from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, October 9, 1902—page 1, column 4:
ARCHIBALD McKINLEY
Death of A Well Known Man Highly Esteemed
This community was greatly shocked to learn of the death of Archibald McKinley which occurred Saturday after a brief illness. His illness was a derangement of the digestive organs. He was taken sick Thursday afternoon and died Saturday, aged sixty-nine years, ten months and twelve days. The funeral was Tuesday morning from the Methodist church, the services being conducted by Rev. Smith and under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. Interment was in the south cemetery.
Uncle Arch, as he was commonly known, was born a short distance southwest of town and his entire life was spent within sight of his birthplace. He was the son of Wesley and Nancy McKinley and was born Nov. 24, 1832. He was married to Jane Pierson Dec. 19, 1856. His father died before he was seven years of age and while a mere boy in his teens his elder brother died and Archibald became the whole support of his widowed mother. His father was a pioneer school teacher but to Archibald, on account of having the burdens of life placed early upon him, the privileges of a school education were denied. Yet he was a man of good judgment and of general information.
He was not a church member, but had strong convictions and practiced in his daily life the principles of Christianity. He was quick in his ministrations of help. To every home in time of sickness and death he went expressing his sympathy and giving his aid. His upright, honest character commanded the respect of all.
His long life among this people gave him a wide acquaintance and he was held in high esteem. His character and manner were of that rugged kind developed by the hardships of his early life, yet beneath his plain, direct manners was a nature as tender and sympathetic as a child's. He was a good citizen and could always be counted as one whose influence would be on the side of right. This people can name few if any who were his superior as a man.
In his home he was a devoted husband and a good neighbor, whose hospitality knew no bounds. The sympathy of the community is extended to his widow with the assurance to her that the loss felt by the whole people is only less than her personal loss.