Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Ida SAXTON
The 25th President of the United States of America, William McKinley, married Ida Saxton whose great-great-grandmother was Sarah Harlan #209. (Sarah descended from John #44, James #11 and George #3.) Sarah married George Sexton, and their first child was James #809. It was James who changed the last name from Sexton to Saxton. His first child was John #2806, whose first child was James Asbury Saxton #7102, who married Catherine Dewalt. James and Catherine were the parents of Ida Saxton McKinley #1036
At the time of her marriage to William McKinley, Ida was working as a cashier in her father's bank in Canton, OH. The McKinleys had two daughters, but one died as an infant and the other daughter died at four years of age. After losing their daughters, the shock and grief overwhelmed Ida and she was an invalid the rest of her life. McKinley was very devoted to her and cared for all her needs.
McKinley was elected to the House of Representatives in 1876 and was elected governor of Ohio in 1891. In 1896 he was elected President of the United States and re-elected in 1900. Ida was not able to manage the White House because of her illness, so relatives often served as official hostesses. When the President stood in receiving lines at receptions, she usually sat in a chair beside the
President. It is said that the couple was very devoted to each other and enjoyed long drives in their horse-drawn carriage. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, McKinley seated his wife next to him during official dinners so he could help her if necessary. Protocol directed that the President's wife sit across the table from him, but he ignored this social rul
McKinley was fatally wounded in 1901 after speaking at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, but managed to say to his secretary, "My wife 'be careful how you tell her' oh be careful." His wife Ida was at the home of the president of the Exposition and did not learn of the shooting for several hours. She was so shocked that she never returned to the White House and didn't attend the burial. Ida lived her remaining years in Canton, OH, and died in 1907.
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