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Ida McKinley Facts & Worksheets

Ida Saxton McKinley was the wife of President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States.

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Ida Saxton McKinley was the wife of President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. Ida McKinley served as the First Lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901.

See the fact file below for more information on the Ida McKinley
or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Ida McKinley worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Ida Saxton Mckinley served in the role of First Lady of the United States from March 4, 1897 until September 14, 1901.
  • She was preceded by Frances Cleveland and succeeded by Edith Roosevelt.
  • Before being the First Lady of the United States, Ida Saxton McKinley also served as First Lady of Ohio from January 11, 1892 until January 13, 1896.
  • Ida Saxton McKinley was born on June 8, 1847 in Canton, Ohio, U.S.
  • Ida Saxton married William McKinley in 1871.
  • Ida and William McKinley had two children.
  • Ida McKinley died on May 26, 1907, due to epilepsy.
  • McKinley was buried in the McKinley National Memorial.

FAMILY

  • Ida Saxton McKinley was born in a house owned by her maternal grandparents, George and Christiana Dewalt. The house was located on Market Avenue in Canton, Ohio, U.S.
  • James Ashbaugh Saxton was Ida’s father.
    • Born on May 1, 1816 in Canton, Ohio.
    • He was a hardware store owner, banker, businessman, real estate developer, investor, and property owner.
    • The Saxton’s were close and formed business networks. James was one of the prominent figures that resulted from his connections.
    • He died on March 16, 1887 in Canton, Ohio.
  • Ida Saxton McKinley’s mother was Catherine “Kate” DeWalt Saxton.
    • She was born on August 18, 1827 in Canton, Ohio.
    • She married James Saxton in August 1846.
    • She died on March 14, 1873 in Canton, Ohio.
    • Kate was a highly educated woman who attended two boarding schools in succession.
    • She was extremely close with Ida, as if they weren’t mother and daughter, but sisters or friends.
  • James Saxton remarried after Kate’s death. He married his second wife, Hester “Hettie” Bradshaw Medill on August 6, 1882.
  • Hettie was born in 1832 and died on March 4, 1906.
  • Hettie was a widow of James Medill, brother of Joseph Medill, Chicago Tribune’s publisher.
  • Ida Saxton McKinley was the eldest among her two siblings:
    • Mary “Pina” Saxton Barber (1848-1917)
    • George Saxton (1849-1898)

EDUCATION

  • Ida McKinley went to the Canton Union School from 1853 until 1861.
  • Betsy Mix Cowles, founder of Ohio’s Women’s Rights Association, and the school principal, became Ida’s mentor.
  • Ida received basic education in English, Math, Science, music, and drawing.
  • Ida boarded at the Delphi Academy in Clinton County, New York, from 1862 until 1863.
  • Betsy Cowles left the Canton Union school in 1857, and went to teach at the Delphi Academy. Ida followed her mentor.
  • Ida boarded at the Sanford School in Cleveland, Ohio from 1863 until 1865.
  • Ida took classes in history, geography, advanced mathematics, penmanship, Latin, French, Greek, music, singing, drawing, painting, sculpting, “domestic economy,” French literature, natural sciences, moral sciences, and hygiene.
  • Ida went to Brooke Hall Female Seminary in Media, Pennsylvania, from 1865 until 1868.
  • This is where Ida finished her studies and refined aspects that an elite woman should possess.

LIFE BEFORE MARRIAGE

  • James employed Ida at the Stark County Bank after finishing her studies.
  • Later on, Ida was promoted to cashier, and soon, bank manager, when James Saxton entrusted the bank to her due to his absences in Canton.
  • Ida worked at his father’s bank from 1869 until 1871.
  • Ida also volunteered as a Sunday School teacher in the First Presbyterian Church.
  • Ida and William McKinley met in 1868, at a summer picnic on Meyer’s Lake. Ida was dating other men at the time.
  • James hired McKinley to serve Stark County bank as a prosecuting attorney. He urged William to date Ida.

MARRIAGE

  • William and Ida married on January 25, 1871 at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio.
  • William and Ida had two daughters, Katherine “Katie” McKinley, and Ida “Little Ida” McKinley.

CONTRIBUTIONS AS FIRST LADY

  • Ida strived to serve well in spite of her health condition – epilepsy.
  • Ida used to sit in a large armchair as she welcomed guests, instead of standing beside William.
  • In order for her to sit beside William at formal dinners, the seating protocol was changed.
  • Ida hosted weekly receptions for women.
  • Ida did not have a particular advocacy or issue focused on, but supported two specific organizations.
  • Crittenden House, an organization that helped homeless people, particularly indigent and unemployed women.
  • The American Branch of the Salvation Army, primarily because it was founded by Evangeline Booth, a good friend of Ida.
  • Ida supported various organizations by donating a pair of slippers she knitted, instead of appearing to the public. Her donation would then be auctioned.
  • She sponsored musical events in the White House.

Ida McKinley Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Ida McKinley across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Ida McKinley worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Ida Saxton McKinley who was the wife of President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. Ida McKinley served as the First Lady of the United States from 1897 until 1901.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Ida McKinley Facts
  • Ida’s Biography
  • Educated
  • McKinley Crossword
  • Picture Narrative
  • President McKinley
  • Photo Journal
  • Event Sequencing
  • Dress Design
  • First Ladies Feature
  • My Advocacy

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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