The lives of William McKinley and Garret A. Hobart, Republican presidental candidates of 1896; an authorized impartial, authentic, and complete history of their public career and private lives, from boyhood to the present date, with anecdotes, incidents, personal reminiscences, graphic pen-pictures, and thrilling story; containing also the complete history of the Republican party from its rise to the present time ...

Front matter

THE LIVES

OF

WILLIAM McKINLEY

Chapter I

the Mckinley family — bred in contests for freedom and independence.

William McKinley's Scotch Ancestry — Descended from Macduff, who Killed Macbeth — The McKinlay Clan and Mc- Kinlay the Trooper — " Not too Much " — The McKinlay of whom Burns Sang — Emigration of James and William Mc- Kinley to this Country about 1742 — Northern McKinley's and Southern McKinleys — William McKinley's Great Grandfather in the Revolution — Workers in Iron Industry — Mc- Kinleys's Mother — Thorough Patriots 35

Chapter II

BIRTH AND BOYHOOD — EARLY INFLUENCES IN THE McKINLEY HOME AT NILES.

The Birthplace of McKinley and its Associations — Influences of His Father and Mother — No Chances for Idleness in the McKinley Family — William and his Share in the family Woodpile — A More Bookish than Boyish Boy — The Household Library — Standard Works of History — Shakespeare a Favorite — Dickens for Fiction — Seizing every Opportunity for Study— After-dinner Readings in the Family Circle— Every Night. Some Member of the Family Read Aloud for an Hour — Early to Bed and Early to Rise — Father McKinley a Whig, Free Soiler, and Protectionist — He Talked Politics with his Children — Religious Influences 45

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x i v CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Education — Removal To Poland And A Change Of En Vironment

McKinley's Brief Attendance at a Common School — Removal of the McKinley Family to Poland — William Enters the Seminary at Nine Years of Age — Some of the Teachers and their Influence upon McKinley — His Sister Annie — McKinley Takes to Creek and Latin — Avails Himself of an Opportunity to Study Hebrew with a Methodist Minister — A Literary and Oratorical Development — The Literary Society at the Seminary—Ringing Debates on Burning Questions of the Hour — Scrupulous Care in the Maintenance of the Society's Room — No Trespassing on the New Carpet, except in Slippers — McKinley a burner of Midnight Oil — Fassing the Examination to Enter the Junior Class at Allegheny College — 111 Health — Clerk in a Country Store, 53

Chapter IV. A Volunteer In The Ranks At Eighteen — Enlist- Ment At Youngstown

Exciting Events Following McKinley's Winter as a Teacher — President Lincoln's Call for Volunteers — A Hearty Response from Ohio — The Gathering of the Poland Boys at the Sparrow House — The "Poland Guards" and their March to Youngstown — McKinley could not at first get the Consent of his Parents — His Determination on Returning from Youngstown to so to the War — He Pleads his Cause in the McKinley Family and Conquers — Returns to Youngstown and Enlists — The Famous Twenty-third Ohio — Old Muskets Provided for the Boys — At first Refused bnt Accepted after a Speech from Major Hayes McKinley Carries his Musket through the War — Its Safe Keeping now at Canton — The Twenty-third Ordered to West Virginia — Their first Engagement a Victory Over the Rebels — What McKinley Says of it, . . GO

CONTENTS. xv

CHAPTEE V.

A SERGEANT AT NINETEEN — FIERCE WARFARE FOR McKlNLEY AND HIS COMRADES.

Severe Trials in Winter Quarters — McKinley Promoted to be Commissary-Sergeant — His Strict Attention to Duty — Executive Ability Recognized by his Commanders — Eulogized by General Hayes and General Hastings — The Breaking up of Camp — Advance upon the Enemy — A Brave Defense — Cut off from Supplies — Hunger in Camp — A March of One Hundred Miles in Three Days under a Burning Sun — The Ride to Washington — A Hot Fight at South Mountain — Three Desperate Bayonet Charges — McKinley's Own Account of the Battle, 70

Chapter VI. Second Lieutenant At Nineteen — Promoted For Bravery At Antietam

Antietam, the Bloodiest Day of the Civil War— The Hard Struggle around the Corn-field Surrounded by Woods — Varying Fortunes of the Day — No time for Rest or for Refreshment — Famished and Thirsty — Stragglers give Commissary-Sergeant McKinley an Idea — Two Mule Teams Loaded with Hot Coffee and Hot Meats — McKinley's Brave Dash under Constant Fire — Cheers for McKinley and his Coffee — Fighting with Renewed Energy — The Day Won — McKinley Promoted to be Second Lieutenant for his Gallantry — Heading off Morgan's Remarkable Raid — The Terrible March to Join Crook, 79

Chapter VII. First Lieutenant At Twenty — Battle Of Cloyd Mountain

McKinley's Rapid Promotion — Made First Lieutenant — His Tact and Ability — Debates in Winter Quarters — The Expedition to Join General Crook — Tiresome Marches over a Rough Country — Skirmishes with the Enemy — A Dash xvi CONTENTS.

across the Meadows, through the Stream, and up the Hill — Shaking the Water out of their Boots — A Terrible Charge and a Murderous Fire — Scaling the Fortifications — Hand to Hand Struggle in the Fort — Rebels Driven Out — Burning the Bridges — Crossing the Alleghanies Four Times and the Bine Ridge Twice — Marching a Day and all Night without Sleeping, 88

CHAPTEE VIII.

Mckinley at kernstown — a ride in the face of

DEATH.

Deceived as to Early's Movements — Crook's Troops Left Alone in the Field — Worn Out by Hard Marches and Fighting — Aroused by the Booming of Cannon on a Bright Sunday Morning — Preparing for the Battle — Ohio Men Led to the Front of the Line — Lieutenant McKinley one of the Staff Officers — Gallant Resistance of the Staff Brigade — Hayes Sends McKinley on a Dangerous Mission — He Gallops across the Field in Front of the Enemy — Shells Burst about him and Cannon Balls Plough the Ground in his Path — Saving the Guns from the Enemy — He comforts an Old Lady, . 95

Chapter IX

A CAPTxVIN AT TWENTY-ONE — AID-DE-CAMP ON SHERIDAN'S STAFF.

McKinley's Quick Promotion after his Heroic Conduct at Kernstown — Made Captain of one of the Bravest Companies in the Twenty-third — Acting on Sheridan's Staff — Daily Skirmishes in the Shenandoah Valley — Fierce Engagement at Berry ville — McKinley's Horse Shot under him — Firing Stopped by the Surgeons and Burial Parties — Battle of Opequan — Must Cross a Slough or Die — Fierce Charge up a Steep Bank — Reinforcements from the Cavalry — Complete Dispersion of the Rebels — McKinley's Quickness of Action and Good Judgment — Battle of Fisher's Hill, . . .107

CONTENTS. X vii