The Washington herald., 1907-05-27
BORN-CANTON-lS47.

BORN-CANTON-ls47.
Mrs Mckinley was Miss Ida Saxton
and was the daughter Of John \. SaNton,
a banker. Of Canton. Ohio, and grand
daughter Of John saxton, the veteran
Ohio journalist, who in 1915 established
the Ohio Repository.
Mrs. Mckinley was one Of three chill
dren. and was born in Canton in l4t
John A. SaXton had the idea that girls
should be able 10 provide for themselves,
and after his daughter had been gradu-
ated from a private school at Media. Pa,
and had had years travel abroad, he
made her d clerk in his bank, Later she
WAS made cashier, her father saying that
she got the place strictly on merit.
II was in 1861 that Miss SaXton, the
bank cashier. met Mai Mckinley, who
had returned from the war and was
something Of a hero The major went to
visit his sister, who lived in Canton. and
met his future wife al a picnic. They
were married on January =. 1871 I'm the
Presbyterian church in Canton. After
the marriage the young couple took up
their residence in Canton in a home given
TO them by Mrs. McKinleys father, and
Mr.. Mckinley started 10 practice law
there.
Ii was while living in Canton that Mrs
Mckinley met with the bereavement
which shattered her health early in life.
This was the death Of their two children
Kate and Ida. The former was born IN
1871. and lived 10 be three years old. The
latter was born in 1913. and lived but a
few months. Their deaths, following
shortly that Of Mrs. McKinley's mother
brought on nervous affiicton, and it
was in his devotion to his wife. thus early
made an invalid, that Mr. Mckinley
showed some of the qualities that after
4 ward endeared him so to the nation.
Heard Her Husbands Speeches.
| In the fourteen years Mr.. Mckinley was
in Congress, and in his term as governor
Of Ohio, and later President this afflic-
/ ton Of Mrs McKinleys was bar 20
many social pleasures which might other
wise have been enjoyed, but even HIS
many public duties never seemed 10 in
/ terfere with her husbands tender care
/ for her.
/ When Mr. Mckinley was governor Of
/ Ohio he and his wife lived In the Canton
cottage they had begun housekeeping m,
and Il was there that he received the del
1 egations that called upon him IN the
memorable campaign Of 1896. on many
Of these occasions Mrs Mckinley would
stand at a front window overlooking the
famous porch. and it was said that she
heard nearly every speech her husband
made in that campaign.
After the election Mrs Mckinley was
at times able to discharge some Of the
social duties falling 10 the mistress OF
/ the White House She had frequently
visited the White House before as a
guest Of Mrs Rutherford b. Hayes. She
I accompanied her husband on most OF his
trips and when he started out on the tour
Of the South and West few months
before the tragedy at Buffalo, Mrs Nc
( kinley went with him. When the party
reached San Francisco Mrs Mckinley
was taken so ill that for some days hei
I life was despaired Of Her husband re-
mained almost constantly at her bedside
and as soon as she showed improvement
she was taken back 20 Washington.
Not With Him when shot.
She accompanied her husband again or
the fateful Journey to Buffalo in Septem
Der, 1901, having improved greatly fl
health in the summer. Mrs. Mckinley
was not with her husband when he wa.
shot She had accompanied him tha
morning on the trip 10 Niagara Falls, bu
becoming tired had returned from th'
Falls to John G. Mllburn's house, where
the Presidential party was staying, the
President going TO the exposition for tht
reception which had been arranged. TIT
news Of the shooting was broken TO he
shortly before the President was brought
to the house.
Throughout the week the President lin
gered Mrs. Mckinley was the object o.
much solicitude. and her pathetic fgur'
ELECTED the sympathy Of tie entire world
She was one Of the last persons 10 whom
her husband spoke before he died. Sh'
accompanied her husbands body Z
Washington and then 10 Canton wher'
she took up her residence in the housI
to which she had gone as a bride. BY he
husbands will all his property was lef
10 her in trust
After her return 10 Canton Mrs Nc
Kiuley was critically i'll for a time, bu
later on she improved so that her healtl
became better than It had been for years
Since the death of her husband she ha,
made a point of driving out 10 his toni
every morning with flowers. II was par
OF the daily routine Of her life.