McKinley, Mrs. Ida Saxton

     MCKINLEY, Mrs. Ida Saxton, wife of William McKinley, twenty-fourth President of the United States, born in Canton, Ohio, 8th June, 1847. The families of her parents were among the pio- [487][488] neers of Ohio, and her grandfather, John Saxton, established the Canton “Repository,” one of the oldest newspapers in the State. She inherited a cheerful, bright temperament of a womanly life under the drawback of ill health, and from her father practical ability and good judgment in all the affairs of the world. Her delicacy of constitution made it necessary to shorten her school days, and she left the young ladies’ school in Media, Pa., at the age of sixteen years. Her practical father believed in a business education for young women, something unusual in those days, and she spent some time in a bank as his assistant. A six-month tour abroad completed her education, and upon her return she began a social life, which resulted in her marriage to Major McKinley on the 25th January, 1871. Although delicate from her earliest years, invalidism did not make Mrs. McKinley its victim until after her marriage. Though she has been unfitted for active participation in the social enjoyments which Washington life affords, she has been in the highest sense of the word a happy woman, in a more than ordinarily happy married life, in the friendship of those who know her worth, and in the performance of charitable works, unknown to any except the recipients and members of her own family. Those who know her best say she has been an inspiration to her husband in his political career, his most faithful constituent and adviser, and proud of his success. After four years’ residence at Columbus, Ohio, Governor and Mrs. McKinley returned in January, 1896, to Canton. A magazine article in 1891 described Mrs. McKinley under the heading, “Unknown Wives of Well-known Men.” The presidential campaign of 1896 made this characterization obsolete, and since 4th March, 1897, she has been the honored mistress of the executive mansion at Washington, In consequence of her delicate health Mrs. McKinley cannot respond to every social demand her position levies, and will be in a great measure relieved by Mrs. Hobart, the Vice-President’s wife, who will preside when necessary at affairs of state. Both are women of refinement and tact.