Oakfield High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Oakfield, WI)

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He was a genius, a great power in the land, a defender of the nationality of the states, an expander of the Federal Constitution and unalterably devoted to the perpetuity and integrity of the Union. His defects were pride, austerity, passions, extravagance but these were overbalanced by the warmth of his affections for his faithful friends, simplicity of manner and taste, courteous treatment of opponents, dignity of character, kindness to the poor, hospitality, enjoyment of rural scenes and sports, profound religious instincts, devotion to what he deemed the welfare of the country, independence of opinions and boldness in asserting them at any hazard and against all opposition, and unbounded contempt of all lies, shams and tricks. I hose traits have made his memory dear to all who knew him and because of his groat deeds, he has become one of our nation’s idols. Abraham Lincoln was also born a poor boy at a time when the country was in a poor condition, owing to the depression of trade and commerce. In Abe’s boyhood he was obliged to help support the family and consequently he early learned the use of the axe, maul aad wedge. Altho he had little opportunity to secure an education, he acquired a great love for reading, and each spare moment found him with a book. His desire for reading was so intense that he even carried a book to the field with him and sat up late at night reading by the glow of pine knots. He road of famous men and copied they sayings and when he began the study of anything he was never satisfied until he succeeded in getting to the root of all. He was for some years a lawyer in Springfield and nevertook a case unless he considered it just. Early in life Lincoln began the study of the slavery question and had formed a definite purpose of trying to accomplish its abolition. When he was elected to the presidency he realized that the nation put in his trust, was in danger of dissolution and war as a result of differences upon the slavery question. Rea'izing that to preserve the Union was his first duty and that the abolition of slavery was only secondary he heroically faced the problem of saving this nation with slavery rather than destroy slavery at the expence of national destruction. What other man was there who could have better taken charge of the government and guided the nation thru the Civil War, and proved to the South that the Union could not be destroyed ( He was so loved and adored that he was chosen for a second term, but only a few days of the second term had passed when he was shot in cold blood by an assassin. The nation mourned a great loss. Patient in defeat. calm in victory, Abraham Lincoln was recognized as a true savior of his country. The chief magistrate whose administration quelled a rebellion of eight millions of people, set free four million slaves, and vindicated the ability of the people, under all contingences, to maintain the government which rests upon their will, whose wisdom and unspotted integrity of character secured his re-election, a id who, finally, when his work was done, found his martyrdom which came to round his life and set the final seal upon his renown, has filled a place hitherto unoccupied in the annals of the world.

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HAROLD D. BENNETT HELEN HATCH

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M hy not this man who was incapable of animosity or revenge be called an idol { William McKinley, our twenty-fifth president was born in Niles, Ohio in 1843. 11 is parents were far from well-to-do and his education was not the best which the times afforded. When he was six years old, he went to the village school at Niles. When he was nine years old his father moved the family to Poland, Ohio. Here William soon became very popular; lie took great interest in debates and when a debating society was formed, he was elected president of it. He became a teacher and a iittle later a clerk in a Post Office. His mother speaking of him said: “I could always depend upon him. He never gave me a crossword and I don't believe he ever told me a lie.’’ Fires of the great Civil M ar had been smouldering for some time. When the call for volunteers came McKinley was among the first to enlist. He went into the army a mere boy of eighteen, knowing absolutely iOth-ing of service. He took part in some thirty engagements and served as Commissary Sergeant, Second and First Lieutaenants, Captain, Staff Officer and finally Major. He had but one furlough and was never absent from duty on account of sickness. General Hayes said, ” The night was never too dark, the weather never too cold, there was no sleet, or storm or snow or rain that stood in the way of his prompt and efficient performance of every duty.” Altho, while in his youth he was intended for the ministry, his ambitions led him toward the professions and he soon became a lawyer. When he was elected prosecuting attorney, he said: “I have been supported by many Democrats. I shall try to administer the office of prosecuting attorney with justice to all, and administer it with justice he did, as the records of the country show. Never was there a fairer prosecuting attorney than William McKinley. Every criminal prosecuted by him received what the law intended he should have, no more and no less. Because of his great integrity he was elected to Congress were he served for fourteen years and took an active part on the Tariff question. He was defeated for re-election a little later and was then elected governor of Ohio. He was elected President in 1896 and successfully piloted the nation thru the Spanish-American war. No one rejoiced more than he when the war was ended. He was so idolized by the American people that he was elected for a second term and while receiving his friends one day at the Buffalo Exposition, his life was boldly taken by an anarchist. He lingered only a few days and was carried to Canton, Ohio. As they laid him in that last resting place, a whole nation still in silent prayer and in tears. One thing worthy of notice about McKinley was that he made friends of his enemies with astounding rapidity. How well the words Mark Anthony said of Brutus may be applied to McKinley: His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up