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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | Ida Saxton McKinley |
| Address |
Canton, Ohio , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
June 08, 1847
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| Died | May 26, 1907
(59 years)
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| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | Thomas Walker
Feb 02, 2004 03:49pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Born: June 8, 1847 – Canton, Ohio
Died: May 26, 1907 – Canton, Ohio
Father: James A. Saxton (died 1887)
Mother: Catherine DeWalt Saxton (died 1873)
Ancestry: English
Siblings: Mary Saxton Barber, George Saxton
Physical Description: Fairly tall, with auburn hair (which, before her illness, was very long), blue eyes and a good figure. After her illness was confirmed as epilepsy, the medications often left her listless and her senses dulled. Her eyes were sometimes unable to focus. Her beauty was of a frail, faded kind. Her hair was worn short and cropped because she could no longer bear its weight.
Religion: Presbyterian
Education: Educated locally in Canton, Ohio, but also educated privately in Delhi, New York and Cleveland. She and her sister, Mary, attended the finishing school at Brooke Academy in Media, Pennsylvania. As with many young ladies in the nineteenth century, Ida and her sister had a tour of Europe in 1869 – 70, visiting England, Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland. Upon her return from Europe, Ida found that her father had purchased her grandparents house (now the site of the First Ladies National Historic Site). She lived in this house until her marriage. She also worked at her father’s bank as a teller and even managed it when he was away.
Husband: William McKinley (1843 – 1901)
Courtship and Marriage: Ida and “Major” McKinley met a number of times before her “Grand Tour”, but it was only after her return in 1870 that the romance became serious. Ida soon became devoted and even possessive of “her Beloved’ and he equally so. They married at the First Presbyterian Church on January 25, 1871. Both Methodist and Presbyterian ministers officiated because Ida was Presbyterian and William was Methodist. (Ida later became a member of the Methodist Church). They honeymooned in New York.
Age at Marriage: 23 years, 231 days
Personality: Before her illness, Ida was very social, outgoing and determined. She had a great deal of charm, intelligence and financial sense. She could, to some, appear strong-willed and opinionated. To others, she seemed sweet and gentle. Both impressions were probably accurate. She had the ability to work at her father’s bank, handled the finances of the “Grand Tour” well and might have been a dynamic First Lady had fate not stepped in. After several personal tragedies around 1873, she developed epilepsy. Because of her illness, Ida McKinley was a semi-invalid, often morose, depressed and irritable – with everyone except her husband, whom she adored. She could rally at times, showing strength and determination, but this caused her to have increased seizures. When feeling well, she could be cheerful, kindly and concerned for those around her. A good study of the medications she took to control her seizures might give us a better understanding of her mood swings.
Children:
1. Katherine McKinley (December 25, 1871 – June 25, 1875)
2. Ida McKinley (March 31, 1873 – August 22, 1873)
Years Before the White House: The deaths in 1873 of both Ida’s mother and her second daughter, Ida, deeply distressed Ida McKinley. The further loss of her older daughter, Katie, in June 1875 caused the development of Ida’s seizures. Today we know that a severe trauma can trigger epileptic fits. However, in 1875, epilepsy was regarded with distaste. Therefore, the public was shielded from the true nature of Ida McKinley’s illness. Throughout her husband’s career, Ida took an interest in helping when she could, traveling with him whenever possible. After he was elected to Congress in 1877, Ida lived with William in Washington. While her involvement in his career was limited by necessity due to her epilepsy, she nonetheless had input. For example, his involvement in Canton’s temperance movement was due to Ida’s interest. No one could have been more devoted to his invalid wife than McKinley. It was a devotion gratefully received and returned. Her wishes and desires became the center of his life, and he never failed in his thoughtfulness for her. As the wife of the Governor of Ohio, Ida held court from her hotel room. At three o’clock every afternoon, McKinley would wave a handkerchief from his window at the Capitol so she could see it from her window. When William’s political career was threatened due to a friend defaulting on a loan William co-signed, Ida put her $92,000 estate at his disposal. (Friends came to William’s rescue, so Ida’s money was not used, but her gesture was applauded). In the 1896 Presidential election, Ida’s illness because the source of many wild and unfounded rumors. To counter this speculation, a campaign biography was written about her and added to the one about her husband. For the first time, the image of a (future) First Lady was used on a campaign pin. Ida made every attempt to appear at her husband’s side. He, in return, ran his campaign primarily from Canton, in order to stay close to Ida. On the whole, the public responded well to Ida’s image, and they sympathized with her ill health (although it’s nature was not disclosed).
First Lady (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901): Though Ida’s health made it impossible for her to purse an “active” role as First Lady, Ida made it clear from the start, however, that she would be the First Lady. No surrogates were used, and no one’s offer to step in was accepted. This put a great deal of pressure on both the President and Mrs. McKinley. The President made a change in protocol by insisting that his wife be placed at his side at dinners (so he could wheel her out at the first sign of a seizure), rather than across the table as was customary. Because she also suffered from phlebitis, Ida often received her guests while seated. Mrs. Hobart, wife of the Vice President, stood at her side and urged people along if they took Ida’s attention for too long. While often kindly and considerate, Ida McKinley could often be testy and easily irritated, as often noted by visitors to the White House. In spite of her health, Ida McKinley often accompanied her husband on his trips, including journeys to New Orleans, Boston, New York, Hot Springs, San Antonio and Los Angeles. One of Ida’s happiest moments came in the summer of 1899 when William surprised her with the news that he had repurchased the house they had lived in as a young couple in Canton. They spent 3 days making plans for the house they would live in after leaving Washington, referring to these days as a “second honeymoon”. According to some sources, Ida McKinley took an active interest in America’s role in the Philippines, probably from a missionary point of view. After returning from their trip to California (where Ida nearly died of an infection), the McKinley’s went on to Buffalo for the Pan-American Exposition. On September 6, 1901, an anarchist fatally wounded the President. His first thought was for his wife. After lingering for eight days, William McKinley died on September 14, 1901. Ida was at his side, holding his hand. Ida showed great fortitude and courage, which did not fail her during the ordeal of the funeral in Washington and Canton, and the burial in Canton.
Death: May 26, 1907 in Canton, Ohio. Her last years were spent alone and in seclusion. Though she received President Roosevelt when he came to Canton, she saw very few people except for her sister and children. She spent her last days praying to be at her husband’s side.
Burial: McKinley’s Tomb in Canton, Ohio
Legacy: While she cannot be regarded as a dynamic First Lady, Ida McKinley’s early life and personality show that the potential was there. Her drive, charm and financial sense impressed her father enough to leave the bank under her care when he left the city. It was only personal tragedies that robbed her of chances of being a dynamic First Lady. It should be remembered that, as opposed to some First Ladies such as Margaret Taylor and Eliza Johnson who chose not to perform the duties of First Lady, Ida McKinley did her best to fulfill her role. She never allowed anyone or anything to keep her from her husband’s side. If the record she left is not totally successful, one can admire both her courage and her determination. Her legacy was not one of success, but one of doing the best job she could.
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