The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-05-28
n. rs. ki'k|RLEy NO MORE
Widow Of the Late President ci
the United States
CROSSES RIVER OF DEATH,
After a Stroke Several Days Previous
So Calmly Did Her Soul Cross to
Eternity's Shore Those Beside Lady
Hardly Knew When End Came.

Canton, o., May 2S.-UnaWare OF the
efforts being made to prolong her life
Mrs. Ida saxton Mckinley, widow of
the late President Mckinley, departed
this life at los o'clock Sunday after
noon at her residence in this city
The transition from life to death was
so peaceful and gradual that it was
with difficulty that the vigilant physi-
clans and attendants knew when dis
| solution came
AS this was flashed over the land
William Mckinley and George D. Har-
ter Grand Army posts were forming
in line, and the strains of band play
| ing The March Religos, went to the
First Methodist Episcopal church to
listen to the. annual memo rial address
which was given by DR.. Buxton, Mrs.
McKinley's pastor
President Roosevelt and Vice Pres
ident Fairbanks were among the many
sending kilograms OF coincidence.
Mrs. McKinley's life of almost sixty
years had been made familiar to the
nation by the fact that more than half
of it was period of invalidism.
Through all this, however, she showed
a firm and unwavering belief in the
career of her husband, and by her
cheering words, in spite, of personal
| aulictions encouraged him when there
| was darkness at hand. She believed
| that his star of destiny would never
set until he had become president Of
| this land, and for more than a quarter
OF century cherished that belief I'M
| til her hopes were realized
| After President McKinley's death
she expressed desire'to join him, and
prayed day by day,that sic might die
However. she frequently told friends
| that she desired to live until the com
pletion Of the masoleum, which was
the gift of the nation and with is to
be dedicated on Monument hill Sept.
| 80, next.
Ida Saxton Mckinley was born at
! Canton June 8, 1S47. James A. Sax.
ton, her father, was an intellectual and
| progressive business man and banker,
his wife slady of extraordinary cul-
ture and refinement Ida Saxton was
reared in home of comfort and ease
After attending Canton schools she
| was a pupil at private school at
! Dethi, N. Y. Later, she went to a
Cleveland academy and finished her
education at Brook Hill seminary,
! Media, Pa, where she spent three
years.
Part of the years of her youns
County bank, which belonged to her
father. On several occasions she had
charge of the institution
While she taught Sunday school In
the Presbyterian church the young
lawyer, William Mckinley was super
intendent of the First Methodist
Episcopal Sunday school, Among many
admirers and suitors the handsome
young soldier, who had been with
Grant and Sheridan and won distinc-
ton in the Shenandoah valley, was
the favored one.
BY James Saxton, her father, these
words were spoken to Mckinley when
the hand of his daughter was gained:
You are the only man | have ever
known to whom | would entrust my
daughter"
On Jan. %, 1871. William Mckinley
and Ida Saxton were united in marri-
age.
There We're born to them two daugh-
tiers. Katie, on Christmas day, 1872,
and Ida, on April 1, 1874 But the
heart strings of the mothers tenderest
love We're broken when Ida passed
away in August, 1875, Mrs. McKin-
legs mother having died the month
before the little one had seen the light
of day.
The first born lived for three and
one-half years.
Her life as the wife of William Nc
Kinley was most happy and devoted
one. They never kept house" while
he was In congress because of her in
valid state. She, however, desired to
be with him as much as possible, and
spent much time in Washington On
his campaign tours when he was con-
gresham, governor and president she
journeyed with him as far as practical
BILE
After Governor McKinley's term Of
Ollico GuUeu, luey came 10 canton III
January, 1896. in time to celebrate
their silver wedding anniversary in
the first home of their early married
lie.
This wedding anniversary was the
beginning of year and two months
residence in Canton. during which time
Mr.. Mckinley was nominated and
elected president of the United States.
At Washington, as the first lady of
the land, she was unable to act as
hostess at brilliant social functions
owing to her health
After the crushing blow which came
to her with the assassin's bullet friends
despaired of her life for a month or
more. She, however, rallied, and for
several years enjoyed better health
than usual. She would not consent
to leave her Canton house
Mrs. Mckinley was fond of the
drama. She and her husband number.
ed as one of their most intimate friends
the late Joseph Jefferson, who was
frequently house guest of the Nc
Kinley's.
Among her diversions was the GRO