NEW MIDDLETOWN — Paul Rohrbaugh was in the fourth grade when he told his family he had to write a report on a president, but he didn’t know who to make his subject.

His father suggested a report on William McKinley, since he grew up near where they lived.

Rohrbaugh vividly recalls he and his brothers reacting incredulously. “Oh yeah, nice one, dad. Like anyone from around here was president.” Upset with their disbelief, their father made them leave the dinner table and they drove 7 miles down state Route 46 from Austintown to Niles. That was when Rohrbaugh first saw the white marble monument to Niles’ favorite son and America’s 25th president, William McKinley.

Rohrbaugh decided to do his report on McKinley and since that time, he has had many occasions to learn more about this famous Ohioan.

It resulted in Rohrbaugh writing a book, “Favorite Son: The Life and Times of William McKinley.”

Rohrbaugh hopes his book “will in some small measure impart the wonder that is history and encourage others to learn more about the boy from Niles who became one of our most beloved presidents.”

Today, Rohrbaugh lives in New Middletown. He retired from teaching history at Youngstown State University in 2017. He worked at the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial in Niles in the library and museum for four years. Rohrbaugh now spends his time studying and writing about military history and especially loves local Ohio history.

When working on one of his three master’s degrees, Rohrbaugh decided to write his thesis on the McKinley Memorial in Niles and how it came to be. He said it is the only historical work done about any presidential memorial and is one of the most highly downloaded scholarly theses at Ohiolink.com.

In his book, Rohrbaugh explores how and why McKinley was an effective U.S. president.

“McKinley was very much a working man’s president. He made his reputation by defending workers in the iron, steel and pottery businesses. His policies turned this area into the iron and steel valley,” he said.

He said McKinley was the last president to be a decorated Civil War veteran and was hailed as a union hero. His commanding officer was Rutherford B. Hayes. McKinley entered the war as a private, then became a major in command of his unit. After the battle of Antietam, he was promoted to lieutenant and after the war, was offered a permanent position in the Army, which he turned down.

When the Civil War was over, McKinley returned to Youngstown intending to become a lawyer. He studied law, passed the bar and moved to Canton. His sister resided in Canton and as a teacher was doing well, eventually getting promoted to principal, so he moved there and eventually met his wife, Ida, who was working in a bank.

While born in Niles and raised in Poland, McKinley spent most of his adult life in Canton working as an attorney. When he died, funds were raised for a tomb that was built in Canton. Joseph G. Butler, McKinley’s friend since childhood, was unhappy that the tomb was the only memorial of his life and presidency. Butler spearheaded a financial campaign, and became the largest contributor, for a national memorial to be built in Niles.

Reflecting on McKinley’s assassination at the beginning of his second term as president, Rohrbaugh said, “He was a victim of international terrorism — anarchists — they wanted to kill all high-level business and political leaders and restore economic and political power to the people. They were very, very effective.”

Anarchists were responsible for the assassination of the prime ministers of Spain, Italy, Russia and Belgium, as well as Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which led to World War I.

Rohrbaugh said that the country lost a beloved president when McKinley was killed.

“He did a lot to try and heal the nation and bring it back together. He did a lot to help the common person, grow business and unify and heal the country,” he said.

“Favorite Son: The Life and Times of President William McKinley” is available at the Butler Institute of American Art’s museum store, with proceeds benefiting the museum. It also can be ordered online at phrohr baugh@hotmail.com and http:hfdgames.com.