Fergus County argus., 1902-01-29
THE SITE OF
MONUMENT
The Statute to William Mckinley
Will be Erected in Westlawn
Cemetery at Canton.
THE FAMILY euRYINe GROUND
The Graves OF the Late Presidents
Two Children Will Lie in the
Shadow Of the Monument.

Canton, o., Jan. 2l.-The mound
where the body OF William Mckinley
will eventually lie and above which
will be reared the memorial of the
people of the United States, is in the
iar,host section OF Westlawn Gene
tory. without question il is the most
beautiful spot there. Senator Chas.
W. Fairbanks of Indiana, one of the
trustees OF the Mckinley National
Memorial association. which is rails
ing the funds for the memorial tomb.
said. when he first hchcld it that il
was the finest spot out OF doors in
all the world" The mound rises in
gcutlc slope about 70 feet from the
little stream that lies at its feet and
curves IN a similar graceful sweep to
the east
Lying there William Mckinley can
look with a spiritual eye upon the
town of Canton, whose chief glory he
was; he can see from the cyrie Of
his monument the home where he
was so happy aud within whose
stricken walls rests his devoted wild,
oW. And as he turns his gaze over
the cemetery IL will light on the
graceful little marble fguTc-a rosy
boy with a basket of flowrrs-that
kocps watch and ward over the tiny
graves OF his two children at its feet
There is a long stretch of years
between those little mounds and the
! great one that looks down upon them
but in all the time that elapsed from
the day that the first turned and leit
his babies in their graves to the glad
one when he lay in the same Gene
terry beside them. William Mckinley
heart was ever aching for those lit
tie girls.
II was the greatest sorrow that evel
entered into his life. and no glory that
ever came thereafter lulled il into
sleep. 1t was only another example
o! what destiny works for him after
death, as ii did in life. that these
graves are to lie there hereafter in
the protection of his mighty tomb
whose shadow will cast benedictior
upon them.
Back Of these pathetic little grave.
Ii, those Of his father and mother
and sister. Between thcm-a link II
death as IN William Mckinley
would have rCposed himself had moi
the love and the honor of the nation
willcd otherwise. Only simple head
stones rise above them, characteristic
ia their very simplicity of the stronl
unpretentious natures that lie beneath
them.
Until the memorial tomb is built
the body OF William Mckinley vii
lie in the public receiving vault
where it was placed September 18th
the day Of the funeral. The massiv,
coffin rests as it was placed ther,
last September, cncircled by the fold!
of the stars and stripes.
This vault is a simple but effectiv,
bit OF mortuary architecture. 1t was
a gilt ol Westlawn cemetery a mum
her oi years ago by Mrs. Frank Ma
son Werts OF Canton, in honor Of hcl
husband. 1t is of Romanesque design
and constructed of rock-faced anC
blessed Magsillon sandstone at a cos
Of $4,000, and is built into the hill
side Night and day it is guarded b!
a detail ol United States soldiers. 4;
H. number
These soldiers find their principa
occupation in warding off relic hunt
ers. Every day and all hours of tn,
day. there is a stream of visitors a
the vault So strong is this desir
Tor a remembrance ladded flower
n bit OF ribbon. even spear OF gras
that the utmost precaution must b.
tai.,n to thwart them. 4 sentr
keeps watch at the door of the vault
while other soldiers walk beats at tn
ton and sides OF the hill. So weal
ing is this duty, especially in the stil