The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-10-11
MADE IN HASELTON
Story Told by q Son OF the
Man Who Made the Cra-
dIe--knew the Presi.
dent.


when william Mckinley was
born" says James Dray, of Haselton,
o., 'his father came to my father,
John Dray, and said: We've got fine
new boy over to our house, and
want you to make him the incest era
die you know how
"My father was the Niles carpen-
ter and made nearly every article of
furniture used by the Mckinley family
in those days. He gathered up his
tools, picked out some lumber and pro-
ceeded to fill out the new order. The
CRADLE WAS A SUCCESS.
for right after William cIddled down
in It's warm lap and went to sleep.
That was the same cradle which, COW
cred with flowers, Niles people sent to
the Mckinley funeral"
James Dray has in his possession a
tall, out-dated cupboard built by his
father for the Mckinley family and
long owned by them.
Few people now living knew MeKin-
ley during his ten YEARS in Niles bet
ter than James Dray. Though seven
years older than Mckinley, Dray,
with his smooth face and kindly eyes,
bore
SOME RESEMBLANCE
to him. Living many miles away
from his old home, James Dray had
never been interviewed By would-be
biographers until the other day.
when the McKinleys dwelt there"
Dray continued, miles was town Of
400 inhabitants. and contained a fur
mace, grist mill, tannery, sew mill and
a few smaller Industries.
''McKinley's father managed the
charcoal furnace on salary. and with
his family lived in frame house
neighboring to us. He was considered
one of the best business men In the
country. J remember he used to sit at
a table in his kitchen, work at ac-
count books, smoke a pipe and carry
on conversation oil at the same timo.
But, like Abraham Lincoln, 1t was
to his mother. Nancy Allison, that
Mckinley owed
HIS QUIET STRENGTH,
his love for books, and whatever was
best In his young life. Similarly 10
Nancy Hanks, Nancy Allison stood on
higher plane than those about her.
"McKinley's school days began in a
one-r0omed structure that used to
stand near Niles present high school
building. His teacher for many years
was Alva Sanford, mild. quiet man
who wore a swallow-tailed coat. and
had somewhat long hair. Because of
slight resemblance to the Mexican
general, he was dubbed Sanity Anna
by the boys.
Somehow, 1t was hard for Mckinley
to learn his letters. He usod to cry
over them, and wipe his eyes on his
homespIn coat sleeves. can see
Sanity Anna now, patiently pointing
out the letters In the Elementary
spelling book to the disheartened boy
"'No, that's A, and this is b. San
ford would say, over and over again
remember one day when
M'kINLEY WAS CRYING
as usual over the perplexing alphabet
the old teacher stepped up to him, and,
laying his hands gently upon the lads
shoulders, said, Never mind, Willie,
you may be president some day.
From then on, Mckinley got along
better with his lessons; so that by the
time he was ten years old he could
read Napoleon Crossing the Alps like
g professional, and could spell such
words as sensation and Immediate
ly' by syllable.
"He was not as great a hand for
games as some boys. but still he often
joined in 'mush-pot,' 'one-old-cat' and
'roly-poly' with us fellows; and when,
in the game of mush-pot, Mckinley got
the most sticks in his cap. and had to
stand up against the school house
while us boys threw ball ut him, he
bore 1t without flinching
"The Methodist church whore Will
liam and attended Sunday school,
regularly, has been destroyed. All us
BOYS WENT BAREFOOTED
to church, In the summer time. then,
and learned whole chapters from the
Bible instead Of studying set lessons.
There was library in the Sunday
school, containing, among other
books, The Life OF David which we
boys read with great gusto.
"The last time saw Mckinley was
In Niles. during campaign, when he
was governor Of Ohio.
There's my friend, Dray,' he said,
and motioned mo to his carriage
II went over and after receiving in
PRODUCTION to his cabinet was invited
to ride with him. But that was too
great an honor and declined"
Many Of McKinley's boyhood days In
Niles wero spent with the Heaton chill
dren, James and Maria. The "Heaton
mansion" around which he played,
stands unnltcred on 4 knoll above the
Niles mill race.
Maria Heatcn relates that one evon-
ing after she had been playing ut the
Mckinley place, William, then
STURDY, BLUE-EYnD BOY
OF nine years. started to walk home
with her. The distance was not great,
but the night was dark. For time
Mckinley made fine display Of