Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-09-26
Mai. Robert Taggart.
Tue DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR AUDIToF
GENERAL or TUE STATE.

Tue DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR AUDITOR
GENERAL or TUE STATE.
The achievements of the Pennsyl.
vania Reserves constitute a very import.
ant chapter in the history of the part
which our state bore in the struggle OF
the war for the Union. They were n
body of soldiers who were distinguished
alike for gallantry of service and for
the perils of war which they encounter
ed. Recruited from different parts Of
the state they represented the best ele.
ments OF its citizenship, and no better
types Of the citizensoldier who saved
the republic were to be found in the
army than the Reserves. Every com
mander under whom they served at.
tested their endurance and hcroism,
and every battlefield upon which they
fought tells the story OF their soldierly
qualities. The life of the Democratic
candidate for Auditor General is the
story of one of this band, who in the
flush of his young manhood heard and
answered the call of his country, served
it full term Of three years, and when
the war was over took his place as a
citizen, identifying himself with one Of
the great material interests OF his ma.
tive state; and who, ever since, has
filled that place with credit TO himself
and honor among his fellow citizens,
meriting and commanding the univer.
sal respect of the community in which
he has resided for the uprightness Of
his personal character and the integrity
of his conduct in all the relations OF
life.
MAJ. TACGAsT's PARENTS.
As his name indicates, Robert Tag
CART is of that stock Of immigrants from
northern Ireland who have peopled so
many sections of this state, and whose
strong vitality has impressed itself upon
the social and political life of the com
mouwealth. His parents came over to
this country in 1890 and settled in Pitts.
burgh, where half century ago the
Scotch.Irish was the most influential
element. His father was shoemaker
by trade, and engaged extensively in
this business. lie was a man Of strong
individuality, with keen appreciation OF
the benefits Of education, and after
giving his son Robert n thorough com.
mon school education designed him for
a college course, but business reverses
frustrated this purpose. His only sur
viving brother, Rev. Samuel Taggart, is
minister of the United Presby terian
church, and has been for nearly fifty
years pastor of the charge in West
Middletown, Washington county, Penn.
sylyania; he is the father Of Rev. $. A.
Taggart, State Secretary of the Y. VI. c.
a.
Robert Taggart was born in Pitts.
burgh in 1896 and was one Of family
of five boys and three girls. The eldest
brother died in the ministry in South
Carolina the second, John j., formerly
professor in the Eleventh ward public
schools Of Pittsburgh, died in that ser
vice. a younger brother, Samuel, left
the theological seminary where he was
preparing for the ministry to enter
(Rev.) Colonel Clark's regiment; he re-
enlisted for three years and was killed
in front of Petersburg, Va, while charg.
ing upon the enemy. William is still a
resident of Pittsburgh, being superin
tendent of the Baker Car Heating Com
pany. Il is notable that all FIVE OF the
Taggsrt brothers we're in the Union
army at one time. the youngest enter.
ing the service at the age Of lG Not
even the famous family of fighting Nc.
Cooks can show better record than
that.
COMPLETING MS EDUCATION.
Aftor completing his education in the
common schools, young TagRart applied
himself 10 and mastered the trade OF