The Taggart Families of Wayne County, Ohio

SAMUEL M. TAGGART.

It is proper to judge of the success of a man’s life by the estimation m which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, hear his views on public questions, observe the operations of

Google his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and his demerits. After a long course of years of such observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been said, “actions speak louder than words.” In this connection it is not too much to say that the subject of this sketch passed a life of unusual honor, that he was industrious and had the confidence of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was born on a farm that is now a part of Orrville, his natal day having been the lath of July, 1828, and he died on the 17th of August, 1907, in the eightieth year of his age. His paternal grandfather, James Taggart, was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to America prior to the war of the Revolution. The subject’s father, Samuel Taggart, was born December 17, 1790, and died April 24, 1853. He came to Wayne county in April, 1815, and settled on a quarter section of land near Orrville, where he reared his family of twelve children.

Samuel M. Taggart was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the primitive schools of that early day. He was early injured to the labors of farming, which in those pioneer days meant the clearing of the land and the cultivation of the same under conditions which would in the present day be considered almost impossible. He continued to carry on farming operations until about twenty-five years ago, when, feeling the weight of years and being in a financial condition which justified him in throwing off the active duties of the farm, he retired to the beautiful town of Orrville, where he had erected a comfortable home and there he resided until his death. He was practical and methodical in his farming operations, giving his personal attention to every detail of the work, and was considered a very successful man.

Mr. Taggart married, on October 31, 1854, Sarah Jane Slusser, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Ilgenfritz) Slusser, her birth having occurred on March 15, 1835, at Wooster, Wayne county. She was reared in York, Pennsylvania. Her parents were natives of Ohio, and her father was a very successful tobacconist, coming to Wayne county in an early day. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the only survivor, besides Mrs. Taggart, is Mrs. Harrison Wertz, of Dalton, Ohio. Mrs. Taggart’s family is of German origin, her great-grandfather having been a resident of Baden, Germany, where a principal street was named in his honor. To Mr. and Mrs. Taggart were born seven children, of whom brief mention is as follows: (1) Laura Ellen, who was born November 25, 1855, died in infancy. (2)

Francis Darwin, born January 16, 1857, is a graduate of Wooster University and now resides at Denver, Colorado. (3) Major Elmore Finley, who was born October 6, 1858, was educated at Wooster University and at the West Point Military Academy, having graduated from the latter institution. He was appointed to the academy by the late President McKinley, of whom he was a special favorite. Major Taggart is now stationed at Fort Ontario, New York. (4) One died in infancy unnamed. (5) Mrs. Alice Amelia Kimberlin, who is a widow and now lives with her five children near Orrville. (6) David S., born May 10, 1865, is now deceased. (7) Howard, bom April 21, 1875, lives at Baltimore, Maryland.

At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Taggart gave unmistakable evidence of his patriotism by enlisting for military service, but because of ill health he was discharged before being mustered into the service. He was a faithful member and liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Taggart has held membership in this body since her young girlhood. She is deeply interested in the society and is generous in her support of its various interests. Fraternally, Mr. Taggart was identified with the Knights of Honor and the Royal Arcanum. A man of many splendid qualities of character, he made friends of all who knew him and his death was deeply regretted throughout the community. Mrs. Taggart now resides in the family homestead on South Main street, which was erected by her late husband on ground that had formerly been a part of his farm. She is a woman of culture and learning and takes an abiding interest in all moral and educational subjects, being especially opposed to the liquor traffic. She is a delightful conversationalist and a Christian woman of high and noble ideals.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

From the early pioneer epoch the life of the honored subject of this review has been identified with the agricultural and commercial activities of Wayne county, of which he is a native son and in which he has maintained a consecutive residence. He has now passed the psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, and this fact is significant, since it indicates the early date at which his parents must have cast in their lot with the pioneers of this now prosperous and opulent section of the old Buckeye state. His father exercised a potent influence in the development and advancement of the county in the early days, and this is also true of the son, who has here lived and labored to goodly ends., so ordering his life as to command the unreserved confidence and regard of all who know him. To a review of his earnest and honorable life the writer turns with a feeling of respect and satisfaction, since the same offers both lesson and incentive.

James Taggart, of Wooster township, was born in the city of Wooster, Ohio, on March 20, 1836, and is a son of William and Lydia A. (Reiter) Taggart. William Taggart was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 5, 1811, and was a son of James Taggart, who came to the United States from county Cork, Ireland. That was prior to the war of the Revolution and he was then but three years old, having been brought to this country by his parents. The family came at once to Belmont county, Ohio, and there James Taggart spent the remaining years of his life. William Taggart came from Belmont county to Wooster in 1833. He was a saddler by trade and was employed at this work at "foster until 1846, when he removed to a farm in Wayne township, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He and his wife are now buried in the Wooster cemetery. Religiously he was a member of the Baptist church, of which he was a trustee, and he and his wife both took a deep interest in the various activities of the society. His political affiliation was with the Republican party. To him and his wife were born the following children: James, the immediate subject of this sketch: William, who now lives in Kansas, was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, was captured during the Red River campaign, and was confined in rebel prisons at Tyler, Texas, thirteen months and seven days; Samuel died April 26, 1863, at the age of twenty-three years; Joseph is deceased: Emmett F., who now lives at Akron, Ohio, was a private in the One Hundred and Second Ohio Regiment during the Civil war and has since held the rank of major in the National Guards; Isaac is assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank at Massillon, Ohio: John lives at Columbus; Mary Catherine is the wife of A\hlliam Hatfield, a furniture dealer at Chicago. William Taggart died October 31, 1862. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia A. Reiter, was born in Berks county. Pennsylvania, November ii, 1814, and died May 31, 1882. She was a daughter of William Reiter, who came to Wooster township. Wayne county, Ohio, in the early twenties. He here followed the occupation of a farmer, in which he was fairly successful, and became a well-known and influential man in Wayne county. He was widely known as Squire Reiter, having served for many years as a justice of the peace. Part of the farm which he owned is now included in the farm owned by the subject of this sketch. W'william Taggart was possessed of strong qualities of mind, being a man of marked intelligence and sound judgment. He was energetic and progressive in his methods, and during his active years was identified with practically every local movement looking to the betterment of the community, especially along educational lines. He seized efficient as ])resident of the Wayne County Agricultural Society for a number of years and was a number of times a delegate to the State.Agricultural Societv meetings. He was a well informed man on the general to])ics of the dav, ami during the Civil war he was an ardent supporter of the war measures of the government. He was a faithful supporter of all moral efforts and his influence was ever found on the side of good and against evil.

James Taggart was reared by his parents and received a district school education. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he went to work for the Pennsylvania railroad. Two years later, however, he returned to farming, in which he has since been continuously engaged, with noteworthy success. He is wide awake and progressive in his ideas and gives his personal attention to everything he undertakes, so that all his undertakings have been rewarded with a gratifying result. His fine country home in Wooster township presents an attractive appearance, its general aspect indicating the owner to be a man of good taste and excellent judgment. Aside from his agricultural operations, Mr. Taggart is also identified with a number of other enterprises, in all of which he takes a leading part. He is a stockholder in and chairman of the board of directors of the Coach Pad Comi)any, Wooster, one of the successful enterprises of that city, and is also a stockholder in the Wayne County National Bank.

In politics Mr. Taggart is a stanch Republican and has taken a very active part in the local affairs of his party. He has been honored several times by election to public office, having served as assessor and for three years as a member of the county infirmary board. In 1907 he was elected a trustee of the township, and is now serving as such with marked credit to himself and the Irenefit of the township. He has several times served as a delegate to the state conventions of his party. For twenty-seven years he has been a member of the school board and for a number of years has been ])resident of that body. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he is now a member of the church of that denomination at Wooster, of which he is an earnest and liberal supporter. Mr. Taggart has taken a deep interest in military affairs and for fifteen years he was a member of the Ohio National Guard, belonging to the Eighth Regiment, and during the greater part of this time was a sergeant, being regimental quartermaster for six years.

Mr. Taggart was united in marriage to Catherine Scentman, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born the following children: William S., who lives at Wooster, married Bell Tettars, and they have one child, Flossie; John H., of Columbus, married Viola Tettars, and they have one child, Howard; Anna lives at Dayton, Ohio; Sarah Jane, now deceased, was the wife of a Mr. Etter, and they had three children. Grant, James and Chloe, who married Addie Weaver, of Congress township, this county, this union resulting in three children; James Lincoln, of Akron, Ohio, married Mary Eckart, who died, lear-ing two children, namely: Alvirda, the wife of

Charles Brubaker, of Rittman, this county, and they have two children, Mildred Pauline and James Clifford; Florence, who has made her home with her grandfather, is now the wife of Lee Drabenstock and her mother of one child, Arline; Ulysses Grant, of Wooster, married Margaret Taylor and they have one child, Mary; Miley Bell is the wife of J. D. McKee, of Chicago, Blinois, and they have one child, Robert. Mrs. Taggart died on the 22d of April, 1904. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church at Wooster and was possessed of many fine womanly qualities of character which commended her to the love and good feeling of all who knew her.

During a residence of many years in this community, Mr. Taggart has lived a life that has given him a high standing in the opinion of those who know him best. A man of progressive spirit and marked enterprise, he has always been foremost in all movements for the general good and his influence has ever been a potential factor for the best things in the life of his fellow men.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DR WILLIAM W. TAGGART, one of the well-known and highly esteemed physicians of Wooster, Wayne County, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, August 20, 119. His grandfather, John Taggart, came to tim United States from Ireland in 1771, and on tho breaking out of the Revolution entered I he ranks of the Continental army, serving until the close, of tho struggle. By occupation he was a, farmer, living first in York County, Penn., and from there removing to Jefferson County, Ohio, and finally to Belmont County, same. State, where he died in October, 1830, at the age of about eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane McCartney, bore him nine children, four sons and five daughters.

Isaac Taggart, father of the subject of this memoir, and also a farmer, was a native of Little York, Penn., born in 1780. He came with his parents to Jellerson County, Ohio, about the year 1797, and here grew to. manhood on his father s. farm. At the breaking out of the War of 1812 he enlisted in the army, and spent one winter in camp at Mansfield, Ohio. After the war he returned to the farm, and married Margaret, daughter of A william and Margaret (Jackson) McCaughey, and a native of Chester County, Penn. Both her parents came from Ireland to America about the year 17 (0, and her lather became a soldier in tin1 War of the Revolution. About 1 S ( > I they moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, where Mr. McCaughey followed his trade, that of weaver, and in 1830 he broke the thread of life, at the age of over seventy years. His widow died at the home of her daughter (the

' o..V-:.'1' mother of our subject), in Belmont County, Ohio, in her ninety-four! h your. Two sous and four daughters blessed their wedded life. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Taggart moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where they set to work to clear for themselves a home out of the forest. John Taggart had purchased here 400 acres of wild land, and gave each of three of his sons 100 acres. On this farm they spent the remainder of their lives, and in June, 1830, Mr. Taggart was called from his labors; his widow died in 1800, at the age of ninety-three years. They were quiet, progressive people, Mr. Taggart taking little active part in political affairs. His widow retained her memory to a remarkable degree up to the day of her death. They were the parents of five children who grew to maturity, four sons and one daughter, all of whom, save our subject and one brother, have passed from earth. Of these, Isaac, an M. 1) died in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1832; John, a farmer, died in Illinois in I NSC>; Margaret died at the ago of eighteen years; Joseph now resides on the old homestead.

Hr. Taggart, the subject of this commemorative sketch, was but eleven years old when his father died, and being the eldest son in the family had early in life to assume the duties of a man, working on the farm in summer, and attending the old-time district schools in winter. W him in his seventeenth year lie coninnuicod school-teaching, a profession he followed for live terms. His summers he spent at Franklin College and in private schools, where he was prosecuting his literary studies; but having made up his mind that the medical profession should be his life-work, he began its study in the spring of 1811. in the office of Dr. H. West, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, with whom he remained two years, during which time he attended a course of lectures at Willoughby, same State. In the spring of 184-3 he commenced practice at Vienna, Harrison Co., Ohio, but, not liking the place, he came to Wayne County in June, same year, locating at Smithville. In 184(1-47 he attended a course of lectures at Cleveland Medical College, from which lie graduated the same veur. June 1, 1843, Dr. Taggart was united in marriage with Margaret McCaughey. daughter of William and Jane McCoy, and a native of Stark County, Ohio, born in March, 1817, and together they came to Smithville, as above related. In 18(10 he bought a farm some two miles east of Wooster, on which he resided eight years, still practicing his profession, and in 18(18 he moved finally to the city of Wooster, where he has since made his home. On the 23d of January, 1884, death took from him his beloved wife, then in her sixty-seventh year. She was an esteemed member of the United Presbyterian Church, and an active worker in the Woman’s Mission Society. She was a woman of much more than ordinary executive ability, and was a successful teacher, a fond and devoted wife and mother, and her memory is fondly cherished by husband and children. She left four children, as follows: William Push, who was for eleven years attorney for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Pailroad at Salem, Ohio, now practicing law in New York City; Frank, a lawyer in Wooster, Ohio; Clementine, keeping house for her father, and Margaret, now the wife of J. M. Greenslade, superintendent of public schools at Lima, Ohio.

The Doctor cast his first vote for Van Buren, in 18 M), and remained a Democrat until 185-1, when, not agreeing with his party on the slavery question, he became one of the organizers of the Republican party in Wayne County. In 185(1 he became a candidate for the State Legislature, but the county (Wayne) was too Democratic to admit of his success in the campaign. During the War of the Rebellion the Doctor was in the Government service as examining surgeon for the first draft. In 18(12 ho became surgeon of the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Volunteer ! n fan try, bid, his health failing, he was compelled to return to Wooster, where for a time he was assistant examiner in the marshal's office. Dr. Taggart is an elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Wooster, of which for many years he has been a prominent member. Flis life, both professionally and socially, has' been a very active one, and now, at the age of seventy years, he is gradually retiring from the busy world, in the quiet enjoyment of the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

They had spent a long and happy life together, and in death were not long sundered. This worthy couple had one son and three daughters, as follows: Catherine, widow of Benjamin Norton, of Reedsburgli, Wayne County; Lueetta, wife of AY. D. Hath, of Wayne Township; G. P., and Lydia, wife of Dr. AY. H. Hayes, of Lansing, Mich. The father was a public-spirited man, and an ardent worker in every enterprise for the good of Wayne County, where he owned a considerable quantity of land. From childhood he and his wife had been members of the Lutheran Church, and both possessed in a marked degree the confidence of their fellow-men.

The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed on his father’s farm, which he afterward owned. His earliest education was received in the primitive district schools of the day, but after coming to Ohio he had an opportunity to attend a select school, established to meet the need felt for a better education than was common at that day. When twenty-two years old he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kryberger, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Fryborger, of Berks County, Penn. After a happy wedded life of about a score of years, she passed to her last sleep in April, 1853, at the age of forty-one years, leaving four children, viz.: Elizabeth L., wife of Rev. C. E.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

In touching upon the life history of Frank Taggart, one of the best-known members of the bar in northern Ohio, the biographer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise, yet he desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have shown the distinction of a true, useful and honorable life, a life characterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity and well-defined purpose. To do this will be but to reiterate the dictum pronounced upon him by the people who have know him so long and well. And it is safe to say that no man in Wayne county occupies a more enviable position in her civic and professional life, not alone on account of the success he has achieved, but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever followed, both in public and private life.

Judge Frank Taggart was born in Smithville, Wayne county. June 6, 1852, and is the son of Dr. W. W. Taggart, now7 deceased. The elder Taggart married Margaret McCaughey. He came to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1840, from Belmont county, this state, locating near the village of Smithville, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he was very successful. He was a man of strong, logical mind, a scholar and especially well grounded in historical and scientific subjects, a profound and methodical thinker and a mathematician of much more than ordinary attainments. During the past decade he abandoned the active duties of his profession, which he long honored during a very energetic and useful life, having, while advancing his own interests and that of his family, at the same time contributed in no paltry degree to the general advancement of his community, being liberal, generous, public-spirited and scrupulously honest.

When his son, Frank Taggart, was five years of age he moved to a farm he had purchased about one and one-half miles northeast of Wooster, and there young Taggart remained until 1868, assisting with the work of developing the home place, learning many valuable lessons that only he who “communes with nature” and breathes the pure air of the “sylvan wild” can imbibe, at the same time laying up a potential energy that has stood him well in hand during his trying career as a lawyer. His father was an advocate of thorough mental training and sought to encourage his son in whatever way possible, consequently the lad was first placed in the district schools, later the high school at Wooster, where he completed his preparatory work for entrance in the University of Wooster, which was soon to open its doors to the educational public, the date of its opening being September 8, 1870, and on that date Mr. Taggart had the distinction of being one of the first prospective students, registering as a freshman, remaining one of the original class of five that passed the prescribed course in the curriculum, receiving his degree in 1874. He made an excellent record in this institution and gave promise of a useful and successful career. His brother. Rush Taggart, a prominent lawyer of New York City, and a member of the firm of John B. Dillon, is general counsel of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and graduated in the class of 1871. the close of the first university year, and made the first graduating speech of the class.

After finishing his schooling, Frank Taggart began the study of the law, entering the office of Judge Joseph H. Downing, now deceased, and after a period of study there entered the law department of the university at Ann Arbor. Michigan, in 1875, remaining for two years, and on July 4, 1876, he was admitted to practice in the district court of Wayne county. Judge Reed, of Millersburg, sitting on the bench of common pleas. He at once opened an office in Wooster without an associate in practice, which has rapidly grown from that day to this until he now holds front rank at the Wayne county bar. He is a loyal Republican, but never stoops to the tricks of the demagogue. In the year 1896 he was appointed to the responsible position of judge of the common pleas court by Gov. Asa S. Bushnell, and in the year 1905 was elected circuit judge of the fifth circuit of Ohio and in 1910 elected chief justice of the circuit courts of Ohio.

In the year 1888 Judge Taggart was married to Lizzie Wallace, daughter of David A. Wallace, D. D., LL. D. Their family consists of seven children, Margaret, William, Wallace, Martha F., Frank, Clementen, John F. and David.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN WILLIAM TAGGERT.

One of the most Yaluable and most highly improved farms in Wayne county is that owned by the gentleman whose name initiated this article and who is recognized as one of the representative citizens of the county, where he has passed practically his entire life, the family having been one of prominence in the community from the early pioneer epoch to the present time. He has been a man of public spirit and progressiveness and has always been found on the right side of every moral issue, his influence being felt as a definite factor in the community when movements for the public good are involved.

John AV. Taggert, who owned and operated a fine farm in Franklin township, until 1910, when he sold, had lived on this place from the time he first saw the light of day, June 23, 1841. He is a son of AAilliam and Lydia (McAllister) Taggert, the former of whom was born in Ireland. He was reared and educated in his native land and at the age of twenty-one years came to the United States, and was thereafter employed for a number of years in the United States mint at Philadelphia. He was a member of a noted military organization known as the Independent Blues at the time the Marquis de Lafayette paid his celebrated visit to this country. He and ha brother Robert came to Ohio and here they started the first brewery, but were not long engaged in that business. He then moved onto the farm which he had purchased prior to his business venture. He was also interested in a dry goods store with his brother, but his efforts were mainly confined to his agricultural operations, in which he was successful. He married Lydia Mc- Allister, Avho was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Hugh McAllister, whose death occurred in that, his native state. AAilliam and Lydia Taggert were the parents of three children, John W., the subject of this sketch, Mary, the wife of James T. Stitt, and Martha, who makes her home with her sister. William and Lydia Taggert died and were buried at Wooster. They were a worthy and highly respected couple and stood high in the community, being favorably remembered at this time by many who knew them.

The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and remained with h’s parents until his father’s death, at which time he was twelve years old. He bought a portion of the home place and was engaged in the operation of the same until he sold in 1910, when he moved to Wooster. He has made improvements on the place and constantly maintained it at the highest standard of excellence. It is a fertile and productive farm and under the intelligent direction of the subject it has been made to yield gratifying returns for the labor bestowed. Mr. Taggert is an up-to-date and progressive agriculturist, keeping closely in touch with advanced ideas 'and methods and he enjoys a splendid reputation among his fellow tillers of the soil.

In 1864 Mr. Taggert was united in marriage to Nancy A. Hughes, whose death occurred in 1907. This union resulted in the birth of three children, namely: Cary, of near Greeley, Colorado; Bert, who is employed in the refining department of the United States mint at Denver, Colorado, and Harry, an undertaker at Grand Junction, Colorado.

On February 28, 1910, Mr. Taggert married Mary Boyd. The family reside in a pleasant home at No. 3 East Henry street, Wooster.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.