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The Illustrious Life of William McKinley Our Martyred President
The Illustrious Life of William McKinley Our Martyred President is a biographical book written by Halstead, Murat. The book chronicles the life of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, from his early years to his assassination in 1901. The author provides a detailed account of McKinley's childhood, his education, his political career, and his presidency. The book also covers McKinley's personal life, including his marriage to Ida Saxton and their family life. Halstead, Murat, who was a contemporary of McKinley, provides an insider's perspective on the events that shaped McKinley's life and presidency. The author also delves into McKinley's policies, including his foreign policy, his economic policies, and his stance on civil rights. The book provides a comprehensive look at McKinley's life and legacy, and how his presidency impacted the United States. The Illustrious Life of William McKinley Our Martyred President is a well-researched and engaging book that provides readers with a deeper understanding of one of America's most important presidents. The book is suitable for history buffs, political enthusiasts, and anyone interested in learning more about the life and legacy of William McKinley.1901. Superbly illustrated with numerous engravings made from original photographs. The true story of the assassination, in the shadow of death, passing away, funeral ceremonies; together with his ancestry, boyhood, student days, his career as soldier, lawyer, statesman, governor, and president, the principles for which he stood and the triumphs he achieved, and his home life. Anarchy, its history influences and dangers with a sketch of the assassin. Written by Halstead, who had the personal acquaintance, friendship and confidence of William McKinley. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
- GenresPresidents
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Murat Halstead
191 books1 followerMurat Halstead was a nineteenth century American journalist, editor and author.
In his youth, Halstead worked on his family's farm during the spring and summer months and attended school during the late fall and winter. His mother taught Halstead how to read before he was four years old. It is said that as a boy he read such books as Plutarch’s Lives, Josephus, and Rollin’s Ancient History. Halstead enrolled in the Farmers' College near Cincinnati, Ohio in 1848 and graduated four years later.
At the age of eighteen, Halstead began providing articles to various newspapers in Cincinnati. In 1853, he became a reporter with the Cincinnati Commercial. Within a year, Halstead became a partial owner of the paper. By 1865, he was the editor of the Commercial. It later merged with the Cincinnati Gazette and the new paper was then called the Commercial Gazette. Halstead served as its editor.
Halstead was present at the execution of John Brown, in 1859. He personally reported several battles during Civil War, and was a correspondent during the Franco-Prussian War, where he sided emphatically with the Germans.
As an editor, Halstead routinely criticized politicians for their corrupt actions. He especially disliked the fact that United States Senate seats were usually given to the wealthiest men in a state. He also strongly supported the Republican Party's platform.
In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison nominated Halstead to be the United States ambassador to Germany. The United States Senate refused to approve the appointment, probably because he had raised the ire of some Senators alleging in editorials that they had purchased their seats.
Halstead later moved to New York City, where he published stories in the Cosmopolitan Monthly and served as editor of the Brooklyn Standard Union. At the start of the Spanish–American War, he once again became a war correspondent and went to the Philippines. His later years he spent writing books, mainly biographies, and contributing articles to magazines.
Halstead died at his home in Cincinnati from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1908.
—from Wikipedia, obituary in the New York Times and Ohio History Central (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/M...)
In his youth, Halstead worked on his family's farm during the spring and summer months and attended school during the late fall and winter. His mother taught Halstead how to read before he was four years old. It is said that as a boy he read such books as Plutarch’s Lives, Josephus, and Rollin’s Ancient History. Halstead enrolled in the Farmers' College near Cincinnati, Ohio in 1848 and graduated four years later.
At the age of eighteen, Halstead began providing articles to various newspapers in Cincinnati. In 1853, he became a reporter with the Cincinnati Commercial. Within a year, Halstead became a partial owner of the paper. By 1865, he was the editor of the Commercial. It later merged with the Cincinnati Gazette and the new paper was then called the Commercial Gazette. Halstead served as its editor.
Halstead was present at the execution of John Brown, in 1859. He personally reported several battles during Civil War, and was a correspondent during the Franco-Prussian War, where he sided emphatically with the Germans.
As an editor, Halstead routinely criticized politicians for their corrupt actions. He especially disliked the fact that United States Senate seats were usually given to the wealthiest men in a state. He also strongly supported the Republican Party's platform.
In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison nominated Halstead to be the United States ambassador to Germany. The United States Senate refused to approve the appointment, probably because he had raised the ire of some Senators alleging in editorials that they had purchased their seats.
Halstead later moved to New York City, where he published stories in the Cosmopolitan Monthly and served as editor of the Brooklyn Standard Union. At the start of the Spanish–American War, he once again became a war correspondent and went to the Philippines. His later years he spent writing books, mainly biographies, and contributing articles to magazines.
Halstead died at his home in Cincinnati from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1908.
—from Wikipedia, obituary in the New York Times and Ohio History Central (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/M...)
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September 23, 2025An older neighbor showed me a copy of this 1901 book, and it blew me away.
I just found this used hardback on Amazon for $12 and $4.99 shipping. Looks like the same original book I looked at nearly a decade ago.
This book came out just after the McKinley Assassination in 1900-1901. A recent immigrant and anarchist shot him, so various anarchist groups around the country were being investigated by the government. The FBI wasn't created until 1924.
On page 82, there is a blurb about government investigators going to my Moms birthplace near my hometown. Several Sicilians had been imported to elevate a railroad line down to Indianapolis (55 miles or so). In Hartford City, Indiana, they interviewed some of these immigrants and found McKinley had been on a list of those doomed. One of those Sicilians shot and killed my great grandads brother in the 1920's, a bar fight over the same barmaid. Funny thing is, a married-in Aunt to that same family had a full Sicilian mother. I knew her well growing up, didn't snap to the fact she was half Italian. I just knew she made the best lasagna I had ever eaten, actually the first I ever had also.
Also, on the same page, a United Brethern minister named Joseph A. Wildman, in nearby Huntington Indiana, was tarred and feathered for saying that he wanted to give McKinley his fair due, but that he was nothing but a political demagogue while living. My maternal grandad had a 40 acre farm in Huntington in his later years, it is the hometown of Dan Quayle. My Moms family were all Democrats, so probably weren't all in on McKinley either. Lots of copperheads in that area during the Civil War, not sure about my people. I know one was a farrier in the Union Army out of the Columbus Ohio area, he later brought his family across the line into Indiana.
I just found this used hardback on Amazon for $12 and $4.99 shipping. Looks like the same original book I looked at nearly a decade ago.
This book came out just after the McKinley Assassination in 1900-1901. A recent immigrant and anarchist shot him, so various anarchist groups around the country were being investigated by the government. The FBI wasn't created until 1924.
On page 82, there is a blurb about government investigators going to my Moms birthplace near my hometown. Several Sicilians had been imported to elevate a railroad line down to Indianapolis (55 miles or so). In Hartford City, Indiana, they interviewed some of these immigrants and found McKinley had been on a list of those doomed. One of those Sicilians shot and killed my great grandads brother in the 1920's, a bar fight over the same barmaid. Funny thing is, a married-in Aunt to that same family had a full Sicilian mother. I knew her well growing up, didn't snap to the fact she was half Italian. I just knew she made the best lasagna I had ever eaten, actually the first I ever had also.
Also, on the same page, a United Brethern minister named Joseph A. Wildman, in nearby Huntington Indiana, was tarred and feathered for saying that he wanted to give McKinley his fair due, but that he was nothing but a political demagogue while living. My maternal grandad had a 40 acre farm in Huntington in his later years, it is the hometown of Dan Quayle. My Moms family were all Democrats, so probably weren't all in on McKinley either. Lots of copperheads in that area during the Civil War, not sure about my people. I know one was a farrier in the Union Army out of the Columbus Ohio area, he later brought his family across the line into Indiana.
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