The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-06-04

The father Of Zachary Taylor, General
Richard Taylor, was an officer In the rev.
olution, who served with credit to him.
self throughout the war. He was con-
nected with James Madison, Richard
Henry Lee. John TAYLOR OF Carolina,
James and Phillip Barbour, Judge Pen
dleton, General Hunt OF Texas, General
Gaines, the Conways, Talferros and many
other distinguished Virginian families.
After the war he moved to Kentucky,
where he served the state by assisting to
frame the constitution Of Kentucky.
The substantial respectable house
he built TO shelter his family and
which were three feet thick, is still
standing and bears witness that he was
man Of wealth at that day, and for that
cay he lett a handsome fortune to his
children. As soon as Zachary was able
TO study he went to the nearest school,
which was through thick woods infested
by hostile Indians. Colonel TavlOr's
house was barricaded many nights
against their attacks, and the intrepid
boy had numerous and narrow es-
capes- Indeed, one OF his schoolmates
was scalped by them within hundred
yards where young Zachary was living.
While Kentucky was in this unsettled
state the schools were necessarily not as
good as they are now, and the excellent
solid education young Taylor acquired
must have been achieved under great
difficulties and with much personal ex-
posure and unremitting application. SO
much for his having grown up working
on his fathers farm.
Since, as was eloquently said by Hon.
John Sergeant, General Taylor has be-
come an historical character, and with an
unconscious modesty he has, with sword
and pen, written his own history, SO that
- -,
The annals OF the United States since the
days Of Washington.' 1t is perhaps
needless to say more in defence of him
against the interesting "reminiscences OF
old residents but one word more is
needful as to our dead hero. A handsome
mcDdment had been erected to him and
IN 1891 the Louisville Colwier--JoafJldt of
March 10, says in speaking of his burial
place: "Care and attention can
probable that with the one ex-
ception OF the vault of the first presi-
dent at Mt. Vernon on the banks of the
Potomac, none of the executives of the
United States lie in a more sacred-ap-
pearing or more beautiful spot than does
General Zachery Taylor" 1t seems
strange that the sold residents did not
know of the tender care bestowed upon
his last resting place. but believed 1t was
overrun with hriers and neglected, when
IN 1892 they favored Mr.. Yenowine with
their "reminiscences.
ISLANDERS REFUIED.
The notice of Mrs. Taylor is more in
explicaDle than that of General Taylor,
as she never lived in Louisville, but fol-
lowed her husband TO his different posts
always, with the exception of Mexico,
where she could not go on account of her
health and the state Of the country.
When near Louisville she made her home
with his father, at s'Springield,n five
miles from Louisville; and there must
have been ecant time for the ''old resi-
dents'' to see her smoking her pipe and
CRYING in the visits they made to Spring
field. since she never paid visit there
except for a few days en- PEASANT after
1926. The facts are these: Mrs. Zachary
Taylor was Miss Margaret Smith,
the daughter of Major Walter Smith OF
the United States army, a resident
at the time of her birth of Calvert county,
Maryland. The family were descended
from an ancestor who came from Eng
land to Maryland in 1919, and held the ap-
poiutment of Encouragement from
of whom may efound in the name OF one
of the family plantations in Maryland
ssGod's Graces,'' where the Mackalls
Mrs. Taylor's grandmother s family
lived The family were wealthy and also
people of fashion. One of Mrs. Taylor s
brothers, Colonel Richard Smith, was
in the marine corps, and was most adj
miringly remembered thirty years age
as one of the handsomest and most popu-
lar officers of his day. Two other broth
ers were planters Of large means in Mis-.
sissippi. Mrs. Taylor's two sisters. who
moved to Kentucky, married two broth
ers of the old Chew family, SO well ant
favorably known in Maryland.
Mrs. Taylor was not only q conspicu.
ously calm courageous woman, but SHIT
was one OF the most refined women of hel
day. and one who was never heard
moaning about anything. Her dignity
was supreme, and SO well sustained undel
all circu instances that no one would have
had tie tenerity to take a liberty witt
her. Her aversion TO tobacco in AM
shape was so great that none OF he
family were ever able to smoke in he
presence, still less could or did she snnok'
a pipe When General Taylor was elected
president she had not been In Louisville
since 1910, and then only for few days
She was IN Baton Rouge surrounded b.
friends who respected as much as they
admired her for her fortitude, gentle, re
fined demeanor, and Christian life. He
health had tailed very much before tn
generals inauguration, and she fount
DerSGtf unGQiG 10 SIT through the TOQtlH
OF the long state dinners, which must b
given at the executive mansion, or ever
10 walk up and down stairs to attend the
receptions, and her husband was un
willing for her to undergo the strain upol
her exhausted frame. The writer knew
her first at this time and always fouu'
the most pleasant part of her visit to b
that passed in Mrs. Taylor's prett,
Nbright room, where the invalid. fun o
ccf, oh I, ff.l
she had not strength to take her place
talked most agreeably and kindly +
every one of the many friends who wer
admitted to her presence.
She always appeared at the family din
rers, to which few friends were uu
tremendously hidden, of which man
charming ones were given during Gen
Taylor's administration, and ably Dor
her share IN the conversation at the table
The president once, at one OF these din
ners at which the writer was present
after telling an anecdote OF his army life
in which his wife had taken part, turne
to Senator Jefferson Davis and said
tsYou know my wife was as much OF
colder as / was.' His every look an
tone spoke the respect, esteem and lov
IN which he held his quiet, undemcnstra
tive, self controlled old wife, who's
moaning 10 the accompaniment of he
pipe he seemed, In company with be
many other friends, never to have heard
When General Taylor died the write
was with the family and saw her endur
all the torture which is incident to a stat
funeral. Mrs. Taylor was worn to
shadow and lay without uttering a sounc
but trembling silently from head to foe
as one band aztec another blared the fu
neral music of the different organization
and the heavy guns doomed in quick sue
cession to announce the final parting {
her brave, true old husband. None but
thoroughbred refined woman could hay
fhus horne the last crt1shino Sorrnuv Of