William W. Taggart

As printed in 1889

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.

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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.

j McKane, of Kansas City, Ivans.; Jacob AT., a manufacturer of Toledo, Ohio; Alice, now Mrs. W. H. Eelger, of Mansfield, Ohio, and Florence, wife of Lev. C. II. Hockey, of Columbia City, Lid. In 1802. the Civil AYar being in progress, Mr. Emrich raised a company for the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Ohio Infantry, and ! was commissioned its captain. He saw active service, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Arkansas Post, and in minor engagements. On account of failing health he resigned April 1, 1808, and reached home but two weeks before the. death of his faithful wife.

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In 1859 the brick for our subject’s commodious home on North Market

Street, Wooster, was made on the home farm, and the house was 1-milt in 1.800. That same year the Captain was a candidate for the office of county clerk, but, being an ardent Republican, while the county was strongly Democratic, he was naturally defeated, although running several hundred ahead of his ticket, showing the estimation in which he is held by those who know him best. Several years later he was a candidate for county treasurer, and again he was nearly elected. In the township of Wayne he was elected township clerk and justice of the peace a number of terms.

In 1880 Capt. Emricli left the farm and came to the home which he had built in Wooster, and has ever since resided there. With four others he formed a banking association in 1805, under tho name of Bonewitz, Emricli & Co., which afterward became the National Bank of Wooster, and was president of the same for fifteen years. Their business was not confined to Wayne County, ihey having business connections elsewhere, notably in Philadelphia and New York. Capt. Emricli also engaged in dealing in real estate, which he is still following at this writing. He is an outspoken, thorough-going business man, whose word can always he depended upon, and who possesses the confidence and respect of those who know him. He is ever willing to help any project for the good of the neighborhood and county. Both he and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church of Wooster, and the latter is closely identified with the women’s organizations of the church. He is a Master Mason, and a member of the

G. A. It.

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.