On Jan. 29, 1843, William McKinley, 25th president of the United States, was born in Niles, Ohio.

McKinley attended Allegheny College and was teaching at Kerr School in Poland, Ohio, when he enlisted during the Civil War. He began as a private in the Union Army; and, after distinguishing himself, was mustered out as a brevet major. He studied law in Albany, N.Y., and opened a law practice in Canton after the war.

At 34, McKinley, a Republican, was elected to a seat in the U.S. Congress and served 14 years in the House. He then served two terms as Ohio governor. The biggest issues of the presidential election of 1896 were the economy and the gold standard. The country was suffering a depression and Democrats clamored for unlimited coinage of gold and silver, while eastern Republicans feared the results of that action.

McKinley spoke to more than 750,000 people from his front porch in Canton and was noted for handing out memorabilia such as campaign buttons, walking sticks, soap and umbrellas.

McKinley was re-elected in 1900 but died from an assassin's bullet in September 1901.

Rebecca Goodman

Ohio Moments will appear during 2003. Have a suggestion? Contact Rebecca Goodman at rgoodman@enquirer.com or 768-8361.