and 30 all
the members who attended, and all the
visitors. too, were required to remove
their shoes from their feet and listen to
the debate shod only In stockings The
debaters themselves did likewise and
young Mckinley presided over the
meeting In his stocking feet,
At the age Of sixteen he went to ALE
gheny College, Meadville, PA, Here
he fell sick grd was compelled TO re
turn home, and being thrown largely on
his own resources he found II necessary
to teach school near Poland, His sal
airy, we are told, was s25 per month
and he "boarded around, - His pur.
pose was to save up sufficient to com
plete his college course; but this was
not to be, for now Grim visaged war
reared his wrinkled front. The call tc
arms resounded throughout the land
and the schoolmaster Of IL shouldered d
musket and enlisted as u private In the
Twenty.third Ohio volunteer infantry
he became successfully second lieuten'
ant, first lieutenant and finally, for gal
liant and meritorious service so rar
his commissioning became captain and
brevet major lie also served ut vari
GUS times on the stats OF Gems Hays
(afterward president), Crook and Han
cock.
At the battle Of Opequan occurred m
incident characteristic Of the man Nc
Kinley was sent with u verbal order tc
Gen, Duval, directing him TO move his
command quickly TO another position
Gen. Duval, on receiving the order, moi
knowing the clay Of the land, asked
Mckinley, by what route shall
goS' Mckinley knew little more OF the
country than did Duval, but he had
been observing keenly all day and hi
unhesitatingly replied, ~ would X
along the creek, :" Duval hesitated and
finally said, ~ will not 20 at all with.
ont positive orders ~ TO the route.
Then Mckinley, knowing that the fate
Of the battle WAS perhaps trembling IN
the balance, said peremptorily; Gen
eral this Is u case Of great emergency
! order you, by command Of General
Crook, TO move your command inme
diately along this creek TO u position on
the right OF the army. Duval obeyed,
and executed the maneuver IN safety.
In u short time he had his division In
place, charged the enemy and drove
theln from their works The movement
WAS u brilliant success, thanks TO Nc,
kinley's Judgment and decision.
When peace was declared he returned
TO ONO, studied law, opened IN Office
IN 1867, and In 1860 was elected prose.
cutting attorney Of Stark county, Many
anecdotes are related Of his success ut
the bar, Here IL one
Mckinley found himself pltted against
John insolvency, then considered one
Of the most brilliant lawyers Of the Ohio
bar. The case was "A suit for damages
for malpractice, the plaintiff charging
that u surgeon had set his broken leg IN
such way MS to make him bow.legged
on that side. Mckinley defended the
surgeon McSweeney brought his client
into conrt and had the injured limb ex.
Al. A. o.