William McKinley was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Canton, Ohio, in 1867.

It was from the front porch of this home that William McKinley conducted both of his presidential campaigns. In 1896 he gave prepared speeches from the porch to an estimated 750,000 people who would travel by train to Canton, then parade up the street to McKinley's house. In 1900 he made one front porch speech announcing his candidacy, then sat back and cruised to a comfortable victory. The McKinleys returned to the house as often as possible during his presidency. Ida McKinley returned here following her husband's assassination and funeral, and it remained her residence until her death in 1907.

The picture dates to the time of McKinley's presidency. The house was moved sometime after Ida's death, and torn down in the 1930's; lumber from the famous front porch was used to make park benches and shelters.

Picture Source

Floyd I. McMurray Pathways of Our Presidents Indianapolis:The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1939

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This page was last updated on December 07, 2018.