The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-15
aIMPSES OF
MRS. M'KINLEY,
,.markable Devotion Of Former
President and His Wife.
EARLY ROMANCE IN HER LIFE.

81, sh. Yves Wooed by Charles Lei.
=" !. Before She Met Her Husband
~,.hira Illustration of His Devo-
a..-AIways Ford Of Children.
- late Mrs. William McKinley's
- than thirty years of invalidism
~ ~ nrovented her from appearing in
spr IN any extent, even as mistress
no White House. The entire nation
d her in affectionate and sympa-
"a regard as the object Of the con-
s.ut attention and loving solicitude
Sor statesman husband, says the
- York World. She was devoted to
p.sddent Mckinley, and when the
~ DAYS came her hope and the am
,1on for him never wavered, and her
.oouragement was never lacking.
ghe would have been sixty years old
Il she lived until June 8 next. AS
n saxton, the daughter Of prosper
4, banker. she was reared in a home
ease and culture. After finishing
y education she spent much time in
! Stark County bank, her fathers
0sHtutton, and on more than one occa-
IN she had entire charge Of the insti-
uiOn. John D. Lang, an official of a
gsyeland mining company, recently
Ia an interesting story of an early ro-
anee of Ida SaXton.
lang was bookkeeper in the Stark
Ounty bank for ten years and taught
oOkkeeping to Miss Saxton. He re-
lied her fondness for dancing and
h early evidence she gave Of the ex-
vmely affectionate nature that char
ttsrized her later life. Whenever she
Uuld meet an urchin on the street she
vuld stop and kiss him. To the end
her life she showed her intense af-
ctiOn for children. 1t was a common
ling, even in the years since her hus-
snds death, for Mrs. Mckinley to
Up her carriage when driving along
street and call to her some pratt
ng child and kiss it or ask to en-
ace an attractive baby.
Nj. Lang said that while Miss Sax
D was still in her teens there ap-
Fed in Canton a fashionable young
ID Charles Letter, son of a congress-
N He appeared to have no serious
poses in life and no avocation.
Hdsome and young, he wooed Miss
rOn. Just when it looked as If his
would be successful her father in
Eed He said young Letter didn't
and this he considered a serious
back. From that time Letter
q saw the girl unless she had a
Qeron. Lang often acted as her
Nrt at parties.
ben Major Mckinley, whose legal
Ah were beginning to attract at
atOn, appeared on the scene. He be-
ne acquainted with the bankers
lighter, and all thoughts of other
o passed from her mind. When
eAinley was suggested for prosecut-
attorney, Mr.. Saxton gave him
aneal aid for the campaign, and
zen bis daughters hand was asked
the banker said to the handsome
md soldier-advocate, you are the
man have ever known to whom
sOud intrust my daughter"
ney were married on Jan, 20, 1871,
went to live in the Mckinley cot
on North Market street. Here
McKinley's health broke down
f the burden of grief that came
MN very few years. A daughter,
ne was born to her on Christmas
y lS71. A second daughter, Ida,
ae on April l, 1873, but lived only
months. Mrs. McKinley's mother
"a month before the second daugh-
vas born, and little Katie passed
a year and a half later. Then
oroken hearted mother became an
Md.
wen Mr.. Mckinley was in congress,
we made her home In Washing
anu on his campaign tours while
was congressman, governor and
Aluent she 1ourneyed with him
saeYer 1t was possible. The devo-
VI the McKinleys became a house
y aoFy In every corner of the land.
= Mckinley was fond Of the
a' and one Of the most intimate
.aG and house guests of the Nc
ess was the late Joseph Jefferson.
,ers were a passion with Mrs. Nc
wy In her quiet home life, most
pissed in an invalid chair, she
many hours In crocheting slip
more than $500 pairs she made
save away to friends as keepsakes,
~ - needy and to bazaars during her
= peaceful life, uneventful except
rejected glory of her distin-
4ed husbands career.
mckinley never failed to meet
soand in a charming morning
n va one occasion when she pro-
~ new one he remarked:
~ cream color is wonderfully be-
10 You" He even knew cream
nom yellow.
sou sure you like itr' she said.
uear. | never saw you look bet
~ al' mlng except that gown that
ee 10 the Presbyterian church
ne year before we were mar
ey 1oked for a half hour in