The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-22
GENEGLOGY on THE YlFYS
FAMILY HISTORY COMPLIED 81;
JUDGE TAFT'S MOTHER.

Traced-The secrctRry'S Near Ancestors
Mrs. LOuisa n. Taft. mother az The SEQ
rotary Of War. who died at her home in
Minbury, Mass. on December 7. Ae the age
OF 81, spent the last years Of her life oom-
piling tho New England history Of the Taft
family and Of her own family. tina Torreys.
from genealogical data collected hg her
husband. Judge AlphOnso Taft. during his
lifetime. This history, together with eu-
togies OF her husband. father Inc mother
and references 10 the Secretary OF War
which show her pride in him. has been
recently published In a genealogical history
OF Worcester county. Mass.
The frat ancestor OF Secretary Taft
revealed by tho late Judge Taft's roaearches
was Robert Taft, a housewright. who
from the then province Of Braintree
and settled at Mention. Mass, in 1859. Ne
had five sons. one OF whom. Joseph. born
in 1880. married Elizabeth Emerson. the
granddaughter OF the first minister Of
Mention e
JOsepb's second son was Capt. Peter
Taft. born in ms. Capt. Peters third son
was Aaron. born in las. He vas fitted
for Princeton. but had TO leave college beFors
he had finished. although he had already
established a reputation as a scholar.
He settled at Uxbridge, Mass. but re-
moved to Townshend. w.. where he died
in 1904. He married Rhoda Rawson. the
Recommendations Of Edward Raw
son. secretary Of the Massachusetts, Bay
Colony from 1850 TO loS6.,
Peter Rawson. the third son OF Aaron.
born in 1885. married Sylvia Howard in
1910. He taught schcal and was admitted
to the bar. He became Judge Of the Com
mon Pleas. Judge Of tho Probate Court.
Judge OF the County Court Of Windharn
county, was one Of The county commits
sioners and was for many years a member
, OF the Legislature.
He removed 70 Cincinnati in lS4i. where
he died in 1887. leaving one son. AlphonsO.
AlphOnso Taft. father Of tho Secretary Of
War, was born in 1910 in Tow nshend. VT.
and was graduated from Yale in 1858. he
taught for two years in an academy in
Ellington. Conn.,, and then became a tutor
! at Yale.
He was admitted TO the bar in 1883 and
went to Cincinnati the next year. In 1887
COURT the claim Of the city for h bequest
Of Charles McMicken, which secured the
nucleus of the endowment fund for the
University Of Cincinnati.
Mrs. Taft wrote concerning her
reputation while he was Judge OF the Su-
perior Court:
@No Young man was ever turned awav
because his case was considered too small
for the Judges patience; no experienoed
lawyer ever felt his case too large or the
questions involved too intricate for tbs
Judges capacity and learning. His most
important case was the Bible in the Public
Schools
aThe Catholics and Jews, who formed a
large proportion of the citizens Of Cincinnati.
complained on the introduction Of religious
instruction into the public schools a. violat-
ing the spirit Of the Constitution. The
school board stopped the reading OF the
ground that the board had no power.
There was a violent contest and feeling
ran high. To Judge Taft there was no
question OF the right Of the board 10 take
action. H. was not in his nature to consider
for o moment popular clamor or the effect
Of his decision on his career.
THE two other Judges decided against
the board Judge Taft delivered an elabo-
rate dissenting opinion. When the case
was taken TO the Supreme Court Of Ohio
this opinion was sustained by the unani-
NOUS court of FIVE Judges. and It has since
become the law throughout the United
States.
The Bible in Public Schools case arose
in his path several times later and probably
prevented his being Governor OF Ohio.
When, however, the stern Of preiudic9
and bigotry had gu0si6ed and the people
bad time TO consider the matter Judge
Taft's reputation 90 a Judge who knew
neither fear nor favor inevitably increased"
Judge Iaft's frst Siie. Fanny Phelps.
was a dSIghte. .: Judge Charles Phelps OF
T~ownshend. Vt. She died in 1854. Three
children 'yere born TO her. n OF Whom
Charles Phelps Taft, the second SOP, 10
the proprietor Of tho Cincinnati Times 4stav.
Judge TAFT married Louisa Maria Torrey
in 1859. Her first son, Samuel Davenport
Torrey, died in infancy. Secretary Taft
was the second son. Henry Waters Taft Of
New York the third, Horace Dutton Tsft
Fanny Louise, wife Of DIR. william A. Ed
wards Of Los Angeles. Gal.
The fact that Secretary Taft through
out his long and honorable public career
wrote Mrs. Taft. -is ample evidence OF
his c~apsbility and reliability Inc OF the
sterling integrity Of his character. In
October. iaIs. he vas sent TO Cuba by
restoration of order and discharged the
delicate duties with signal sagaCity and
success.
NJ. Taf: wss descended from William
Torrey. VITO wsrE from Somerset, Eng
'an!, 20 Weymouth. Mass, In 1910. He was
for many years a csennbcr II the House OF
Deputies and was always chosen clerk.
Ps Sas 4 Magistrate and Captain OF militia
and died El 1880.
The fifth William in the line Of descent
| WA6 NttNDtlENA W AANr DOuh ~ = aONtM
inches tall. He was the father OF Samuel
Davenport TOrrey and grandfather OF Mrs.
Taft.
Mrs. Talt's father married in 1874 Susan
Holman Waters. daughter OF Asa Waters.
founder Of Armory village, n grand
daughter Of Col. Jonathan Holman, who
raised and commanded a regiment during
the Revolution and distingdished himself
at the battle OF Saratoga. Mrs. Taft's
father established himself in Boston In the
West Indian trade and retired 70 Millbury.
Mass. in 1891.
Mrs. Torrey was a woman OF rare en-
dowment and character" wrote Mrs. Taft,
well educated for the period, and her
highest interest was always In the world
OF thought. She had an irresistible desirs
to know tho best that had been written 10
literature and philosophy, and she had
the courage TO follow the new views Of
truth, which her active and progressive
mind attained. to their conclusions"
OF her father Mrs. Taft wrote:
"Mr. Torrey will BE- long remembered
as a mar Of marked individuality. Of
thorough business methods. Of infexible
soto~riVry vifh dacfaiun and fOrca ~