Evening star., 1909-02-27
Man of Marked Individuality.

character.
Man of Marked Individuality.
MIR. Torrey will long be remembered as
man OF marked individuality, of thor
ough business methods. of inf1exible in
tegrity. with a decision and force of
character which left a lasting impression
wherever he was known. In Milbury he
devoted his attention to the care of his
farm. to his family and his friends, TAX
ing also lively interest in passing
events. AS he advanced in life his health
became so far established that he was
spared many OF the painful infirmities of
old age. 1t happened to him to be called
upon to assist in the burial Of many OF
his juniors.
In a green old age
He seemed like an oak. worn but steady.
Amidst the elements, whilst the younger trees
Fell fast around him.
Belonging to the heroic age of New
England, he never for moment lost the
bearing of the gentleman of the old
school. Without Office the desire for
office he enjoyed the respect and conf
dance OF. all. To an unusual degree he
possessed
That which should accompany old age.
AS honor. love, obedience. troops Of friends.
Mr.. Torrey was twice married His
first wife, Della Chaplin, died in 1871
about d year after their marriage. In
1924 he was married to, Susan Holman
Waters, the eldest child of Asa Waters
founder of Armory village. and grand
daughter of Col. Jonathan Holman, who
raised and commanded regiment in the
revolution. Mrs. Torrey was woman
of rare endowments and character and
we'll educated for that period, and her
highest interest was always in the world
of thought. She had an irrepressible de-
sire to know the best that had been writ
ten in literature and philosophy, and had
the courage to follow the new views of
truth, which her active and progressive
mind attained, to their conclusions. She
died in Millbury, February 3. 1866. Her
memory is cherished by her children as a
precious legacy. Five children We're the
fruit of this marriage, four daughters
and one son.
Boston. September so, 1925, has resided in
Mllbury most of her life. She has never
married, the gentleman to whom she was
betrothed, Rev. DR.. Samuel Dutton Of
New Haven, Conn, having died suddenly
of pneumonia at her fathers house,
whittier he had come to arrange for their
approaching marriage. Her mother died
the same week of the same disease. She
was prostrated with grief, but henceforth
devoted herself to the care of her father
as long as she lived Except for travels
abroad and in California, she has ever
since occupied the old homestead.
Mother of Next President.
80. Louisa Maria. born September II.
1927, married Alphonso Taft Of Cincin-
natl. Ohio. December 26. 1858"
A third child, Samuel Davenport, died
in infancy: the fourth, Susan Walters,
married Samuel A. Wood Of San Francis
co, and died February ]. 1904. leaving two
sons. In business in California. Willard
F. Wood and Samuel Austin. The fifth
daughter. Anna Davenport, became the
wife OF Edward Orton. LID, president
and professor of geology of the Ohio
State University and state geoogist. She
died June %. 19c0 leaving two children,
Louise Taft, wife of Francis c. Caldwell.
professor of electricity in the Ohio State
University. and Samuel Torrey Orton or
the medical department. of the University V
of Pennsy sylvana. So much for the Torrey
family.
Ancestry Of the Tafts.
Mrs. Taft traces the ancestry of her
husbands family to Robert Taft q
'housewright" or builder of houses, who
came over in 1869 and settled in Mendon,
Worcester county, Mass. His wife Sara
Taft, bore him five sons.
Capt Joseph Taft, their fourth son. was
born in 1850. and in 170s married Eliza
beth Emerson. granddaughter of the first
minister of MeDdon. They had nine chill
dren. Their second son, Capt. Peter Taft
was born in 17lo and was a farmer at
JTXbridge. Mass. He married Elizabeth
Cheney of UXbridge and their third son,
Aaron Taft, was born May 2S. 1743. His
early education fitted him for Princeton
College, but the exigencies of the family
called him home before he had finished
his college course. but not before he had
established good reputation as a
scholar. He then turned his attention to
farming in his native town of Uxbridge.
from which. after residence of thirty
years. lie removed in March, 1900, to
Townshend VT. where he died March %,
1908. About 176S he married Rhoda Raw
son, daughter Of Abner and Mary