Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-14
WILLIAM M'KINLEY'S RECORD.
The Dead President Has Had a Most
 Remarkable Career.

Remarkable Career.
 William Mckinley, the twenty-fifth president, was born at Niles, Trumbull county. O.. January 29. 1S43, of Scotch ancestors. his father, David, being one of the pioneers of the iron business III eastern Ohio.
 The parents were in moderate cir cumstances. and the son. having pre- pared for college, was matriculated at Allegheny college. Meadville. Pa But his poor health soon obliged him to re turn to his home. He became q school teacher at q salary of S25 per month, and. as was the custom in many of tine country districts. he ''bOarded around:' that is, he made his home by turns with the different patrons of his school. He used rigid economy, his ambition being to save enough money to pay his way through college.
 Destiny. however, had another ca- reer awaiting him. The great clyIl war was impending, and when the news of the firing on Fort Sumter was flashed through the land his patriotic impulses were aroused, and like thou sands of others. he hurried to the de fense of his country. He enlisted in Company E as a private. He was at- 1ached to the Twenty-third Ohio regi- ment- of which W. F. ROsecrans was colonel and Rutherford B. Hayes ma 5Or. Of no other regiment can it he said that it furnished two presidents of the United States.
 For more than a year Private Me Kfnley carried a musket, and on the 18th of April, 1862, was promoted to a sergeantcy. Looking back to those stirring days of his young manhood, President Mckinley has said:
 
 Those fourteen months that I served fin the ranks taught me a great deal. I was but a schOOIbOy when I went into the army, and the first year was the formative period of my life. dur ing which learned much of men and affairs I have always been glad that I entered the service as private, and served those months ill that capaci- fy."
 Mckinley made good soldier and saw plenty of fighting Six weeks after leaving Columbus his regiment was in the battle of Carnifex Ferry. w. Va. where the only victory or the early days of the war was won. 1t was the hardest kind of work hurry ing back and forth through the noun tains .drenched by rain, and on short ratfOns most of the time. The boy did his work we'll. and was soon ordered to Washington. where he became one of the units of the splendid army of the Potomac under General McClel- Ian
 At Antietam. the bloOdiest battle of the war. BIcKinley's gallantry was so conspicuous that he was promoted to lieutenant. He was sent to West Vir- ginia again. where he was fighting con- tfDually. As an evidence of work he did 1t may be said that one morning his regiment breakfasted in PennSyl- vanfa. ate dinner in Maryland and took supper in Virginia Winning promotion by his fine conduct. he became captain July 2J. 1S64. and was breveted major 0n the recommendation of General Sheridan for conspicuous bravery at Cedar Creek and Fishers HILL The title Major Mckinley therefore. is a mili- fary one by which the president is-re- membered- With the coming of peace. fhe young man found himself a vet eran of the war at the age of 21. and compelled to decide upon the means of earning his living He took up the study of law. and was graduated from Albany. N. r.. law school. and admit ted to the bar in 1SG7. He began prac- ffce fin Canton. O. and. by his ability and conscientious devotion soon nchieved success He early showed an Interest in politics. and was often called upon to make public addresses He identified himself with the repub- licnn party. and was elected district attorney fin Stark eounty. which al- most invariably went democratic. In 1876. he was elected to congress against a normal democratic majority for five successive terms. being defeat ed when he ran the sixth time through the gerrymnndering of his district by 1is political opponents
 During bis seven terms in congress. 1fr Mckinley was noted for his clear