The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
TRACES THE LINEAGE TO 1869
First Ancestor of Present Generation
Was Robert VRft, HOusewright.
Who Settled i'm Mention, Mass.
Gcnca1OEy Recently Published the
Result of Judge Taft's Researches.

reys, from genealogical data collected
by her husband, Judge Alphonso Taft
during his lifetime. This history, togeth-
er with eulogies of her husband, father
and mother, and references to the Secre-
tary Of War. which show her pride in
him, has been recently published in a
genealogical history Of Worcester Coun-
~, Mass.
The first ancestor of Secretary Taft re-
vealed by the late Judge Tafts re-
searches was Robert Taft, a house
wright, who went from the then province
of Braintree and settled at Mention, Mass
in 1860. He had five sons. one of whom
Joseph, born in 1850. married Elizabeth
Emerson, the granddaughter of the first
minister Of Mention.
Joseph's second son was Capt Peter
Taft, born in lu5 Capt Peters third
son was Aaron. born in 1743. He was fit
ted for Princeton, but had to leave col
lege before he had finished. although he
had already established "a reputation as
a scholar
He settled at UxbriGge, Mass, but re-
moved to Townsend, VI, where he died
in 1S0S He married Rhoda Rawson,
the observation-disclosures of Edward
Rawson, secretary of the Massachusetts,
Bay Colony from 1850 to 1886
Other Early Ancestors.
Peter Rawson. the third son Of Aaron.
born in 17S5 married Sylvia Howard in
1910 He taught school and was admitted
10 the bar He became judge of the
common pleas, judge of the probate
court, judge Of the county court of
Wyndham County, was one of the cOun-
T. commissioners, and was for many
years a member of the legislature.
He removed TO Cincinnati in 1871, where
he died in 1861, leaving one son, Alphonso.
Alphonso Taft, father Of the Secretary
OF War was born in 1910 in Townsend,
Vt, and was graduated from Yale in 1893
He taught for two years in an academy
in Ellington. Conn, and then became q
tutor at Yale.
he was admitted TO the bar in 1898 and
went to Cincinnati the next year. In
lS51 he argued before the United States
Supreme Court the claim of the city for
the bequeSt Of Charles McMlcken, which
secured the nucleus of the endowment
fund for the University OF Cincinnati
Mrs. Tart wrote concerning her hus-
bands reputation while be was judge of
the Supreme Court:
NO young man was ever turned away
because his case was considered too
small for the judges patience: no expert
enced lawyer ever felt his case too large
or the questions involved TOO intricate
for the judges capacity and learning
His most important case was the Bible
IN the Public Schools.
The Catholics and Jews, who formed
large proportion OF the citizens of Gin
cinnau. complained of the Introduction
OF religious instruction into the public
schools as violating the spirit Of the Con-
stItution, The school board stopped the
reading of the Bible The court vas
appealed 10 on the ground that the board
had no power
Had Right to Act.
There was violent contest aud feel
Ing ran high. To Judge Taft there was
no question Of the right Of the board To-
take action. It was not in his nature 10
consider for d moment popular clamor or
the effect of his decision on his career.
The other TWO judges decided against
the board. Judge Tart delivered an elab-
orate dissenting opinion When the case
this opinion was sustained by the unani-
nous court Of i've 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 storm of
prejudice ana big0tTy had subsided and
the people had time to consider the mat
ter, Judge TafTs reputation as a judge
who knew neither fear nor favor, in
eV.tably increased.
Judge Tafts first WIFE, Fanny Phelps,
was a daughter of Judge Charles Phelps.
of Townsend, VI. She died in 1851. Three
children We're born TO her, one of whom
died Ia infancy
Charles Phelps Taft the second son.
IS the proprietor of the Cincinnati Times
Star The third son, Peter Rawson, died
in 1SSS
Judge Taft married Louisa Maria Tor
rey in 1888. Her first son, Samuel DaY-
export Torrey, died IN infancy. Secre-
tary Taft was the second son, Henry
Waters Taft, of New York. the third
Horace DuttOn Taft the fourth. and the
fifth child is her daughter, Fanny
Louise, wife of Or. William A. Ed
wards, of Los Angeles, Cal
The fact that Secretary Taft through
out his long and honorable public career
has received promotion continuously"
wrote Mrs Taft. lis ample evidence OF
his capability and reliability and of the
sterling integrity Of his character In
October. 1906 he was sent to Cuba by
President Roosevelt 70 direct the restora-
ton Of order, and discharged the delicate
duties with signal capacity and success"
The TOrrey Side.
Mrs. TAFT was descended from William
Torrey. who went from Somerset, Eng
land, TO Weymouth, Mass, in 1910 He
was for many years a member of the
house Of deputies and was always chosen
clerk. He was magistrate and captain
Of militia, and died in 1890
The NTH William in the line of recent
was reported TO have been six feet seven
inches tall He was the father of Samuel
Davenport Torrey and grandfather Of
Mrs Taft.
AIRS. Tafts father married in. 1924
Susan Holman Waters. daughter of Asa
Waters, founder of Armory village and
granddaughter OF Col Jonathan Holman
VINO raised and commanded a regiment
during the Revolution and distinguished
himself al the battle Of Saratoga. Mrs
Aalt AdLAef established himself in BOS-
ton in the West Indian trade and retired
20 MillDury. Mass. in 1881
Mrs Torrey was woman OF rare en-
dowment and character" wrote Mrs
TAFT well educated for the period and
her highest Intelligence was always in
the world of thought She had an ir-
resistible desire TO know the best that had
been written in literature and philosophy.
and she had the courage to follow the
new views of truth, which her active
ana progressive mind attained, to their
conclusions
OF her father Mrs. Taft writes.
Mr. Torrey viii be long remembered