Ida Saxton McKinley
1897-1907

Ida Saxton was born in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1847.
Her father was a wealthy banker and she attended the best schools. She finished her education with a tour of Europe.

She spent some time working as a cashier in her father's bank.

She met her future husband, William McKinley, at a picnic.

Library of Congress

Ida and William were married on January 25, 1871 when she was 23 and he was 27.

McKinley's first daughter was born on Christmas Day 1871. Their second baby Ida died in 1873. Her first daughter Katie died of typhoid fever in 1876. These events were devastating to Mrs. McKinley. She suffered from severe headaches and seizures.

In 1892, McKinley was elected governor of Ohio. They moved into a hotel across from the capitol building. Every day at 3 p.m. Governor McKinley would wave a handkerchief out the window to his wife and she would wave back from the hotel.

McKinley became President in 1897 and Ida did her best to serve as First Lady.

She would greet guests in the reception line seated on a velvet chair. She always sat next to the President who would cover her face with a handkerchief if she had a seizure.

After McKinley was assassinated, Ida returned to Canton, Ohio. She visited her husband's grave all most everyday.

She died on May 26, 1907 at the age of 59. President Theodore Roosevelt attended the funeral of Ida McKinleyShe is buried next to her husband and their two little daughters.

Visit our site on U.S. Presidents

Books and Websites

Books

Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladiesby James Barber and Amy Pastan.
First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormeley.

Websites

http://www.firstladies.org/ National First Ladies Library
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.htmlLibrary of Congress, Images of the First Ladies

Comments and/or corrections should be sent to Jim at jim@anewadventure.org.