Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-07-09

ents. Mr.. Taft is of Puritan descent
and it is said that the "Puritanical
conscience was bred in him" His
grandfather was judge and legis-
lator in Vermont, whose ideas OF rails
ing family were to equip them to
take care of themselves. Alphonso
Taft and his brothers carried out well
their fathers hopes.
Mr.. Taft's father was born in Town
shend, VT. He was of English descent
one of his ancestors, Edward Raws-
ton, having come to New England in
1886 and being subsequently for 35
years secretary of the province of
Massachusetts.
The grandparents of Alphonso
Taft emigrated from Worcester county
Mass, about the time of the revolu-
ton. His father, Peter Rawson Taft,
studied law, so that if the son Of Will
am Taft becomes a lawyer there will
have been four generations of law
yers in succession in the family
Alphonso Taft, the only son of Peter
and Sylvia Howard Taft, worked hard
for his education. He attended coun-
try schools until he was old enough
to teach on his own hook. Then he
taught school for several winters I'M
til he had earned enough to pay his
tuition at an academy. When lie was
10 years old he entered Yale.
He was graduated from Yale with
high honors, studied law, and started
out to make his way in the world. He
went to Cincinnati with a letter of
introduction from the president of the
university and several members Of
the faculty, in which he-Yas said to
be a gentleman of liberal attain
ments, of estimable character, and
distinguished in literature and
science" Having discharged the Office
of tutor while in college with great
fidelity and success" he was COM
mended to the respectful regard and
attentions Of the patrons of learning
and talent wherever his lot must be
cast"
In spite of the good recommends
ton of the president of Yale be had
a hard time at first, but his reputa-
ton grew and he was employed in
some of the largest and most impor-
tant cases before the state courts.
For 25 years he had one of the largest
practices in the state, having as part
ners during this time such men as
Judge Thomas M. Key, George r.
Page, William n. Dickinson and Aar-
on F. Perry. the last of whom was a
former classmate IN the Yale law
school.
For several years he was a member
of the Cincinnati council, and was an
ardent ad7octe Of the building of rail
roads, hoping to make the city a
great railroad center. He lectured on
this subject in 1850, and was a sort of
an individual commercial club in adj
vertising Cincinnati and her railroad
advantages.
Alfonso Taft also was an import
ant factor in the field of education,
being trustee of Yale college, a
member of the Union high school
board. and a trustee Of the dniver-
sity of Cincinnati.
William Taft inherits his repubIi-
can principles, as his father was one
of the early republicans of the west
ern reserve, being a member IF the
convention which nominated Gen.
John G. Fremont for president. He
also ran for congress but was de-
feated by small majority.
He was appointed judge of the SUI
perior court of Cincinnati, and after
ward was elected twice to the same
position, receiving on the last cleo
ton the nomination of both parties.
Resigning in 1872 he entered into a
partnership with his two sons.
! After being defeated for governor
owing to a dissenting opinion which
he delivered and which was later
unanimously affirmed by the supreme
court Of the state and is now the law
in Ohio, he was appointed secretary
of war by President Grant. After be-
ing transferred to the position of at
| torney general he was a candidate for
the vacant seat in the senate. Being
| disappointed in this he resumed his
| law practice, but he was called by
President Arthur to take the posi-
! ton of minister to Austria.
| From this place he was transfer
red to st. Petersburg, where he served
until i'll health drove him from the rig
orous climate.
| Alphonso Taft was married twice
He left five sons, four of whom are
living and one dead William Howard
| Taft and Charles P. Taft are half
| brothers, the latter's mother dying
when Charles was a small boz All
the Taft boys inherited their 1athers
intellect and most of them inherited
| his gigantic physique. All of the sons
testify to the pursuading powers of
| their good governors strong right
arm
Villain Howard Taft referred to
his father affectionately as his good
old governor on the day the younger
man took the oath Of Office as secre-
tary of war. The old gentleman por-
trait looked down upon the son and
William said:
7 could not help but be good in
here My good old governor had an
overpowering brain; to say nothing
of his hand"
Alphonso Taft could only give his
boys the best of opportunities, but he
saw to it that they applied them
selves Of their chances. He had no
millions fo- Leave thnpo hl1t he cant /